Anonymous donor gives Sark £50K

The island of Sark has operated a feudal system for nearly 450 years

An anonymous donation of £50,000 has been made to the Channel Island of Sark to help it following recent job losses.

The donor, who said they were a "friend of Sark", requested the money went to projects to help create new employment.

The money has been given to a support fund which is being administered by the Procureur des Pauvres, who organises benefits in the island.

About 140 jobs were lost last week after the Barclay brothers withdrew business interests from the island.

Meeting request

The £50,000 donation will be used to progress work on the Seigneury gardens, creating two new jobs, and to allow the continuation of work on the Island Hall project.

The rest is to be set aside for distribution to those families that are struggling, the Procureur des Pauvres said.

The Barclay brothers had indicated they would withdraw investments if candidates endorsed by them were not voted into Sark's Chief Pleas [parliament] after elections last week.

They said voters rejected candidates who supported more radical reforms of Sark's political system as it moved from feudal to fully democratic.

Meanwhile, a representative of the brothers has asked for a meeting with Sark's government to talk about the election and its aftermath.

Kevin Delaney, business manager for Sark Estate Management, has asked to meet the Chief Pleas' General Purposes and Advisory Committee.

Co-ordinating help

The chairman of the committee, Roger Olsen, confirmed that the meeting had been requested but that nothing had been arranged as yet.

Neighbouring Channel Island Jersey would help Sark however it can, its new chief minister said.

Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur said he was working with Guernsey Chief Minister Lyndon Trott to co-ordinate the help they would give to Sark.

Mr Le Sueur said if the Channel Islands decided financial help was the best way to show support, he would do all he could to provide it.