HAVING set off for sunnier climes a couple of days before Christmas it was nice to miss the snow and ice, but it’s equally nice to be back home.

My thanks are due once again to Peter Cunneen for writing this weekly offering in my absence. His observations last week about the dangers of proposed amendments to shipping legislation being used against the current activity of the Barclay family-owned Brecqhou Warrior were pertinent, to say the least.

The general perception here in conversations I’ve had since my return bear out his concerns, with most people who have spoken to me about the issue firmly believing the amendments to be a continuation of the anti-Barclay battle.

By the time this is published, Chief Pleas will have deliberated and decided, although the word deliberated might well prove to be a gross exaggeration, given that members of the new all-singing, all-dancing democratic assembly were in their seats for a combined total of no longer than what for many is an ordinary working day during the whole of last year.

Indeed, with the honourable exception of Conseiller Tony Ventress, who tried his best to initiate a sensible debate on some child and vulnerable persons proposals – his speech was officially and, I believe, erroneously, described as a ‘statement’ – I can’t recall any discussion worthy of the description ‘debate’.

A possible exception was the swiftly aborted proposal to remove the stipulation that women conseillers wear hats during sittings. Given the important issues which will face the people of this community during the next decade, that particular discussion – which provided a vehicle for only the proposer and seconder to speak on the matter before it was withdrawn – was about as much use to Sark as a chocolate kettle would be to anyone wanting a cup of hot coffee.

It is often said that because of the general absence of Tarmac roads, the state of the highways here is either dust or mud, depending on when the last drop of rain fell. Some time ago a road-making/breaking machine was imported by the douzaine for what was said to be a trial run.

It looked good and it certainly churned up and then flattened the roads upon which it was used. Those who follow events in Sark closely may recall that there were difficulties in shipping the vehicle and its tractor here and so an offer for the free use of the Brecqhou Warrior was accepted.

That offer has been repeated for this trip but the douzaine, through one of its sub-committees, has decided instead to ask Chief Pleas to tell Sark Shipping to knock 80% off the freight bill. Cutting off your nose to spite your face or, to put it another way, anything that gets up Brecqhou’s nose, must be worth doing. It’s time someone reminded these people that even when the Brecqhou Warrior is in use, the Barclay-owned companies remain Sark Shipping’s biggest customers.

At long last the people of Sark have been given an explanation of what is going on in relation to La Seigneurie – an explanation which, if only as a matter of courtesy to Sarkees, could and should have been given a year ago.

As to whether the explanation given to Bob Parsons’ Sark Scribe by new lessee David Synnott will allay the fears of those of the indigenous population who think that La Seigneurie has seen the last seigneur to occupy the property, only time will tell.

• The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net