The man who pulled the plug on Sark
Friday 12th December 2008, 2:25PM GMT.
Kevin Delaney in Sark in July when he told the Guernsey Press that the investment was a long-term project. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0601871)
SARK Estate manager Kevin Delaney took the decision to end the Barclay brothers’ multi-million pound investment in the island and lay off more than 100 workers.
The decision plunged the island into chaos last night.
Mr Delaney’s move to make them redundant with immediate effect followed yesterday’s historic election result, which did not go the way the billionaire Brecqhou backers had hoped.
Only two of their nine preferred candidates were successful. The man who represented the brothers’ involvement in the island slammed the poll as ‘a cartel’. ‘Deals were done behind closed doors that were executed with military precision. It was block voting on a breathtaking scale of which I have never seen in my life.’
He added: ‘I strongly suspect that the establishment did not expect to give us the bloody nose they did. I think they wanted to keep the money coming in but to have a strong element of control over us.’
Despite attempting to salvage something from the ‘debacle’ by meeting with the island’s main policymakers on the General Purpose and Advisory Committee, Mr Delaney said no reasonable offer had been made.
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Conflicting messages for sure for those outside to unravel, time will no doubt do that and hopefully with transparency.
Though the bottom line is to pull out/lay off people is very much sweet snatching.
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I am desperately sorry for the people who have lost their jobs as a result of the petulant behaviour of the Barclay brothers. I am sure it is of little comfort for them to be told that the people of Sark have done the right thing – but I truly believe they have.
The Barclay brothers (and their employees such as Mr Delaney) have proven by their actions that they had absolutely no interest in Sark as a society nor do they really give a damn about their employees.
This saga has always been about money – they wanted to take control of the government of the island so that they would have complete freedom to redevelop and commercialise sark in any way they wanted. Yes it would have meant jobs, but I am sure it would have also meant helipads, golf courses and the wholesale destruction of an enviable way of life.
Above all, despite all their talk of introducing a new and democratic form of government, it is now obvious that what the Barclay brothers really wanted was absolute control over the elected representatives of the island. Well sorry, democracy doesn’t work like that – the people have spoken and if it doesn’t fit in with their business plan then tough!
Good for you Sarkees. I hope you soon find replacement investors to buy out the Barclay brother’s interests and who recognise the need to protect the beauty and cultural identity of your wonderful island.
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What a disaster. All concerned with Sark should be very concerned right now. Act before it is too late for the economy of this fragile island to ever recover. Are there no sensible negotiators on the island? Surely at least one of the 57 electoral candidates should have had the foresight to include a clear vision for the future of the island (taking all current factors into account) in their manifesto. The Barclay brothers own a large portion of the island including many of the principal businesses. This is a fact that will not easily be changed. Negotiation is long overdue. Please end the feuds and allow intelligent lateral thinking to come to the fore – salvage this island before it is too late.
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So the Barclay Brothers don’t really like democracy after all! The people have voted and made their choices clear and now the Barclays are behaving like children. Well done the people of Sark – I think you have voted wisely.
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This is an old English saying “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”.. They a lesson to learn here somewhere ?
Anyway what are they all moaning about. I thought the Sarkies wanted rid of the Barclay’s and their money and a return to the old ways of subsistence living..
You can’t have you cake and eat it you know.
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For years people have wondered as to the motivation behind the Barclay’s involvement in Sark. Now it has become clear. They offered people sums of money that they could not refuse, and bought up all the major businesses on the island. They then held the electorate to ransom. They proclaim their democratic values, whilst running a campaign via printed news letters and magazines to ruin the reputations of anyone who may dare whisper their concern.
Many islanders were uncertain whether the Barclays could be trusted. Now they know. The Barclays have closed down their business interests in an island that they claim they love. The island must pull together and work for the common good.
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Imagine what would have happened if they had pulled that stunt in Greece in the last few days !
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The Barclay Brothers appear to hold the residents of Sark in contempt. They want to get their own way and are now playing dirty.
Make no mistake, this is an attack on a country and its people.
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I have to agree with CD on this one good on you sarkess none of us want sark turned into a little city on tarmac roads and heliports and golf courses well done
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Good on your sark not bowing down to pressue! I really feel for you people who live there now the Barclay Brothers have had a temper tantrum and thrown their toys out of the pram!
