Two of Sark’s Conseillers, who are facing a vote of no confidence in their abilities on the island’s Policy and Finance Committee, have spoken out against the “deeply unhelpful”, “harmful”, and “ego”-driven claims being made against them.
Nathalie Tighe and Jolie Rose are the only two women on the P&F Committee, which has responsibility for the island’s finances, economy, international relations, and more.
A vote of no confidence was lodged in the Committee recently for a variety of reasons. One of the signatories to the motion is P&F member, Conseiller Chris Kennedy Barnard, who recently criticised plans to force the compulsory purchase of Sark Electricity Limited.
The other signatories of the motion of no confidence letter are Conseillers Marcus Barker, Scott Sullivan, Jimmy Martin, Ben Harris, Mary Nicolle and Frank Makepeace – they are all believed to hold their own reasons for wanting to oust P&F.
Now, Conseiller Tighe and Conseiller Rose have both issued personal statements in response to the motion.
“While every Conseiller has the right to bring forward a motion such as the current Vote of No Confidence, I believe this particular proposition is both premature, deeply unhelpful and, in fact, harmful; it risks undoing the positive steps we’re starting to take, and it threatens to derail the positive momentum from the first contested general election in 6 years, just as it is beginning to take shape. More than that, I fear that this kind of behaviour – marked more by internal division than constructive debate – risks making us look foolish on the wider scale; if we cannot demonstrate that we have the capacity to govern ourselves with stability and maturity, we put at risk not just progress, but potentially Sark’s independence and credibility as a self-governing jurisdiction. I care deeply about this island – that’s why I stood for election. I remain committed to doing the hard work needed to see Sark thrive; that commitment guides everything I do as a Conseiller.”
Conseiller Rose also shares fears that the vote could halt important work streams.
“This isn’t about better governance. It’s about ego, short-termism, and political theatre. A few genuine exceptions aside, this motion is being driven by people who have no long-term stake in Sark’s future. Many are transient digital nomads, using Sark as a tax break, not a home. Their ties are economic, not rooted in community.”
“Our Policy and Finance Committee is working on one of the most urgent projects Sark has faced in decades: regaining control of our electricity grid. Years of neglect have left it dangerously fragile. Every delay puts lives at risk. Every distraction we’re forced to answer makes that danger worse.”
Personal Public Statement – April 2025
As someone who stood for election because I love this island, I care deeply about its future, and, as a relatively new member of the Policy & Finance Committee having served for only a few months, I’ve already had the opportunity to see up close the dedication, professionalism, and hard work being undertaken by a group of Conseillers striving to do the best for Sark.
In this short time, I’ve been encouraged by real progress: meeting summaries are now being published online, and attendance registers are being kept and further steps towards openness and accountability – all of which are now happening or underway – steps that matter for our community and its future to encourage trust and public confidence. I’ve thrown myself into the work and made it a priority to deliver real, tangible progress. The Tourism Committee is thriving, with only positive feedback from our recent public meeting, the PDG has been revived and is active once again including a revenue generation working group, and we’re seeing increased public engagement across a range of topics: I’ve been helping to handle the constant stream of questions and concerns from the public. I’m also part of the housing group, working to address long-term infrastructure issues as well as being involved in developing a sustainable and practical Island Plan that supports Sark’s future.
While every Conseiller has the right to bring forward a motion such as the current Vote of No Confidence, I believe this particular proposition is both premature, deeply unhelpful and, in fact, harmful; it risks undoing the positive steps we’re starting to take, and it threatens to derail the positive momentum from the first contested general election in 6 years, just as it is beginning to take shape. More than that, I fear that this kind of behaviour – marked more by internal division than constructive debate – risks making us look foolish on the wider scale; if we cannot demonstrate that we have the capacity to govern ourselves with stability and maturity, we put at risk not just progress, but potentially Sark’s independence and credibility as a self-governing jurisdiction. I care deeply about this island – that’s why I stood for election. I remain committed to doing the hard work needed to see Sark thrive; that commitment guides everything I do as a Conseiller.
My commitment and focus remain to the long-term interests of the island that I have proudly called home for more than 20 years.
Many thanks for your time.
Kind Regards
Conseiller Natalie Tighe