Island in limbo as Barclays walk away but do not sell
Saturday 13th December 2008, 9:28AM GMT.
THE Barclays will retain their Sark real estate portfolio, despite closing the businesses and stopping development work.
Estate manager Kevin Delaney (pictured) said that Wednesday’s election had signed the longest commercial suicide note in history.
He would not disclose the value of the property, which includes hotels, shops, restaurants and pubs, but said it was worth ‘tens of millions’.
‘We will not be selling a single blade of grass,’ he said. He said that he, probably like the people of Sark, was in a reflective mood and no decision had been made on the properties’ future.
The Dixcart and Aval du Creux Hotels closed on Thursday when Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay withdrew their investment after the Sark electorate voted in people who opposed their views.
More than 100 people lost their jobs as a result of the decision, including several builders.
‘On a human level I’m devastated at what has happened, but there was no alternative,’ said Mr Delaney. He said it was hard to see anybody taking over what Sark Estate Management had started with its 15-year plan.
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Shame on the Barclays. There must be an environmental disaster waiting to happen in the Gouliot passage with all the toys floating around after ejection from the cot…
Congratulations on the Sarkees for recognising these people for what they are and firmly resisting the poisoned chalice.
It’s going to be tough, but the second world war prepared the island for hard core siege tactics….
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What a load of rubbish ” There was no alternative ” of course there was, but only if there is a will to seek an alternative.
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‘On a human level I’m devastated at what has happened, but there was no alternative’
Sounds like crocodile tears to me, of course there was an alternative. The alternative was to keep the businesses running whilst negotiations took place for an organised sale of the assets to other investors.
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Who can blame the Sark Estate Management or the Barclay Brothers for this action.
If I was in their shoes I would rather let all the properties rot to show the ignorant Islanders how well their elected can manage affairs.
Nobody can be expected to do business with people that are in power that make the rules up as they go.
You can’t reason with people who are unreasonable.
The Barclays have been stifled by the electorate and the elected. I feel the majority of the elected only came to be as a direct result for this.
It is high time the Sarkees had a taste of their own medicine. This will free up even more properties to be snapped up and left to run down naturally.
Some Islanders are so stupid it is beyond belief. I wonder if their litle minded attitudes change in six months?
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Sour grapes. Hissy fit. Toys out the pram.
Keeping the properties closed and not selling will be despicable. It seems Sark didn’t want to be controlled the Barcley way. It also seems that the other islands support Sark because they cherish what Sark is and respect it.
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I am really saddened by what is happening on Sark. As a regular visitor for over 30 years I have enjoyed the Island’s uncomplicated life. The arrival of their offshore neighbours changed so much. How can the actions of two people have caused so much damage – and split Sark’s community so badly? My fear is that the Barclay’s anger at being usurped by a group of ordinary people will lead to Sark being irrevocably damaged. Can’t they accept that the people have sent them a clear message – LEAVE SARK ALONE. The challenge now is for the islanders re-unite and move forward.
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Paul, from your comments you seem to be in the pay of the Barclays bros, and like them do not agree with democracy.
Might I ask why they had to meddle with Sark politics rather than live happily ever after in their Castle.
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This overreaction reminds me of a child who throws a tantrum when it did not get its own way.
I think what has happened is shocking and shows the Barclays for what they are. They did not really want a ‘Democracy’ in Sark, they wanted their ‘preferred candidates’ to sit on Cheif Pleas. Answer me this question Paul, since when does a real democracy have only 2 votes that count?
To the people of Sark caught up in this mess my sympathies. I hope whatever the solution you will refuse to be held to ransom.
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Paul
The Barclays bought up the properties and THEN told the people of Sark to support them or else. And then when they didn’t get their way closed everything down.
If support was essential to their business plan they should have secured the support first, and THEN bought up the properties.
If your landlord were standing for Deputy, would you consider it fine for him to say “Vote for me or I will throw you out of your home” ?
If your boss were standing for Deputy would you think it fine for him to say “Vote for me or I will sack you” ?
Even that analogy isn’t right – in effect they would be saying ” Make sure all your freinds and neighbours vote for me or I will sack you / make you homeless ”
Are you seriously suggesting that any individual has the right to dictate how people vote just because they have more money ?
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Is ‘Paul’ really Kevin Delaney? I can see no other explanation for his absurd comments.
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Paul.
I agree you cant blame the Sark estate management team (afterall they’re no doubt being paid very very handsomely to roll on their backs and get their bellies rubbed!) but I totally disagree with the way the Barclays have dealt with this.
Paul, if you had invested thousands of pounds into your livelyhood, leased a building for x amount of years but you didnt agree with everything the twins stood for, then this bombshell and you get kicked out, how would you feel?