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One must wonder whether the Barclays have had a case of ‘Sandcastle Syndrome’ with regards to Sark.
Build it up and then walk away and let it crash and burn. Shame on you Barclay Brothers. Shame, Shame, Shame!!!
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i am very much affected by the events of the past 24 hours in sark. myself and members of my immediate family are now unemployed and the future does not look very bright.
i feel that i need to say this though….
too many people are blaming the whole sorry mess on the barclay brothers and mr.delaney. i,along with many of my former colleagues, feel that the election has proved one thing only – an inherrent pig-headedness from the people who claim to represent the people of sark. it seems to be a ‘hoorah! we won and stuck it to the outsiders’ attitude. well i hope that the winners of the election are very happy withthemselves today. they have pulled a political coup and done it very well. they have also,due to their attitude, left many many locals and ,more importantly, young families without jobs, prospects and, in some cases, the prospect of homelessness – just in time for christmas.
we were getting a fair wage for a days work and had a future. now…. well?
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one final point. how many of the new counseillers are truly local?
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You can’t buy democracy.
The Barcley Brother’s camp is reported as saying of the sark people “you reap what you sow”, but this is true of the Barcley Brothers themselves. If they think that their finance can influence the Sark people then they have been shown otherwise. Their behaviour concerning the sark people show’s what their true intentions were from the start. They don’t want democracy, they want control. As a genuine Channel islander, my repsect is with the Sark people. It’s unfortunate that the economy is now suffering – but does’nt this show it was a falsley inflated economy as a result of the Barcley Brothers selfish intentions. Long live sark.
Matt.
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How can the Barclay brothers be certain that the people they made redundant did not vote as they would have liked?
I wonder if they will have any conscience over the Christmas period and spare a thought for those who are now unemployed?
My suggestion to the Barclays is to buy an uninhabited island, build a few houses then populate it with puppets!
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Well done people of Sark.
All us Guerns should travel to Sark in 09 and spend some of our hard earned cash and help support our fellow channel islanders.
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The demise of the Barclay brothers is timely. Surely suspicion must have arisen as soon as they built their Fortress on Brecqhou – it was only a matter of time before they assumed that money can buy everything. Thankfully it seems it cannot buy democracy. Sark may have used a political sledgehammer but at least it has been used to good effect. The island is well shot of these people eating at the core of such a beautiful place – it is the islanders that make Sark what it is, not those who sweep in showering notes from a helicopter. Sark has survived financial instability before and it will recover again but I hope the Sarkees will be even more wary of blow-ins now and remember this harsh lesson when the next bored billionaire floats by…
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Well done Sark, another victory for Democracy. You did it 60 odd years ago and you’ve done it again today. Your beautiful island will survive in all its glory long after the Barclays are forgotton about.
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In defence of the Barclay Brothers, maybe they did love the island – but it is clear that the island did not love them no matter what they did or how much money they invested. Is it due to inherent dislike of outsiders, especially educated outsiders with ideas and money? was it because they weren’t “local”, was it really a lets stick it to the outsiders attitude as unemployed states?
Why should the Barclay Brothers continue to invest in an island that does not want them?
I feel very sad for the people of Sark to loose such great contributers to the island. Now many people have lost their jobs and livelihoods and in the current economic climate the future will be bleak.
The upside is that there is plenty for the Barclays to invest in in Guernsey! If Sark doesnt want their money then maybe they can come and spend it in Guernsey instead, we are a more welcoming crowd and we already have plenty of golf courses. I’d have round of golf with David and Frederick anyday.
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Unemployed – firstly my sympathies to you and your family and to those affected by the Barclays actions.
However, greater forces than they are at work here. That force is democracy.
The Barclays wanted it, most people in Sark wanted it. Now you have it and, I’m afraid, you have to live with it.
What they (the Barclays) have subsequently done is trying to undermine the democratic order.
It just shows the contempt they have for you and all the other people of Sark.
I sincerely hope that you and Sark can weather this and I for one will be much more inclined to visit the island as is still Sark and not Barclayland.
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I have to say I think Sark deserves it’s fate.
Here are 2 people who have invested millions into a tiny rock in the middle of no where. They have already said the don’t see getting a return for 15 – 20 years which for investors of their calibre is as good as writing the money off. It’s not as if Sark have turned away other big investors!
