Sark-Guernsey joint partnership ‘not the worst thing in world’

SARK’S government working in conjunction with Guernsey would ‘not by any means be the worst thing in the world’, the island’s ‘deputy chief minister’ has said.

General Purposes and Advisory Committee deputy chairman Edric Baker responded yesterday after the Seigneur said he might hand the island back to the Crown if Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay doubled the amount of property they already own in the island.

Seigneur Michael Beaumont said the family currently held 30% of the island – the Sark Newsletter says the actual figure is under 23% – and threatened to resign if he felt Chief Pleas could not cope with the increasing levels of pressure from Brecqhou.

Under this circumstance the island would likely opt, he said, to be run in conjunction with Guernsey in a similar way as Alderney.

‘It would not by any means be the worst thing in the world for Sark. But there would obviously be the diehard locals who would not like it.’ (from gep)