In today’s Guernsey Press we run a heartfelt letter from a Sark resident that will strike a chord with everyone who knew the tiny Channel Island as it was.

Or rather, as we imagined it to be: an idyllic, traffic-free paradise where its inhabitants lived in peace and tranquillity.

The reality was that, as in any small communities, there were those who called the shots, those who did as they were told and ‘difficult’ others who were subjected to whatever harassment was deemed necessary.

It was, however, out of sight and the property-owning Chief Pleas called the shots while everyone looking in enviously felt it looked pretty perfect.

The cracks started to appear as Sark began to get shabby, as its economy slowed and as people tired of seasonal work that meant menial tasks in the winter for £20 and a sandwich as cheap labour for others.

The cracks widened when it was clear that Chief Pleas’ tenants were wrong when they said Sark did not want democracy. A survey revealed the lie.

Instead of free elections and a deep-pocketed investor creating worthwhile employment and putting money into infrastructure projects healing those cracks, however, it has triggered dreadful and damaging factionalism.

As the letter’s author says, wherever the fault lies is now irrelevant. What matters is to move forward, perhaps with the assistance of a mediator, and there are a number of individuals of standing who would be prepared to do so.

There is a more radical step that could be taken, however. The actions taken by the various committees of Chief Pleas against the island’s biggest landowner and investor – no matter how justified they consider them to be – look petty and vindictive from the outside and risk being scrutinised as an abuse of power.

Sark would gain considerable stature if it emerged as the seeker after peace and was seen to deal with Sark Estate Management on a fair, reasonable and proportionate manner, whatever reaction might follow.

In that, admittedly courageous, way, Chief Pleas would emerge a winner – but without anyone having lost. That is a huge prize to go for.