The decision and the pressure put on was simple. As an island do you want investment, security, and a more developed way of life, or would you rather go it alone and face the uncertain future like the rest of us. Your now facing job losses, cut backs and an un certain future like the rest of the world.
Welcome to the real world, it’s your bed now lie in it. Unless of course the Barclay brothers paid for your bed, then you now have to go and buy your own one. I hear woolies are selling them cheap.
If it was me…. i’d swap a few old traditions for the security you guys had. Good luck.
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I’ve been to Sark for holidays. I love the island for the way it is. Just by looking at Brecqhou I can understand why the main body voted the way they did, in an election brought about by the actions of the brothers themselves. It’s a modern lesson that I hope the island survives with its spirit intact – after all, it managed after WWII.
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It is unfortunate that the people of Sark have not looked to the future and seen the opportunity that was available to them.
Yes, they would have had to given some quarter on the election front in terms of who they voted in, but at the cost of millions in infrastructure investment is surely very shortsighted.
I think Mr Delaney has acted correctly under the circumstances but I remain optimistic that both sides can come to some agreement over Sark’s future.
The Barclays can obviously afford to sever their link with Sark but I do not think this is in their nature. What kind of return could they ever achieve on the millions invested in such a small island? It is my view that they are/were investing because they have a genuine interest in making it an attractive again but without making it too 21st century.
Let’s hope that both ‘sides’ can find some common ground so that the good work can continue.
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My thought are for all those Sarkees who now face an uncertain future.
The Barclays have taken their bat and ball back to the castle. It does appear they did not want democracy but absolute control of the Sark. With a different result how long would it have been until they had complete control of the economy of Sark. The events leave an uncertain time, however one which I am sure one from which Sark can recover which would not be the case had the Barclays grip became tighter.
Democracy entails a respect for the rights of the people and it does appear in the Barclays actions there was little respect for the people, perhaps if their approach been less roughshod they would not have “reaped what they and their henchman sowed!
Democracy does work after all, regardless of wealth, Well done Sark.
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I would believe all the positive spin on various comments above if the plug had not been pulled.
Pulling the plug is a very black/white position to stand in.
What millions have been invested to date by the brothers actually on Sark?
I see a castle and all the trappings there, I see the cost to change the Island system… but what else, these two items alone were for vested interest.
Investment could have continued on Sark without making the legal changes had the investment been from an open hand I feel.
Perhaps both sides have learnt something from this and can move forward, should not fall out with your neighbour’s as it makes it a hellish way to live.
A bit of meadiation is required, but with real people not lawyers.
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Being a “free Democracy”instead of a feudal state obviously has its downside as well!The first day of freedom results in a mass layoff of people who did not vote as the money dictated.
Clearly the intention was to replace one feudal system with another fiefdom under a different name in spite of all the talk about modernisation.
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Like spoiled children the Brothers – used to getting their own way – have decided not to accept the election results because they lost.
They’ve sulked off the pitch taking the ball with them and kicking as many players as possible as they go. I shan’t be reading the Daily or Sunday Telegraph again.
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Money – even with hefty strings attached – can buy most things – but not popularity and not Sark. Thank goodness.
Congratulations to Sark on not selling it’s soul.
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I know that Sark has traditionally been a low-tax economy, but in the circumstances would not the immediate imposition of a 10% wealth tax on all its inhabitants be justified? I gather that the Barclays have £1.7 billion, so £170 million would represent only a modest contribution on their part to the relief of poverty on the island. Democracy in action!
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I have now read David Cranch’s comment in another list. Depressing if true, but what is the strict legal position?
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I’m with you ‘Concerned Guernsey’
Anyone who feels at all sorry for those who have lost their jobs at the hands of these brothers throwing their toys out the pram should make a New Years Resolution to visit Sark at least once during 2009.
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Over the years I have spent alot of time in Sark, and i have grown very attached to the Island and it’s people. I am so sorry for the people who have lost their jobs, including some of my closest friends. The people of Sark are some of the nicest people anyone could wish to meet and deserve our respect to their way of life and how they decide to carry it on. There has been alot of debate to the intentions of the Barclay Brothers, but now I feel they have shown their true colours. If they truely cared for Sark and it’s people then they would have stayed and not of done what they have just because the election they demanded did not go the way they wanted.