Why should everyone suffer at the hands of the Barclays?
I thought the whole idea was to elect a democratic government on Sark?
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Paul.
I’ve read a few posts of yours over several topics and one thing appears prominent. You are not a Channel Islander niether do you like Channel Islanders. Take this quote of yours from another post, “All of the Channel Islands desperately need a good shake up.” No, they don’t. What they do need is to get rid of people that are here just for what they can get out of it. Such as yourself for instance.
Now, if the Barclays’ insist on holding the inhabitants of Sark to ransom like this I would like to see one or both of the following to transpire if at all possible. Confiscation or at least compulsory purchase of all property in Sark owned by the Barclays’. Permission denied to land their helicopters in any of the Channel Islands or berth any of their boats in the Channel Islands except Brechou.
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I’ve seen suggestions that the Island Government democratically elected should nationalise the mothballe3d properties and businesses. To mothball them and say they won;t seel them to anyone else prepared to do business in a democracy is event more contemptible than closing them down. I hope that the island is able to do this and see the back of the Barclays.
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I think that the people of Sark should be getting some urgent legislation in place to allow for the compulsory purchase of the now empty properties, so that they are put in the hands of people who really care about the Island rather than their own power.
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If the Barclays brothers won’t sell their businesses then nationalise them, without compensation. Re-employ the workforce to work in those businesses, they,ll make a profit.
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It would appear that this action has been taken as a direct result of the democratic elections that have taken place, this I believe makes the Barclay’s enemies of the state, under these curcumstances the seizure of all assets would be more than justified. I guess the ex employees now realise what the Barclay’s think of them, their loyalty has been rewarded with a kick in the teeth.
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We should all stop bying the Daily Telegraph (owned by the Barclay brothers) as a protest and donate the money saved to the people of Sark who have lost their jobs.
If a UK wide action along these lines could be initiated the Barclays would not like the adverse publicity or the loss of income.
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Oh my, the peasants are revolting.
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The people voted and Barclay camp didnt like the result – just accept it, its obviously what the majority wanted. If some of the Sark people had enough money they could have taken ‘Mrs Oliver’ of Sark New to court for slander and deformation of their names in the ‘Sark News’, just like the Barclays would have done if the ‘shoe had been on the other foot!!’
The locals who had jobs with Mr Delaney had jobs before he arrived and will find jobs again. I feel sorry for those people as they were loyal to Mr. Delaney but their loyalty was obviously not returned. Not all of the people who have lost jobs were actually living on Sark before they were employed by Mr. Delaney.
Good luck Sark.
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It’s sad, to be blunt.
An island as beautiful and historical as Sark shouldn’t be exposed to such greed and pettiness as this.
It is a society that has functioned peacefully for so many years, and to monopolise it and force it to change surely isn’t fair.
These men don’t need properties in Sark, nor do they need the power within Sark – but still are persuing it, much to the island’s detriment. Why want more when you’ve got enough?
It’s such a shame.
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>”there was no alternative,’ said Mr Delaney
Of course there was no alternative other than to sack 20% of the population of Sark right before Christmas.
Human feelings seem to be the last thing Mr Delaney and the Barclays think about.
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2 words for the sarkies will solve the problem of the unopened businesses.
Eminient Domain
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As a regular visitor to Sark the events of recents days are quite disturbing. Kevin Delaney says closing their business’s was the only thing they could do. Rubbish! It was a democratic election with the people of Sark deciding on their representatives on the Chief Pleas. Clearly they were not prepared to accept an assembly run by the Barclay brothers with the eventual possibility of most of the Island being owned by them. If the Barclays had the interest of Sark at heart they would have accepted the result, retired to Brechou and pondered on why they had become so unpopular to the majority. Come on Barclays work with the new Chief Pleas and stop relying on litigation to get your own way.
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Dear People of Sark
In brief, you are well shot of the ghastly super-rich Barclays and their alternative agendas. Their behaviour is absolutely typical of those who are rich beyond imagination. It is tough for you that this has all happened just before christmas, but chins up – we (Channel Islanders) have been through worse. You can get through this. I for one shall bring my entire family to Sark in the new year and spend as much money as possible whilst I am there on LOCAL service providers. I am sure many other ‘Guerns’ will do likewise. However tough this episode is, in the long run you will be better off living in a democratic autonamous society WITHOUT the tyranny that has become the Barclay Brothers. Let them rot in their ridiculous faux ‘castle’ – one thing’s for sure, they’ll never be able to sell it now. And I shall never buy the Telegraph again either (not that I did before, as it’s a crap right wing rag).
