Sark: back to work but future uncertain
Thursday 18th December 2008, 2:29PM GMT.
MOST of those who were laid off in the wake of the first democratic elections to Chief Pleas have returned to work, Sark Estate Management said yesterday.
Manager Kevin Delaney (pictured) has been in the island making arrangements for the Brecqhou-owned businesses to resume operations.
‘I very much hope that everyone who needs to work in Sark is working at the moment,’ he said. ‘Dozens are now in work today who were not at work at the beginning of the week.’
However, the move does not signal an end to the difficulties between what is regarded as the Sark establishment and its neighbours the Barclay brothers.
Mr Delaney refused to comment on a statement issued via the Seigneur on behalf of the island’s authorities and another from the General Purposes and Advisory Committee which showed little enthusiasm for dialogue regarding employment and future investment, because he had no wish to inflame matters.
However, he said that the money he previously had to spend on largely philanthropic projects was now gone, ‘probably forever’.
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I think Mr Delaney and his employers have misread the entire situation in Sark…as for philanthropy please do everyone a favour…please don’t pretend that the Barclay twins are in Sark for interests other than their own and please don’t patronise everyone we are not up for that thank you…..truth is its a tax thing….a little honesty at Christmas time???
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This reversal of attitude from that stated on the 12th December is extremely suspect. Sark is not and never was a PHILANTHROPIC VENTURE.
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It is my advice to all tenants of a Barclay owned establishment to pay any rents due into a holding account to be administered by the authority of the elected government of Sark. The accrueing sum will become an influance in the situation, and a willingness to do such a thing a healing and unifying move within the Island community. The brothers do not need the money in any real time way and have shown their true colors in what they have done in the last week. They are apparently knuckling under to the bad press they have received in todays gesture.Lets see the people on their holdings show some backbone and keep the bad press coming. This would be a justifable action in view of the lack of security they apparently have under the Barclays authority, and a show of faith in the new government.
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Election-loser Kevin Delaney can hardly be trusted as a reliable partner in Sark’s future. First he shuts down businesses, causing no end of worry for those who lost their jobs. Now he’s re-opened them. Why? If the Barclay brothers want to work with the people of Sark they will need a representative who can be trusted, not a petulant sore loser.
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I am sure that if the Barclays want to stay on Sark and work in unison with the Sarkeees to the benefit of both sides they need a better representative to manage their affairs and thus better publicity.
Someone who does not pick up his bat & ball everytime something does not go his way. It is peoples livelihoods that he is playing around with and it now appears that it is a very insecure job if working for Mr.Delany and he gets upset about something.
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I have never meet Mr Delaney so find it hard to judge him, but I doubt very much if he closed the business’ down on his own accord, my guess would be the Barclay’s are used to dealing with councils, not an assembly that can make their own laws, a quick chat to their lawyers and they would soon have discovered that the calls to have property ‘taken’ from them where not empty threats, look at how UK has handled Icelandic interests, a quick rewrite of those laws for sark would have worked a treat.
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The Times Newspaper has a very GOOD article written by Simon de Bruxelles, I suggest that everyone read the 2 pages of the article. Is this what you and those living on the island wish for Sark??????
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