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What Next? somebody has to pay for the new Sark. Who, the locals? the island has made many people rich with the Sark lark & tax free status over the last 30 years, how many have put there hands in there pockets? far from it they have lined ther own nest & now sit back quite well off while the younger genaration suffer. i lived in sark for years & saw first hand the greed, Taxes up? Sark Shipping sinking in debit, the writing was on the wall years ago, Sad.
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I still can’t believe that the Barclays have chosen to abuse their wealth and power so spectacularly. To have agitated for democracy and then reacted to its result in such a bullying manner is unbelievable in 2008. Throwing people out of work and boarding up businesses simply because you can, is monstrous. I hope islanders mobilise so they just don’t let this all happen unchallenged. Scandalous is an over-used word but absolutely appropriate in this case. Shocking
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If the Barclays really cared about Sark and its people they would put all their businesses up for sale, and keep them running in the meantime.
To lay off people two weeks away from Christmas, because a DEMOCRATIC election didn’t go their way, makes Ebeneezer Scrooge look like a kind hearted philanthropist in comparison.
They may be the kindest most generous people on the planet, who have a deep love and respect for Sark and its people – but if that is true they really need a new PR firm !!!!
One also has to question just how good at business they really are. If you buy a plot of land to develop, at an inflated price, and there is no permission for development then you are taking a risk. If you subsequently apply for planning permission, and have it refused, it is your fault if you have wasted money, not the fault of the planners for failing to give you permission.
Sark for the Sarkees, not the Barclays !!!
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AS A JERSEY GIRL WHO LIVED ON BRECQHOU WHO’S FAMILY WAS THERE WITH MR THOMPSON DONLSON AND LATER WITH MR MATCHAM.
A LOT OF SARK PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER MY FATHER CHARLES TALBOT THE FARMER. WHEN LA DAME RAN SARK AND CHARLIE PERRIE WAS THE KING OF LITTLE SARK MANY LONG YEARS AGO, AND THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE GIRLS KNEW EVERY LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION. WE AS AN ISLAND ALWAYS WORKED WITH THE SARK PEOPLE, IN FACT LOOKED UP TO THEM BUT THIS WAS IN THE PAST. MY BROTHER RALPH AND MY SELF WATCHED AND WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT BRECQHOU AND ALL THE GOINGS ON BUT NOW THE PEOPLE OF SARK CAN SAY AND DO AS THEY WISH AND NO COME BACK, SO PEOPLE OF SARK HAVE YOUR SAY, RUN THE ISLAND AS IT SHOULD BE RUN FOR YOURSELVES, NOT FOR PEOLPE WHO WISH TO CHANGE YOUR WAYS BECAUSE NOW BY CHANING THS LAW THE WORM HAS TURNED AND WHAT A BIG BITE IT HAS.
GOOD LUCK SARK. PERHAPS NOW A VOTE CAN BE TAKEN, ADDING TO BANK HOLIDAYS. HOW ABOUT LIBERATION DAY, FREEDOM DAY, SARK FIGHTS BACK DAY, BARCLAY DAY OR OUT. THE RETURN OF SARK. AFTER TWO WONDERFUL FILMS AND A MUSICAL PERHAPS ANOTHER FILM CAN BE MADE OF ALL THIS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LOVE SARK, LOVE THE PEOPLE, AND NEVER WANT YOU TO CHANGE.
ANN AND RALPH TALBOT EX BRECQHOU IN THE NICE DAYS NOW THE BAY TREE FERRIS TOWN TRORN CORNWALL
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Congrats Sark! You will survive as you always have. Ignore the nay sayers, just get on with it. The Barclays are fortunate not to have tried their stunt in Greece.
Meanwhile, and as the Barclays are now leaving Sark in a mess following their failed attempt to turn Sark into their own personal kingdom, is their anyway this situation can be taken to the Court of Human Rights or somesuch body?
Best.
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As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for, it might come true.
Like I’m sure many outsiders who regulary holiday on sark I feel an afinaty to the island, this developement is very worrying, what are the Barclay’s intentions? to sell off the business’s or to keep them closed to ‘starve out’ the islanders? Maybe the first new law to be thought about is for the enforced sale of any property left empty to the detriment of Sarks economy.
