Letters / True Shetland spirit
Congratulations to Ali Inkster on his excellent letter No reason not to sign (SN, 14/04/14) – true Shetland spirit, in ‘spades’!
I was surprised to see a Shetland Times blog comment from prominent Sustainable Shetland member Allen Fraser in which he frets that a Yes vote, coupled with the outcome of Our Islands, Our Future (OIOF) may lead to “cuts in the subsidies we enjoy”, cuts in parliamentary representation and ultimately, the merger of Orkney and Shetland Island Councils.
Surprised, that is, because the antidote to all conceivable ills, which may emerge from the effete OIOF campaign is in our own hand or, more accurately, will be in our own hand if we reach out and seize it.
And seize it we must!
It’s for Allen to say whether his comment contains a similar lack of ambition for Shetland as, apparently, does the OIOF campaign, however, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark are all “adjacent to each other” and none of their GOVERNMENTS is “merged” with any of the others.
I have the impression that the SIC thinks Shetland will do very well out of the talks. There was a strong hint that Ed Davey will fork out for a submarine cable and, doubtless, Alex Salmond will offer the same – very exciting, that will solve all our financial problems! What’s not to like?
Of course, a great many Shetlanders are opposed to the Viking wind farm and have called for a referendum on it until they were ‘blue in the face’, yet, so far, none has been forthcoming.
The referendum called for in the Referenda on the Islands (ROTI) petition will have an option of outright independence, as well as the options to go with Scotland or rUK, in other words, the opportunity to veto the Westminster/Holyrood deals.
If Shetland achieves, even Isle of Man, Faroe, Falklands self-governing status, there will be a completely new constitution and an election in which Shetlanders will vote for ‘Tingliamentary’ candidates who, if elected, will have the power to stop the wind farm in its tracks.
If there is no Shetland referendum, NONE of that will transpire and probably, most of the things you DON’T WANT, will transpire. Wind farm opponents, if only for that reason, must support the ROTI petition.
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/GettingInvolved/Petitions/islandgroups
Sign it and get the referendum you wanted all along which they wouldn’t give you.
Assuming you really want a referendum, that is.
John Tulloch
Lyndon
Arrochar
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