Dissatisfaction guaranteed by sustained attack
Friday 3rd February 2012, 10:00AM GMT.
Sark School pupils spotted in pirate costumes with teacher Amanda Mason outside the Visitor Centre.
ABOUT 200 Sark residents signed a petition of support for the island’s medical officer, Dr Peter Counsell, in the first 36 hours.
Copies of the petition were placed in island shops and the Island Hall after news that Dr Counsell had resigned spread extremely quickly. His resignation came after a sustained attack in a number of editions of the Sark Newsletter following the medical evacuation of Diana Beaumont by sea earlier last month.
The island was formally made aware of the popular GP’s resignation in a letter sent on Tuesday to all households from the Medical Committee, which followed a public statement issued on Sunday.
Written before the committee was made aware of Dr Counsell’s intention to resign, the statement said that the committee was ‘appalled’ that someone of his standing in the community was having his professional judgment questioned purely on political grounds.
The statement went on to express ‘deep concern’ about the danger such publicity in the newsletter could cause to Sark’s ability to bring medical professionals to the island in the future.
In the letter to residents which followed his resignation, the Medical Committee said that Dr Counsell’s intended resignation will take effect in July, meaning that he has given Chief Pleas and its committees six months to find a replacement.
The committee adds: ‘The lies printed concerning Dr Counsell have made it too difficult for him to continue working in Sark and in order to protect his family (he lives at the Medical Centre with his wife and two young children) he feels he must leave.
‘The doctor should be the only person to make decisions concerning medical matters – be it a medical evacuation or any other. Unfortunately, that does not stop others without any medical background from believing they know better.’
While the news of Dr Counsell’s resignation stunned most Sark residents, opinion in the island appears to be divided over whether the petition declaring support for him will be enough to persuade him to change his mind, no matter how high a percentage of the 500 or so adult residents sign it.
As a number of residents stated quite clearly to me, a huge demonstration of support is one thing but there are certainly no guarantees – probably quite the opposite – that the Sark Newsletter will discontinue its attacks on him.
The fact that Seigneur Michael Beaumont’s wife remains ill in hospital – although with slow signs of improvement, I am told – appears to have been ignored if the repetitive attacks on him in the latest edition are anything to go by.
All in all it amounts to a sad and unnecessary state of affairs and means that there is every probability that a young man and his family will be forced to uproot and move from a community that they had worked so hard to become integral parts of.
For the life of me I cannot see how that situation can bring satisfaction to anyone.
*
I don’t know too much in the way of detail, but Sark School is holding a Film Festival and Oscar Awards a week today. Perhaps that might explain why a mid-morning and quite quiet walk I was enjoying near the Visitor Centre the other day was interrupted – not unpleasantly, I stress – by the sight of youngsters in pirate costumes cycling around the corner near Le Manoir.
They were closely followed by teacher Amanda Mason, complete with camera and tripod, and I have no doubt that more will be revealed next week.
*
My quip about the Memorial Window Fund organisers biting hands off anyone offering foreign currency brought a smile to organiser Reg Guille’s face and even more so when he received 120 Swiss francs and 20 US dollars.
The appeal fund has now passed £4,000, so only £2,000 to go.
- The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Saturday 26 May
- Laid-off staff see jobs re-advertised next day
- The Week - Roots Manuva interview
- Royal celebrations of yesteryear
- The Week - Jubilee Food
- Sport - Angus Mackay takes Gib job
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
While we are in petition mode, how about another one asking (nicely) that a journalist of integrity and independence, such a Phil Falle, should be asked to edit the Sark News Letter?
I know there is some nonsense about it being an independent resident’s effort – but only a visitor from Mars would believe that the Bs could not snap their fingers and make it happen in an instant. (There would also need to be a binding undertaking to keep the SEM and all those associated with it away from the SEM John Bull printing outfit in the future).
After all, Rupert Murdoch was man enough to do it with the News of the World when that “went bad” (and I trustr that’s the last time anyone should ever draw the parallel). Nothing less is required to start a process of reconciliation.
Report abuse
Interesting idea, Sark Watch.
Whilst he generally steers clear of controversy, Phil has shown that he is not too cosy with the CP Establishment when reporting the quarterly sessions; and now he too has been mauled within an inch of defamation by Delaney’s carefully edited innuendo – so this probably makes him an ideal even-handed choice.
What Sark needs right now is not some foaming-at-the-mouth tabloid beano, but the sort of gentle island reportage that is Phil’s trademark.
If anything the “Establishment” has more to lose in such a deal, since the SNL is now such a pastiche of ridicule and hate that only a predictable few take it at all seriously. And if Phil managed to move the debate on the economy and the issues that actually matter to the people back into open, maybe real progress could made once again. ANYTHING is better than where we are now.
Report abuse
KDL OUT
Report abuse
SNL, even the title is misleading. More like the Sark Estate Management weekly rant. Keeping the island informed as to how they view the Island and it’s people.
With each issue KD makes himself less electable. So has no say in the running of Sark.
I did hear about sone fairy lights in a circle behind a hotel as a sort of helipad. This of course is a bit useles if the casulty has to be air lifted from the other side of the Island. Once again with SEM/SNL never properly though through.
Phill falle already has what seems to be a weekly column in the SNL. Albeit copied from the GP. I hope they do pay him for using his work. It’s the only bit worth reading.
The publication itself is a bit awkward. Just a bit too small for the bottom of the birdcage and the paper is not really suitable for use in the outhouse. I still think this is a cunning ploy.