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My heart goes out to those who have suddenly lost their jobs. Most of us would get notice because we have employment rights. The effects of the decision of one organisation has had a dramatic effect on the lives of those effected, which includes friends and family. Clearly the Barclay brothers have demonstrated their power in a negative and harmful way and do not see any moral obligation to the people effected. They have too much economic power but not enough political influence which is only right. Sark is a unique and wonderful place that has taken a big knock. In nature, when a woodland is destroyed, strong green shoots emerge from the ashes and the woodland becomes back…
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Democracy? it seems as though the sainted Barclay Brothers thought the FEUDALSM was alive and well. Do as the (moneyed)pseudo-seigneur says or I will let you starve.
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At least we are under no illusions what the Barclay brothers were after- total control of sark.
Will the Telegraph print what the Barclays have now done to the people of Sark. Left their employees jobless and homeless over xmas?
Are their familys proud of the way they have behaved. Fair enough get the law changed so that you can leave your money to your daughters – Im female I agree with that. But this is terrible, how can they sleep at night.
But good for the sarkies. I hope that you will be able to help the residents who this affects through this difficult time.
I do spend most of my annual holidays self catering in Sark- pre Barclays and after Barclays, like a lot of people i know. Sark will survive. People who know Sark and its people know that the community will pull together and will go on.
I wonder if the jobless could not get together and take the Barclays to the court of human rights, Im sure if a fund was set up people would contribute?
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Congratulations Sark
It is a costly choise, but in the long run you will look back feeling that the corect dicision has been made Perhaps all islanders everywhere, including all of us who are wishing you well.should start a fund to help you get over this period without Barclay Brothers,
Long Live Sark with its own way of life
Bill
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Grow up people.
The population of Sark new what the deal was here. In full knowledge of this they decided to take the hard route, as they are absolutely entitled to do. As a result however they must now live with the consequences.
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Where did this mess start? the seigneur was more than happy to take £179k for the sale of Brecqho & the planning commitee gave there blessing to the Castle, WHY? Money? Then when the Barclays wanted to buy on sark the seignerur gave his ok & got his 10p worth.
IS Sark Shipping going bust next week? who puts the hand in the pocket to sort that mess out? its only 1.7 million
Sark will survive but at what cost.
The people that suffer are the working familys who are the backbone of the island not the ones who sit in ivory towers (both sides of the divide)
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LONG LIVE SARK! Best of wishes for the future. Don’t rely on the false economy, and don’t let yourselves be bullied, as you have shown you won’t be. From a fellow channel islander who believes in the true value of Sark. VIVE.
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I think we all feel sorry for all the recently unemployed people on Sark, especially at Christmas. You ladies and gents have not done anything wrong and don’t deserve it and are just the pawns in the Barclays war against the way of life on Sark.
But the Barclays wanted all this democracy and because the voting did not go their way, they don’t want to play anymore. They probably had some massive hidden agenda to do with Sark, who knows what it would get turned into under their ruling.
Don’t forget the way they worded that article in their own Sark newspaper. The Barclays should be taken to court over this. They should also be thrown out of the Channel Islands.
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What is meant by “the Barclays’ investments in Sark”? Is the the properties and businesses that they have bought and operated in the island? If so, who sold these properties and businesses to them?
I recall hearing, in decades past, people in Guernsey complaining that it was the incomers (mostly “the English”) who were driving up the cost of living and housing in Guernsey. My question was the same then, who is selling to these incomers? If “locals” were unwilling to sell to “the English”, there would presumably be no incomer fuelled price inflation.
I make no excuses for the Barclays’ bad behaviour but do those Sarkees who sold to them have no responsibility in this?
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Out of all of the well meant, kind letters of support posted on the Sark versus Barclay situation, the one item posted that stands out most for me, as a temporary ex-pat, having lived on Sark and bought a family up on Sark and grandchildren born on Sark – is the one by posted by Unemployed!
As, for the present, an outsider looking back in on my home, I feel so sad for the people who, in good faith, took jobs offered by Mr.Delany et al working on the assumption that the Barclays cared for and loved Sark.
At this most precious family time of the year they are left with totally no future or income – and remember Sark has no DHSS system, no unemployment money, no pension etc. to fall back on! Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney & the UK people are well cared for and have no retirement, unemployment worries.
