The end of the western world's last feudal society

[belfastuniguy 18]

Interesting story

Last meeting of feudal government

The Chief Pleas will become an elected body in December

A chapter in Sark's political history, spanning 400 years has ended with the last meeting of the island's government in its current form.

The Chief Pleas, made up of 40 landowners and 12 deputies, will be replaced by 28 elected members after a general election in December.

Despite the changes, the meeting focused on current issues and raised tax on cigarettes and alcohol by 10%.

It rejected two propositions for change by the billionaire Barclay brothers.

Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, who live on the neighbouring island of Brecqhou, said the constitutional changes did not go far enough and amounted to a violation of human rights.

'Royal fief'

They sought a judicial review by challenging the role of the two hereditary posts of seigneur and seneschal which will still have an unelected role.

But the legal bid was rejected by the High Court in June.

Sark's feudal system of government dates back to 1565 when Queen Elizabeth I granted "letters patent" to the first seigneur to hold the island as a "royal fief".

The island is just three miles (4.8km) long and 1.5 miles (2.4km) wide, with a resident population of about 600.

It is also car free - horse-drawn vehicles, bicycles, tractors and battery-powered buggies are the only permitted forms of transport.quote>

 

Sark's winding road to democracy

By Lynne French BBC News, Sark

In the 16th Century the island of Sark was divided into 40 tenements of land

For the residents of Sark the road to democracy has been a long and, some might argue, tortuous one.

But despite all the twists and turns, after nearly 450 years of feudal rule the tiny Channel Island is preparing to democratically elect 28 conseillers who will make up its government - the Chief Pleas.

This historic election, and the reasons behind it, has aroused worldwide interest to both the delight and consternation of Sarkees.

Sark is the smallest of the four main Channel Islands. It is just 3 miles (4.8km) long and 1.5 miles (2.4km) wide, with a resident population of about 600.

A total of 57 candidates have put themselves forward for election - about 12% of the 474 eligible voters.

NOTABLE EVENTS 1940: German occupation 1999: Female inheritance rights 2003: Right to divorce granted 2004: Death penalty abolished 2008: Law Reform approved

The roots of the current feudal system can be traced back to the mid 16th Century when Queen Elizabeth I granted Seigneur Helier De Carteret the fiefdom (inherited lands) of Sark.

This gave the seigneur (Lord) the right to colonise the island with 40 families from St Ouen in Jersey on the condition he guarded the island for the Crown, protecting it from pirates.

The descendents of those families have governed Sark ever since, with the exception of World War II, when German troops occupied the Channel Islands from 1940 until they were liberated in 1945.

The current seigneur is 80-year-old John Michael Beaumont, who inherited his position as feudal overlord in 1967 upon the death of his grandmother and the Dame of Sark, Sibyl Hathaway.

In keeping with every seigneur over the past four centuries, Mr Beaumont has continued to pay the annual sum of £1.79 (one twentieth of a knight's fee) to the British Crown for his fiefdom.

The first tentative step to democracy was taken in 1922 when the Chief Pleas, made up of the 40 hereditary tenants (landowners), introduced 12 deputies elected by the people.

The seigneur pays one twentieth of a knight's pay to the Queen each year

Another notable change came about in 1999 when the Chief Pleas voted to allow islanders the right to decide who can inherit their property. Until then women could only inherit if there were no male heirs.

However, two events at the end of the 20th Century brought Sark's feudal system of government under the glare of the spotlight - the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and the sale of the neighbouring island of Brecqhou to the billionaire Telegraph Group owners, Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, in 1993.

With the ECHR requirement to ensure laws applicable to Sark complied with the international agreement, the Chief Pleas started on the rocky road to democracy.

Proposals for reform were rejected in 2005 and 2007 until the island's historic referendum in February.

'Fair trial' breach

The Barclay twins have fought for more radical reform, claiming the remaining inherited and unelected roles of seigneur and seneschal are a breach of human rights.

On 2 December - just eight days before the election - the Barclays won a partial victory when the Civil Court of Appeal ruled the seneschal's dual role - as senior judge and president of the Chief Pleas - breached the "fair trial" provisions of Article 6 of the convention.

However, they refused to quash the Reform Law, pointing out that neither the seneschal nor the seigneur had the right to vote in the Chief Pleas.