Report abuse
Interesting to see that the Facebook petition is almost entirely – and politely – being manned (?) by the good ladies of Sark.
There is indeed rather too much testosterone flying around, and I welcome this rational and gentler approach to solving he island’s issues. A charm offensive is just what we need, sisters.
Could a vet kindly see to those plainly in need of gender reassignment?
Report abuse
All these ideas of reconciliation are worthy and warming thoughts, but the heffalump in the room remains the SEM cash mountain, and all that this implies for influence and opportunity to intimidate.
Delaney has already fired everyone and everything once; so he has unnerving form.
A long term solution might put the board of management of SEM into the same sort of democratic forum that the SNL and the Barclays themselves purport to champion?
Would the Brecqhou Warriors allow the boss of the SEM – which arguably now has more influence over the lives of the working people of Sark than Chief Pleas – to be likewise subject to same democratic process that the brothers fought through the courts to impose on Sark?
The idea of managing SEM for the benefit of Sark as a whole might also help satisfy the MoJ that Sark is at last addressing those awkward issues of “good government” that are presently flashing red in Whitehall?
Or should I instead be asking about landing lights for flying pigs?
Report abuse
Appreciated. Fictional elephants are especially welcome additions to G.E.N.
Piglet and Pooh were convinced that Heffalumps existed but they never actually find one. The same could be said of the solution required to rectify matters in Sark.
Report abuse
What concerns me, (and I hope others) is what is any future applicant going to think about applying for the possible future vacancy. If they do their research then nobody in their right mind would come without certain guarantees that will be hard to get. Maybe you know who has already got a candidate lined up. We shall have to wait and see.
Report abuse
If your Doctor’s resignation goes through, and it proves impossible to appoint a successor. (It will be interesting to see what view of the matter the BMA takes, and whether it will choose to make a comment) then obviously SEM will be in a position to say that the administration on Sark are not only failing in their duty to the people, but also putting guests at their hotels at risk.
Consequently they will then be able to say that they are forced to take unilateral action and appoint their own Doctor responsible to them. No doubt they will then demand surrender of the medical facilities on Sark to them.
Further they will require the immediate establishment of a helipad as they will renew their, entirely spurious argument that a helipad is a medical requirement.
It is going to be a testing time for the Chief Pleas and for representative democracy on Sark.
Report abuse
Sark Holiday Maker.
Patially correct. Though I think you may find that the Doctor would be based on Brecqou and will have to be flown in by helicopter.
Requiring Helipads all over the Island, to get to all the casulties
An SEM dream come true.
Report abuse
If the pupils are being encouraged to dress up as pirates, I will arrange for a plank and cutlasses to be provided down at Le Creux. Long John and his pals knew how to take care of disruptive types.
Report abuse
Is ClaireM by nay means related to a new contributor to the SNL? If so she will find a delightful mock up of her on the Blog of Ebenezer le Page.
Report abuse
Dectora:
Would that I was being paid to write this! Pursuit of the truth and a decent future for Sark – not under the oppressive yokes of either the ignorant and abusive SNL, or the brow-beaten Establishment – is my motivation.
It would be lovely if Claire Wisewoman would show her face here and join in a robust discussion that is not mired in SNL bile and funded by the largest commercial interests on the Island. That is, if she actually exists.
Report abuse
Well, I see Delaney has again helped himself to the copyright of the Guernsey Press and it’s contributors in his latest ghastly propaganda sheet, and also selectively quoted (only favourable, of course) items from these online discussion threads. Including one from a seemingly naive contributor that commences:
“I have never read the Sark newsletter before today.” Lucky bloke (or blokess)!
Also the SNL’s new ace cub reporter, Claire Wiseman, belies her scant knowledge of the area and Delaney’s poor proof reading with a reference to “Prince Margaret” hospital
Anyway, send your claims and invoices for the breach of copyright to the address on the back page, eh?
Report abuse
In case you have not heard or seen by now (unlikely), the doctor sets out his reasons for departure here:
http://www.sarksurgery.com/images/pdf/Sark_Dr_Statement_100212.pdf
I think it’s fair to say that anyone here (who is not a pseudonym of Delaney or his few friends) who has been attempting to defend Delaney and the SNL needs to spend time in a quiet retreat where they and their consciences can contemplate ways that they might discover salvation.
Report abuse
Reading that just makes you want to cry in both frustration and sadness.
Why it is usually the good that come out worse off. In this situation it is both from and individual point but also the people of Sark.
I get the feeling that certain people are treating the real life of Sark as a court room battle of continuous errosion to get what ever it is that is at the pinicle of their agenda.
Report abuse
Here’s the deal…
The problem stems from the inescapable fact that SEM (apparently a British Virgin Island Company – comments, anyone?) effectively owns and controls the island’s “active” economy. We could argue a long time as to how that happened, and apportion blame etc., but that’s now where we are on Sark.
The SEM is lead by a person of proven instability (elections/sackings etc) who has been given endless resources to wield the threat of costly litigation as a primary weapon. SNL131 thoughtfully confirms this.
The harassment and bullying of the SNL has now been proved beyond all doubt to lie at the heart of the problem.
So, Lord McNally, one useful way forward is for the elected Island authority to be given control of all aspects SEM and its assets for the benefit of the people of Sark.
For the health of the island, Sark’s tourist business needs to be run like the “small family business” that it is realistically is. It is not some sort of eu member state “pseudo-democracy” with a bureaucracy to be manipulated by media barons, fixers and wealthy corporations.
Sark is different, rejoice – and please don’t pretend otherwise.
Report abuse