THE future of Sark’s constitution remains in limbo. Yesterday evening, an impassioned four-hour debate resulted in the two sides coming close to reaching a truce pending the outcome of a public opinion poll, but a new proposal, made literally at the eleventh hour by tenant Christopher Rang, delayed any final decision.

The House is due to resume the debate this evening.

Having been told seven years ago that the current feudal system was not human rights compliant, members voted in March in favour of a system which would have resulted in a legislature comprising 14 tenants, or landowners, and 14 deputies all elected by universal suffrage, referred to as Option C.

However, advice since then, including that from the UK’s Department for Constitutional Affairs, made it clear that even this system was unlikely to be compliant with human rights legislation as it would not treat everyone equally.

On the table last night were several propositions. The General Purposes & Finance Committees were in support of rescinding Option C and replacing it with a proposal that membership of Chief Pleas should be by universal suffrage with all members known as deputies of the people. This is referred to as Option A.

In the face of mounting opposition, both from within and outside the island, the proponents of Option C had refined their proposal to allow for Chief Pleas to be made up of 32 members – 18 deputies and 14 tenants – all elected by universal suffrage, referred to in the debate as Option D.

This option was allied to the holding of an opinion poll to gauge the views of the residents of Sark.

A further proposal that Option C be adopted until 2011 and then replaced with Option A was soon thrown out.

Most of the ensuing discussion centred on whether Chief Pleas should debate the merits or otherwise of the remaining proposals before or after seeking the views of the people via a poll.

In the event, a further proposal was put forward by Mr Rang suggesting another way forward.

His idea was to have an assembly of 36 people, all of whom would be elected by universal suffrage.

The 12 deputies gaining the highest number of votes would be elected, as would the top 12 tenants at the top of the poll.

The remaining 12 would go to those who gained the next highest number of votes irrespective of whether they were deputies or tenants.

Putting forward his proposal, Mr Rang said: ‘The House is clearly split. There needs to be compromise on both sides. This proposition would unite this house and unite our island again.’

The debate continued at 7 pm.