Sark candidates and voters mingle in the Island Hall at the hustings meeting held prior to Wednesday’s election. (0681493)

SARK is getting into the swing of its ‘Heinz’ election with all 57 candidates doing their bit.

The island votes on Wednesday and the 474 people on the electoral roll will have a chance to determine who will govern Sark for the next two or four years.

In December 2010, half the 28 conseillers will be eligible for re-election and who will serve for two years and who will serve for four will be determined soon after the result is known.

Seneschal Reg Guille explained that this would be done by each candidate – irrespective of where he or she placed in the poll – drawing a piece of paper on which would be written the length of his or her term of office.

Despite the huge number of candidates contesting 28 seats, he is optimistic that the count will be completed by about 10pm.

‘We usually end voting at 8pm, with the count taking between 90 minutes and two hours, but this year voting will be between 10am and 6pm,’ he explained. ‘I hope the extra two hours between 6 and 8 will mean that the result will be announced at roughly the usual time.’

Most households have been inundated with paper in recent days – ‘enough to cover the walls of Fortress Brecqhou’, as one resident put it – as many candidates have sent out a manifesto and earlier this week there was a hustings meeting.

Most candidates attended and each was allocated a chair in the Island Hall and voters questioned them on their policies. There was a good turnout of electors and most people took the view that with a vast number of candidates – almost 10% of Sark’s total population – this was the only practical way residents could get their questions answered.

I was impressed by the number of candidates – some a surprise – who stressed the need for the new Chief Pleas to start with a clean sheet and put to one side (as far as is possible) differences with our neighbours in Brecqhou so that there can be a meaningful dialogue. That could well work, but only with goodwill and, if there is to be a ‘hotline’ between the two places, it will achieve what I believe the majority of people here want only if Sark gets a whole telephone and not just the earpiece.

However, if a continuing accord in the proper spirit and for the benefit of both islands is to be reached, then a couple of things should happen. There should be a halt to continuing old battles simply to score populist points. One candidate at the hustings meeting was distributing stickers saying ‘no thanks’ to a helicopter – a reference to the Barclay family’s proposal that a helipad be built here.

I distinctly recall that not only did our planning committee refuse consent but Chief Pleas also voted down the idea. That means it is dead in the water, so raising it at an election meeting is simply provocative.

Indeed, it’s about as daft as the most recent publication of Brecqhou’s Sark News, which listed a dozen candidates who, in the publishers’ view, should not be elected. There’s nothing like telling a Channel Islander what to do if you want him to do the opposite – another shot straight into the foot by this publication, unless I’m mistaken.

Sark Shipping has entered into the Christmas spirit by taking up our Chamber of Commerce’s suggestion that it reduces fares on Saturday shopping trips to and from the island during December.

Adults will pay £16 return, while children will do the return trip for a fiver. There’s lots happening in Sark this month and many restaurants have remained open, so Guernsey residents can expect a warm welcome.

Work on the Maseline Harbour is all but finished and schedules are back to normal, although there may be an occasional blip so travellers are strongly advised to check the company’s helpline, 12036, or its website.

l The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net.