Sark will get space to reform

SARK will be given the space to reform on its own, a member of the General Purposes and Advisory Committee has said.

The reassurance came from Conseiller Andrew Bache following a speech to conseillers by Minister of State for Justice Lord McNally in Chief Pleas.

'The message from the minister is that he is very interested in the island and is encouraging it to look forward,' he said.

'He's anxious to see a positive movement, but realises these things take time and need to be worked through carefully.'

Mr Bache said Lord McNally had allowed a number of questions from conseillers, covering issues such as the economy, Chief Pleas and its decision to throw out proposals for a paid civil servant.

Mr Bache said the minister had accepted that decision.

'He was disappointed that didn't go through, but he understood if that was the vote of Chief Pleas then that was the vote,' he said.

The decision not to appoint a civil servant has contributed to growing fears that the UK might be forced to act if the island could not govern itself suitably.

Lord McNally told conseillers that the island had no option but to reform.

But Mr Bache said there were no hints that the UK would intervene and force Sark to the make the change.

'I think some of the dangers have been exaggerated,' he said. 'He's keen to see democracy in Sark develop, but in terms of external interference there was no suggestion of that – whenever a minister comes here people will speculate, but that is as far as it went.

'He has been in the post for three years now and has taken a particular interest in Sark and sought to encourage progress towards democracy – and that was the message he brought again this time. He didn't come here to tell us what to do, he came to encourage us.'

Mr Bache added that Lord McNally was pleased with developments in Sark so far.

'He accepts that the dual role of the seneschal has been split and that the last election has been properly organised, which are significant steps forward,' he said.

'It was a very friendly meeting.'