Well I can remind you all that Sark has no such back-up system. Prior to the Barclays the system worked well – ie no home, no job equals no home on Sark.Find a job, home to rent/buy and live and let live and Sark was the best place on the planet to live.
Recently the people of Sark that needed to provide for their families seem to have been lulled into a false sense of security and lost out although they now have democracy, be it at a seemingly high price.
Do the people on island that are clapping themselves on the back now they have ‘democracy’ actually come from Sark? Does their income deride on Sark? or are they happily living on incomes from elsewhere and having a very nice living on their pensions from else where and forgetw that their ideology has cost a lot of local people their incomes.? Someone out there must have the answer. Please – everyone on Sark – think of everyone else on Sark and their young families and see if there is a way forward for all sides and parties to the benefit of everyone – not just the satisfied – we have scored a point – residents. Need I say more.
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In their actions the Barclay Brothers have proved their critics right in a far more effective way than those critcs ever could.
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Sark is a lovely island with lovely people who deserve better consideration than that given by Barclay brothers. However lets hope something can
be done to bring about a better future for souch a unique island. Just want to wish the people of Sark. A very happy new year. Bill
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Having to vote a certain way, or lose your job and home is not democracy.
It is difficult to tell what their long term plan is, but their actions suggest that the well being of the inhabitants is not part of the plan.
Sure, voting to move inside the castle walls brings short term security, but soon the Kings will die and the castle will fall. Who would own you next?
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The Barclays are getting on – it’s unlikely that any investment would be carried on by their beneficiaries. The sons are never the fathers. So any investment might be very short lived.
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The pages of history recount many instances of people who have shouted loud and long about democracy. Have you noticed, however, that political parties that have democratic in their seldom are.
It is amazing how many people who say that a situation is not democratic but when they manage to create a “democratic” situation they then claim that that the result is not acceptable. This being due to the fact that the vast majority of people do not agree with their point of view.
At this time the toys are thrown out of the pram in a tantrum.
If the Barclays are to give serious thought to their refusal to accept the fully democratic election in Sark they should, if they are genuine in their concern for the development of Sark, very quickly realise that it is their conduct from the time of their arrival that has alienated the Sark residents.
Channel Islanders are proud people and will not accept being told what to do. If you then treat them fairly, without dictating to them and behave like a good guest in their house you will find that you will have a friend for life.
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I am absolutely stunned by what has happened in Sark this week. I speak as a Guern with a long Sark heritage and those who really know Sark know this election has had the right result. A win for democracy.
It is hypocrisy for the Barclays to castigate Sark for fuedalism and demand a modern electoral system only then to pull out when things don’t go their way.
Sark will recover from this and in its own way. It will be for the best in the end.
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I’ve been a regular visitor to Sark for many years and I have to say, in all honesty, that on my last visit in October the island had never been better. The standard of accommodation and food was excellent and the whole place had a gentle but obvious “buzz” about it as it shook off its tired and tatty image.
I had been considering booking some longer stays but, following the Barclay’s regrettable decision to withdraw their support, I’ll just stick to day trips with my own picnic basket in future.
From what I can see the real power hasn’t been spread far enough and the institution remains in place, under a different name. It’s a shame that a handful of people who want for nothing can conspire to play silly games at the expense of the islands population and their future prosperity.
To all those who would stand in the way of the positive change that was underway….now you have got what you wanted, via the democratic process, what’s the alternative, where are your plans for jobs and tourism?
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It seems to me that those who were sacked have a good case for wrongeful dismissal, as I am sure there is a procedure to follow before one can be sacked.
I would like to see a top Guernsey Law practice come forward to act on behalf of those sacked with a view to taking a class action case against the Barclays.
But there again I am sure they have considered this, as they have the wealth to fight anything thrown at them, plus they would no doubt inflict more pain on the Sarkees..
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How Knights of the Realm can treat their workers as they have,just because they could not take over Sark as they wished too is disgusting.95% of the sacked people were not local,and most likely voted the way their bosses wanted them to,so they now know what loyalty to their employers means.And it certainly shows the rest of the world what they have been upto since they aquired Brechou,obviusly they are looking for something a bit larger to expand into than what they have now.
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Sark doesn’t have any unfair dismissal law.
What is contained in the individual contract on termination is not known.
