Sark looks more divided now than it did even during the Barclay era. There are a number of reasons for this – the Policy & Finance Committee is planning to undertake a loan to buy Sark Electricity Limited at a cost of over £2.5m. This is a conservative estimate. It’s doubtful that they know the true cost. Islanders are questioning why this is necessary when we have a price control commissioner, also why the urgent need to buy an unknown liability?
Along with this Guernsey has imposed conditions associated with the loan. They are that Sark undertakes a tax review and that we agree to take part in a commission with unknown terms of reference. There are many things wrong with this. Guernsey professes to be our friend and our helpmate and yet they seek to control us through a loan which has no advantageous rate and certainly has the security of loan collateral. We have been told we must take them on trust. A highly reckless and Guernsey-centric recommendation.
Further, Guernsey insists that Sark undertakes a tax review. The compressed and highly pressurised nature of these conditions is forcing decisions dangerous to the economy of Sark. A wealth/asset tax is being proposed despite this island having relied on low tax as an attraction for decades and in spite of the opposition to it.
The island's depopulation has begun, so inevitably the unit price of electricity will go up and only the gardeners and cleaners will be left to pay it because the employers are leaving.
Meanwhile, the government has become autocratic, if insiders are to be believed. The chief culprit behind these momentous decisions is unelected. Most conseillers are in the dark about the terms of the loan and have not even been given an undertaking that they will see the terms before they are required to vote. There is no financial expert currently in government. This is not democracy. This is not ethical. It’s time Guernsey said, the loan is granted in good faith, without insidious conditions because you have shown you can pay it back and we have the impot as collateral. That would be the right thing to do.
There is a proposal to conduct yet another island plan at the cost of £30,000. As there is no money, it won’t be acted upon but it usefully kicks many cans down the road. The Tourism Committee is keen to improve conditions for visitors, so why not instead spend £30,000 on improving the harbour toilets, which are shocking, and other island toilets?
We are beginning to hear that our very constitution is under attack. If this is true, it’s quite shocking and potentially destructive. The suspicion is this is being conducted as usual behind closed doors.
Islanders need to ask, is it ethical for Guernsey to impose change in Sark? Is Guernsey enforcing regime change to control Sark using an ill-advised loan as a Trojan horse? If they pursue this bullying path then Sark should be considering a cheaper and less onerous loan from elsewhere.
If as we are told, it will be so easy to repay, then why not go to a reputable company? Unless of course the numbers haven’t been properly crunched.
The Chief Pleas of Sark should be working to our benefit. They should give up going down rabbit holes created for them by Guernsey.
Guernsey should stop leaning on our fragile and inexperienced government, and let us survive as we have since 1565.
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