GUERNSEY has been accused of trying to take over by stealth the running of Sark. A newsletter circulating the island claimed Chief Pleas was being steamrollered into approving legislation by Guernsey.

‘The people of Sark must wake up to the fact that Sark is in acute danger of losing its autonomy,’ the newsletter said.

It said that a piece of legislation – the Forfeiture of Money projet – is just one in a series of Guernsey legislation that has been accepted by Chief Pleas.

Others include The Regulation of Fiduciaries, Administration Businesses and Company Directors (2000), The Insurance Business (2002), The Financial Services Commission (2002), The Protection of Investors (2003), The Intellectual Property (2004), Export Control (2006), and Regulation of Utilities (2007).

Sark News, which is based in Brecqhou, goes on to say that Guernsey is putting itself in a position of being able to legislate for Sark without Chief Pleas even being consulted.

When Guernsey draws up legislation, Sark must be consulted before it goes to England to be approved by the Privy Council.

However, once approved by the Privy Council, Guernsey can make changes to the legislation by way of an order (ordinance) without consulting Chief Pleas.

‘Even if such consultation were to take place, Guernsey could choose to disregard Sark’s views,’ Sark News claimed.

‘The real issue is, how much control should Sark’s Chief Pleas cede to Guernsey, despite having no representation there whatsoever?

‘Needless to say, independence, once lost, would be virtually impossible to get back.

‘Could it be a Guernsey tax bill next?’

The newsletter goes on to question the role of Guernsey’s Law Officers.

‘When Guernsey Law Officers are advising Sark about the merits of any such Bailiwick scheme, it is a scheme that they are the architects of,’ it said.

It added that the Law Officers sought the quietest life possible while enhancing Guernsey autonomy.

‘Sark is an easy victim of such ploys, particularly if those who would lead Sark can’t see it when it’s waved under their noses – they are too busy opening doors in the Guernsey ﾓcorridors of powerﾔ with unfavourable results,’ Sark News said.