JUSTICE Minister Lord Bach (pictured) has told Sark that it should resolve the issue of the dual role of the Seneschal – as president of both the island’s court and Chief Pleas – by the end of this year.

However, he stressed that he was not in Sark to lay down the law and added that after meeting island politicians he was confident that the issue will be sorted out.

Lord Bach met Sark’s General Purposes and Advisory Committee in Guernsey before going to Sark – they were there for talks with Guernsey politicians – and he described the meeting as ‘successful’.

Chief Pleas last month agreed to direct General Purposes to consider a plan of action to examine the Seneschal’s dual role and Lord Bach said yesterday that he was happy to let that runs its course.

‘We do want there to be some momentum because there obviously has to be a time when this is resolved,’ he said.

‘This is a matter which won’t be sorted out tomorrow but it does need to be sorted out as soon as possible and I am confident that the General Purposes and Advisory Committee understood that and are happy with it.’