Sark heads for a by-election

Thursday 17 January 2019

Just months after the island's first contested election in years, Sark voters will be asked to head back to the ballot box for a by-election.

There'll be two seats on Chief Pleas available soon, as two Conseillers have announced their intention to resign.

Reg Guille and Sebastien Moerman both announced their intentions at the start of yesterday's Chief Pleas meeting.

The Speaker of Chief Pleas, Arthur Rolfe said both would have to write to him to formally resign, and at the time of speaking only Lieutenant Colonel Guille had.

He said a by-election would follow but it's too early to say when.

It's believed Lt Col Guille's resignation has come about following a code of conduct complaint made against him, by fellow Sark resident, Michael Doyle. He had stood for election in December 2018 but didn't secure enough votes to win a seat on Chief Pleas.

Lt Col Guille has been involved with Sark politics for a number of decades, having previously been the island's Seneschal when it was a dual role comprising Speaker of Chief Pleas and the island's Judge.

Since the role was split, Lt Col Guille has been a member of Chief Pleas.

Mr Moerman was one of the 'unelected Chief Pleas' which governed Sark for a while, covering a time when firstly not enough people stood to ensure a contested election, or no one stood at all.

He comes from a financial services background.

Pictured: Sark's Chief Pleas.