Sark to go dark? Mr Gordon-Brown threatens to pull the plug on electricity supply.

[cupid_stunt]

This is an odd one, and could even end-up with Sark losing it's independence and being administered from the UK, as Guernsey will not accept responsibility for the island.

They currently pay the island's supplier - Sark Electricity Limited (SEL) - 66p/kWh compared to the UK average tariff of about 14p/kWh. However, an independent commissioner has ruled islanders are paying too much and ordered SEL to lower its tariff to 52p/kWh.

SEL imports diesel by ferry and said high oil prices meant it would lose £20,000 a month at the new price. Manager David Gordon-Brown, whose family has run the firm since the 1960s, said he had "no option" but to pull the plug at the end of November.

Why are the lights going out on Sark?

And, there's big questions as to if this dispute between the Chief Pleas [government] and SEL could be the trigger that ends the rule of the Chief Pleas completely.

Having driven Sark Electricity Ltd to the point of bankruptcy and triggering its decision to stop generating on the 30th is just the start of the island’s woes. Sark’s economic decline is, I guess, well known, as is its depopulation, ageing demographic and shrinking number of schoolchildren and businesses.

Less obvious is that it probably can’t be called a democracy, let alone a functioning one. That’s pretty serious because its status as the last feudal state in Europe was supposed to end in 2008 when Chief Pleas, as Sark’s legislative body, became a wholly elected chamber for the first time in its history.

Sark: Jersey created the mess in the first place by colonising part of Guernsey’s back yard

Basically, they can't find enough people to stand in elections, so it's a failing democracy, and the Ministry of Justice has invoked the nuclear option - the Crown stepping in as being ultimately responsible for the Crown Dependencies.

And, apparently Guernsey is not interested in taking over, so it could end-up as part of Hampshire.

Fucking bonkers all round.

 

[Pickman's model]

never mind eh

 

[andysays]

I expect plenty of sarky comments on this subject...

 

[skyscraper101]

You can see Sark from France, they should just surreptitiously run a long cable over there and siphon some power off the French.

 

[cupid_stunt]

You can see Sark from France, they should just surreptitiously run a long cable over there and siphon some power off the French.

Apparently there're cables from France to Guernsey & Jersey, but I guess it would be way too expensive to serve a population of under 500, probably 200-300 properties/customers.

 

[Poi E]

Seize it for the people?

 

[Pickman's model]

Seize it for the people?

power to the people

 

[Yossarian]

I bet Mr. Gordon-Brown wishes his parents hadn't gone for the double-barreled surname...

 

[cupid_stunt]

I bet Mr. Gordon-Brown wishes his parents hadn't gone for the double-barreled surname...

Yeah, I couldn't resist putting his name in the thread title.

 

[Pickman's model]

I bet Mr. Gordon-Brown wishes his parents hadn't gone for the double-barreled surname...

he is glad he has never met gordon brown, the former pm, as he is scared of getting confused over who is who

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Bunch of tax-dodging millionaires, my heart bleeds for 'em.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Bunch of tax-dodging millionaires, my heart bleeds for 'em.

Is that the case with Sark? I know it is with Guernsey & Jersey, but not sure that extends to Sark.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Anyway, is Gordon-Brown as bad as Hitler?

Nevertheless, the island’s “Seigneur”, or leader, Major Christopher Beaumont dismissed Gordon Brown’s claims that residents would be forced to evacuate the island if the shutdown goes ahead.

Referring to the Nazi occupation of the island during the Second World War, he said: “I feel sure that where the Germans failed, so will he”.
Sark in the dark: why island faces electricity shutdown

It's fucking nuts.

It could make a good follow-up film to Passport to Pimlico.

 

[19sixtysix]

Maybe France could push for their return as part of the dutchy of normandy for a trade deal with EU

 

[not-bono-ever]

Fuck ‘em

 

[DotCommunist]

those barclay brother wankers live there, let them open the wallet

 

[Poi E]

Surely we could send the Royal Navy in to assist? A few shells should sort out the natives.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

those barclay brother wankers live there, let them open the wallet

They basically rule the place from Brecqhou Island, just off Sark, some sort of feudal lordship stuff going on.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Is that the case with Sark? I know it is with Guernsey & Jersey, but not sure that extends to Sark.

100% and it's for real old money tax-dodging fuckers.

 

[Pickman's model]

Surely we could send the Royal Navy in to assist? A few shells should sort out the natives.

yeh they sell sea shells on the sea shore, and having some sailors to buy their sea shells on the sea shore would do wonders for the local economy

 

[Sprocket.]

those barclay brother wankers live there, let them open the wallet

Just pop them in a wicker man.

 

[Pickman's model]

Just pop them in a wicker man.

we could send you, sprocket, with a docket.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Pubs are cheap on Sark though. Asked why, "Cos there's no tax on booze here." "But there isn't tax on booze in Guernsey either?" "Yes, but they have to ship the booze in from the mainland." "Er, so do you?" "Yes, but the owners of the shipping lines all live here."

 

[Sprocket.]

we could send you, sprocket, with a docket.

Don’t knocket!

 

[Pickman's model]

Don’t knocket!

you're booked under an alias, mr crockett

 

[Sprocket.]

you're booked under an alias, mr crockett

I’ll tootle off with my ratchet and socket.

 

[Pickman's model]

I’ll tootle off with my ratchet and socket.

don't forget your lockets!

 

[Sprocket.]

don't forget your lockets!

Oh, almost forgot them, thanks ever so!

 

[cupid_stunt]

those barclay brother wankers live there, let them open the wallet

They basically rule the place from Brecqhou Island, just off Sark, some sort of feudal lordship stuff going on.

Yeah, forget about the Barclay bastards, but they own an island off Sark, which comes under Sark's authority, but they certainly don't rule Sark, although they would like to.

Since 2009 a resident of Sark has operated a weekly online newspaper called The Sark Newspaper (earlier: The Sark Newsletter). The publisher is a former longtime employee of the wealthy Barclay brothers, who own the small neighbouring island of Brecqhou. The publication has compared the local government of Sark "to fascist Germany in the 1930s". In 2014 over 50 residents of Sark filed complaints with the police about accusations made by the paper.
Sark - Wikipedia

 

[Sasaferrato]

those barclay brother wankers live there, let them open the wallet

Not quite, the fuckers live on an island off Sark, no doubt with its own electricity supply.

David and Frederick Barclay - Wikipedia

They certainly weren't born with the proverbial 'silver spoon'.