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I agree with Bridge i will be going to sark next year with my little money that i do have and spending it with plesure . keep your chins up sarkees guernsey is behind you on this one barcley bros can stay on there island and stay away from all of us
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Paul- are you on the payroll of the Barclays by any chance?
If the Barclays are leaving the properties empty just to get back for not being voted in by the Sark community, I would say to all those made homeless/jobless to squat, and club together to have a passable xmas.
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caz
For the record I am not on the Barclays payroll. I have not been asked unfortunately.
If I was I would not wish to bite the hand that feeds me.
I do admire what they are wising to achieve. It takes two people of their quality to question our constitution.
It is all wrong and they can see it for what it is and actually are forcing change. It will benefit most.
Those that wish to protect their own roles in society have a vested interest. These people in power tend to live life at the highest possible standards whilst the taxpayers fund them.
For far to long our people in power have looked after their own selfish interests.
I can’t wait for FOI and all the constitunional changes that will follow.
For the others that feel I am an outsider. An alien. For the record I am local born and bred. Not that this should matter.
Aren’t we all human wanting to make a difference?
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it saddens and disheartens me to see this behaviour of 2 men knighted for ‘whatever’. If only they could keep their insidious ways to themselves but no…. they involve themselves in a small island community of whom some would always be unable to stop themselves from taking the ‘money’. such short sightedness can be with us all.
on a light hearted thought; where has this advocate come from? his pomposity and manner must already have alienated the islanders from their supposed ‘benefactor’! please in sark, sit on your hands and like ulysses; don’t listen to the sirens but get back to whom you are, proud independent people.
on the telegraph; me too, shall get stuck into the times and observer!
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The words of the Estate Manager remind me of some classic quotes from World War II. One of them being; “There will be no retreat, not one millimeter…” It was not Winston Churchill making this comment and this is not the first time this attitude has been imposed on the people of Sark.Lets hope they prevail again. I think they will.VVVVVV
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I am glad to see that there are some sensible people who will stick their necks out to congratulate the Barclays on what they have achieved albeit with their own money. The green-eyed monster lives on Sark. Some shopkeepers have openly applauded the Barclays for what they have done and have said that if they were in their shoes they would have done the same thing. Why help people when what you are doing for them is not appreciated. Let Sark sort their own finances out. In the meantime a thankyou to the Barclays for the helicopter rescue and community hall and anything else that they have already contributed towards.
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It is the greatest honour to be knighted and anyone slanging off the Barclay brothers for this honour has got to be sad and mad. This saga has got very heated and moblike – please do your research properly before you go blatantly slagging off two respectable persons without knowing your facts.
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Janet
I think most people will congratulate the Barclays on what they have done for Sark.
The problem is that they have mixed business with politics and appear to have tried to buy themselves into power.
They wanted democracy, and got democracy not to their liking, its as simple as that.
Wealth can buy anything, but being respected in life is priceless.
It seems to me that if they are respectable as you say, then if I were they I would get rid of the hangers on whom are doing them no favours in what they say, and spend some time in Sark and speak and get to know the people.
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Beware Greeks bearing Gifts.
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Poor Janet, your naivety is almost endearing. Here in the real world where the rest of us live, we have to judge people by their actions, not their words, because sometimes, shock horror! people tell lies.
Of course some Sarkees applauded the Brothers Grimm’s ‘good works’. The (few) islanders who profited from the last Occupation had no problem with their invaders either, and perhaps for the same reasons, i.e. they did briefly profit from an equally appalling and untenable situation OR that they were too terrified to say otherwise.
The ignorant and short sighted views and opinions that you share with the minority doesn’t mean it’s right, or right for the island itself and it’s majority.If there’d been more people like you around during the Occupation, perhaps we’d have lost all our heritage and be speaking German by now.
..and no, previous brownie points scored does not somehow ‘cancel out’ them trying to ruin Sark because they didn’t succeed in their attempt to take over the island and make it part of their empire.
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Isn’t Kevin Delaney now out of job with only locked doors to check and no staff on the payroll ?
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Being an Islander and living on the Continent I have for a long time followed the antics of these rich people.If you want to replace a window,an Islander has to get planning permission,but if you have millions then you can arrive on the islands,buy a bit of our heritage,and build a monstrosity that no Islander would ever have got permission to erect.Not satisfied with this,and with the aid of their wealth,they wanted to rule Sark and bring “democracy” to an Island that has been well served by its present set up.So while I feel deeply for those who have no jobs out of this, then I would say you have mastered worse in the past,and you will this, with benefit to the whole community.So I would like to wish all in Sark a Happy Christmas,and may the New Year bring you the success you deserve!
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Well said Scarlett!!!
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