In order to comply with international laws, the judges suggested the seneschal should withdraw from his role as president of the Chief Pleas.

The future role of seneschal could therefore be one of the early matters debated by 28 conseilliers, democratically elected in Wednesday's historic election.quote>

 

Sark votes in first-ever election

Life on the island of Sark

The Channel Islanders of Sark are expected to vote in high numbers later for their first democratic government after nearly 450 years of feudal rule.

The polling station at Island Hall will open from 1000 to 1800 GMT, when up to 474 voters will elect 28 conseillers to the island's Chief Pleas.

The constitution was changed to comply with European human rights legislation.

A total of 57 candidates - about 12% of the electorate - are standing. The results are expected at about 2200 GMT.

The duties of returning officer are being dealt with by the island's seneschal (senior judge and president of the Chief Pleas), Lt Col Reg Guille.

The new conseillers will take their oath of office in the court on 9 January

He told BBC News he was pleased with the number of candidates and hoped the election turnout would be 80% or higher.

"There are some people away from the island because of illness or holidays they'd booked a long time ago, so we won't get 100% turnout," the seneschal said.

When a postal and telephone opinion poll was carried out in 2006 about constitutional change, 89.5% of islanders responded.

"I doubt we'll get to there, but possibly 80%. The nearer it gets to 100% the most delighted I'll be," Lt Col Guille said.

"I don't care how long it takes to count the ballot papers - the more the better."

Tied vote

Election officials appointed by the seneschal will issue the ballot papers to voters at Sark's only polling station - the snooker room in Island Hall. When the poll closes, the count will be carried out by volunteers from the electoral roll.

All proceedings will be overseen by the island's constable, vingtenier - responsible for policing - and assistant constable.

"One of them will always be present at the polling station and at the count thereafter to ensure neither the public, press or the candidates themselves interfere with the election process," the seneschal said.

A second election will be held on 7 January in the event of a tie between two or more candidates, where the addition of one more vote would have caused a candidate to be elected. This would only affect the tied candidates.

The new conseillers will serve a term of either four or two years. This will be decided by a ballot the successful candidates will be asked to draw.

A special sitting of the Chief Pleas will be held on 9 January after conseillers have taken their oath of office and allegiance. quote>

[Micah 16]

Wow. That was actually a pretty cool video. That's awesome that they don't show the distance to a place but show you how long it will take you to get there by walking.

Anyway, go Sark!

[Danlikebooks 6]

SARKSARKSARKSARKSARKSARKSARKSARKSARKSARKSARKSARKSARK!!!

[Aontan 0]

I find this whole 'transition to democracy' very interesting, especially now that the Barclay twins (who remind me of the pair of brothers from the movie 'Trading Places') have jumped ship and basically destroyed the island's economy because they didn't get their way.

Also, I found something hilarious on Wikipedia's article about Sark:

In August 1990 an unemployed French nuclear physicist named André Gardes attempted a singlehanded invasion of Sark, armed with a semi-automatic weapon. The night Gardes arrived he put up signs declaring his intention to take over the island the following day at noon. He was arrested by the island's volunteer Constable, while sitting on a bench, changing the gun's magazine and waiting for noon to arrive.

quote>

[Micah 16]

^ That can't be real. If it is, that has to be one of the stupidiest things I've ever heard. P

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: Micah ^ That can't be real. If it is, that has to be one of the stupidiest things I've ever heard. Pquote>

Actually, it seems to be true. Wiki lists two sources for that claim, both of which seem to back Wiki up.  Quoting from the Independent article that it links to...

One occasion on which the island was truly galvanised into action was in 1991, when an unemployed French nuclear scientist called André Gardes arrived with a semi-automatic weapon.

"He was such an odd chap," Beaumont says. "He turned up one night with a little posse and started putting up signs saying he was going to take over the island next day at noon. They read very like German wartime notices. Most people thought it was a joke, but he was serious.

"The next day, the voluntary constable approached him as he was sitting on a bench, waiting for 12 o'clock to come round. He said, 'That's a nice gun you've got there,' and jumped on Gardes when he was changing the magazine. I had to go to Guernsey that morning to pick up a cheque for the island, so I missed the action." Only on Sark could an attempted military takeover be foiled with such comic timing.quote>

[Deathtoall 28]

Hmm, a one man takeover? I want to know what happened to him in the end. It seems so dump that it almost could be true in away