Weak economy could affect Sark’s viability
Wednesday 6th March 2013, 8:30AM GMT.
A DROP in Sark’s population due to a weak economy and lack of job opportunities could eventually threaten its ongoing viability as a self-governing Crown Dependency, its former temporary chief secretary has warned.
Colin Kniveton, pictured, who has returned to the Isle of Man following his placement, has urged conseillers to be ‘proactive’ not ‘reactive’ to safeguard the island against changing economic pressures.
‘Jobs are drying up as tourist numbers are dropping, the construction sector has stopped as there is no more investment in hotels – all these things have a knock-on effect. If there are less people coming in and out and less freight, that has a knock-on effect on shipping,’ he said.
‘Some people may say that’s fine, Sark may be quieter but that’s the way we like it. But if you’re a younger person in Sark, you may be thinking what are my kids going to be doing when they finish their education?’
He said the island needed to invest in its economy to make sure families stayed in Sark.
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Bad news travels fast, and due to the PR disaster which has occurred, the whole world knows of the turmoil going on in Sark.
Also, lovely hotels, but so expensive, never mind they will make good residential homes in the future.
Nice one Mr Delaney, I bet your bosses are delighted with your attitude towards the Sarkees.
Just what the island needed.
I fear there is a domino effect about to commence in the future.
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And there was me thinking the Sarkees knew what was best for Sark.
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@Steven
Yes the Sarkees know what is best for the Island.
Certainly wasn’t Sark Estate Management’s latest ventures. Landslips in Dixcart Valley due to lack of knowledge on how to plough according to the lie of the land. Vineyards as far as the eye can see??
I don’t think so!
Lack of tourists due to weak GBP & no longer a Feudal Government which was in fact a good draw card. Very empty and extremely expensive refurbished Hotels
The ordinary Joe Blogs do not have bottomless pockets.
Sark was beautiful because of its’ rural and peaceful ambience. It’s time to return to that.Not a financial money making quick fix.
Just my opinion.
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Oh dear, cue another round of Sark Estate Management bashing. Sorry Bee and Steven, but if SEM don’t invest in Dibley, sorry, I mean Sark, who will ? Are there queues of wealthy entrepreneurs with handfuls of cash waiting for their chance to invest in Sark ? No, didn’t think so. Colin Kniveton is oh so right in what he says. Sark’s Feudal Government was a good draw for tourists ? If that sort of muddled thinking is prevalent in the Island then may the good Lord help you. The young men and women with families will have little or no work without the tourism industry or the SEM ventures and inexorably their numbers will fall as they, probably reluctantly, seek a life elsewhere. Sark will end up as a very beautiful retirement home populated by elderly people and there will be nobody left who is young enough or fit enough to dig the holes for their graves. Very sad, but the answer is in Sark’s hands; come out of the nineteenth century, the world outside your shores is not actually that bad !
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Watcher – How very true your words are. Most Sarkees (and I mean those born there – not the influx of wealthy, bored people) seem to want change but those in a position to do something about it seem to be dragging their feet – as usual.
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@Watcher
No such being as the ‘Good Lord’
Sark was fine before the outside element decided to interfere, Sark would have evolved at it’s own pace
So far there has been no explanation as to why? (Big question mark) the Barclays thought Sark was a good investment, constantly disputing laws?
It was public knowledge that Sark was governed by a Feudal system.
To be realistic Sark in no way can support too many indiviuals.
As you say there is a big wide world out here and no it’s not that bad. But one has to be pretty choosey who to befriend.
Also who to sell out to.
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Spot on Bee
“Who to sell out to”
Exactly who did all the landowners think they were selling up to?
Did they care? “Kerching”
Bit late bleating about the impact when it’s you and yours that have done the selling.
The blow overs were happy enough to sell so long as they could stay in charge.
The detrimental impact on the “locals” has been huge.
There is a lot of fear on Sark these days with people afraid to voice their true feelings.
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Well said Watcher, Robbie & Ed. No need for me to say more!
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I have family on Sark and have been visiting the island regularly for 45 years. As an ‘outsider’ it is so sad to hear about the in-fighting. Sark was a truly wonderful and charming place when run by the Sarkees without outside interference and investment. As a comment said earlier, things would have evolved at their own pace without the new money. It seems now that, because of this new money, Sark is becoming the domain of the wealthy. Having shops, local industry and previously family owned hotels now under the ‘flagship’ of SEM is, in my opinion, not the way forward. Maybe people were made offers they couldn’t refuse? Money does talk after all. It was sad to see the palpable drop in day visitors on my last visit. Day visitors are just as much the lifeblood of Sark’s tourist industry as those who can actually afford to stay there longer. They are also vital to the future of the Isle of Sark shipping company. Without day passenger numbers in volume, how will they continue to operate? How will the smaller shops and cafés survive? And as for a vineyard? Surely there are better things to spend money on unless again people were made ridiculous offers for their land. PLEASE don’t let your wonderful, beautiful and unique island become simply the domain of the bored, retired rich folk. Let Sark remain the island paradise, the utopia for all, that it always was.
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