In cold and sorely testing conditions (for the spectators at least), Sark put on its version of the Royal Tournament on New Year’s day.(0698189)

THE final ritual of Christmas was played out on New Year’s Day on the Millennium Field when Dave Cocksedge, celebrating 25 years of doing silly things, oversaw, with PJ Carre, Sark’s version of the Royal Tournament’s Gun-Run.

The home-made field guns were dismantled, carried over an obstacle course and then reassembled before being raced to the finish. A team of canny old boys won after their opponents’ wheel fell off at the very end. On a freezing morning, the many spectators managed to cling to life through the efforts of the Island Hall’s soup kitchen. It seemed as if a political truce had been declared over the Christmas break, disturbingly brought to an end by the rapid assembly of field ordnance.

There is little point in reflecting on 2008, for far too much lies ahead in 2009. Co-existing on a small island often means you might be dealing with the same individual on a number of levels: friend, customer, constable, neighbour and so on. It means people try to get on with each other and that is understandable. But maybe this combined with a natural conservatism removes some of the objectivity when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of island politics. Witness the saga of constitutional reform that took so long to reach the statute books. What for many in the world is a straightforward moral argument, took many years of wrangling and ultimately unproductive heart-searching before the UK government finally put its foot down and told Sark exactly what it had to do.

Sadly, the years of constitutional strife diverted much attention away from effective management and future strategic planning. Hence, the meeting of Chief Pleas on 21 January will be asked to approve the recommendations of Sark Shipping’s directors in a move that is designed to do nothing other than keep the company afloat.

The more rigid booking system and the unpopular price increases may be questionable at a time of economic downturn and shrinking visitor numbers, but if Sark had not been so distracted this situation might not have arisen.

If the company cannot raise prices, then the island will need to subsidise it through taxes. If a fare-hike reduces visitor numbers, not only will Sark Shipping suffer, but so will the island economy and the Chief Pleas’ coffers. It is a difficult call to make and one that demands quality market intelligence and a brave decision.

The new conseillers meet today to elect committee members. The committees are fundamental to Sark’s good governance in that, split into areas such as shipping, fisheries, tourism and so on, they can recommend legislative initiatives and perform the research and background work required.It is to be hoped that those with an expertise in a particular field will be successful in being elected to the appropriate committee and unlike in the old system, each member will play an active part.

Co-opted members are allowed, but that can only be agreed at the meeting of Chief Pleas later this month. Only then will we know if any concessions will be made to the Barclays-controlled Sark Estate Management.

Before Christmas, the Barclay brothers won an appeal that ruled the seneschal’s dual role of Chief Pleas speaker and island magistrate to be conflicting.

There is much support for the current seneschal, Reg Guille, who is seen as not only having performed well, but also as having given the role some gravitas.

In a self-governing island with only 600 inhabitants, it is hard to find the appropriate candidates to ensure that some legal and governmental roles are not conflicting.

However, after eight years of arguing about the constitution, this unfinished business is annoying.

The subject of the seneschal is tabled for discussion at the first sitting of the new Chief Pleas and it is hoped this will be a priority and one that is quickly acted upon – without the rancour and delay of past episodes.

If all this is resolved without bloodshed, there remains one subject, spoken of in such hushed tones that people hardly dare mention its name but which seems to be finding its way onto the political agenda, albeit without an apparent champion.

Feudalism is a system of power derived from the granting of land.

In Sark the installation of a proper democracy will remove the power part of the equation, but what remains is the system of land tenure.

Is there the strength of feeling and the will to address this subject and if so, can Sark learn from the past and avoid the divisions that undermine effective government?

Next week Phil Falle will be back, re-energised and ready to afflict the comfortable.

Caption FrnkGothITC Dm BT 8pt. (Picture by Xx, )Sark has so many serious issues to face in the coming year that it barely has time to look back on the previous one,

says our correspondent, who pauses to consider land tenure