Even if there has been a breach the lawyer representing the Barclay’s suggested on TV that anyone who felt they were wrongly treated could sue.
All well for a lawyer to say but how can the people who have had their livings taken away at the drop of a hat, pay for this.
I’m sure Mr Dawes disn’t intend to look smug on the telebox, but to me he looked smug. I wonder if his concience will be troubled over Christmas?
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Stephen I’m sure that I have read that many of the Sark people employed by the Barclays did not have a written employment contract. It may be very hard for them to succeed on a legal basis without one. As you say, Sark does not have an unfair dismissal law, so would Guernsey law automatically apply ? Perhaps that’s exactly what the Barclays want in order to undermine Sark’s constitutional status.
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“Having to vote a certain way, or lose your job and home is not democracy.”
I thought tied voting went out in the 1830s – clearly not.
Hold on a minute! Isn’t that a form of feudalism?
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Jackie… Sark’s catching up slowly
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Wouldnt it be wonderful if Guernsey and Jersey stood behind Sark and gave the Barclays a taste of their own medicine. Stop them landing their helicopter at OUR airports and bringing their boats into OUR harbours, obtaining supplies from OUR shops and through our Customs..lets see just how they would survive without US….you know what…even with all of their cash…they wouldnt stand a chance!!!
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Where will the Barclays go ?
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Steve
I think that a couple of billionaires wouldn’t have too much of a problem sourcing everything from France. A mere hop on a helicopter, short ride by fast boat etc etc
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I think the FT put it spendidly on Friday:
“the Barclays have managed to replace one kind of feudalism with another. Having spoken for democracy, their reaction to the election result is contemptible.”
In contrast to THE GP’s disgraceful editorial today….
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I agree with Flying Scot’s comment above.
The Telegraph’s slant towards this story is understandable as it is owned by the Barclays but…the GP?
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Flying Scot and Madeleine
Aah, maybe the Barclays are eyeing up the GP as their next purchase???
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Well now we’ve all had a rant, lets take a look. The Barclays aren’t really so hard, or stupid as the press make out. Everyone is promised pay at Christmas and don’t panic. They’ll be back by January 5th. As to trying to buy democracy, they didn’t need to. The B’s could have simply taken over Sark by buying up a few more tenements. Under the old system the Tenants sat in Chief Pleas and ran the island. So long as everything was acceptable to the Seigneur and the Seneschal of course. So all they had to do was carry on buying more tenements, which no doubt they will still do, but no longer with a place in the Chief Pleas. I assume they were advised by lawyers to follow the course they have, I bet they regret it now! Yes the island survived for 450 years but since deputies were voted on, the island has gone to ruin. Spending has quadrupled and just like the UK and everywhere that increases its civil service, service has gone down. And most of that went on Sark Shipping. And the Island Hall which is a profit making business subsidised by the Sarkees. The people that ruined Sark Shipping have also ruined the island. NOT the Barclay brothers, who have improved the place a lot, knocked down rat infested derelict buildings, put in a lovely village green etc, and given well paying jobs to a few and created own businesses for a few more. The other lot left us broke and by constantly increasing costs, decreasing services and then increasing duty to subsidise Sark Shipping they dragged down the whole island. Then they refused a freight contract from the Barclays that would have rescued the whole service, “Because they didn’t need it”. Now, after the elections, the people that ran Sark Shipping and The Island Hall before the election are – yes you’ve guessed it – running the island.
To the current situation. The Barclays have gone head on with people who didn’t want any people coming in and being a bigger fish than them and their families. This has back fired on the Barclays as their opponents are controlling the island now, after the elections as they did then. But I say again, the major problem is Sark Shipping. Now the same people who ruined that are running the island. Of course people voted for their own family, not their employers, thatb was to be expected by everyone- except the Barclays! But now are those families going to give them £600 per week, tax free? I believe sense will win out and things will get sorted but not if the Barclays keep using lawyers instead of humans! The builders are not working the guest houses are empty, the shops are empty, the ruddy boats are empty. The only thing not empty is the lawyers bank balance. They are the only one to win in a divorce so lets hope this is a marital tiff and not a full on divorce. Now all you people feeling sorry, put your hand in your pocket for a ferry fare and take a nice weekend on Sark. Please.
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Beware Greeks bearing Gifts
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