Letters / A great example of local people can achieve
I read your article about the Cullivoe business park development and the great work the North Yell Development Company have undertaken; a superb example of what local people can achieve despite Holyrood.
Plenty of cheer in Cullivoe as new business park opened by government minister
Okay, they stumped up some of the cash, but the minister’s quote, (“…I think it’s important that local communities and local authorities are empowered to make decisions and prioritise what they think is most important at that particular time”) belies his, and his coalition government’s duplicity. Forked tongues.
Your photo paints a thousand words and begs questions – what exactly was the minister’s, role, and our MSP (yet another photo-op!) and councillors’ roles in all of this?
Would it have happened without the business minded development company’s drive, creativity and determination? Other ‘partners’ – procrastinators, middlemen/women and/or hangers-on?
\Why then does the Nationalist/Green government minister for the localities not give us, and every other local authority, much more powers – freedoms and flexibilities – to get the key strategic infrastructure jobs – roads, tunnels and housing – done?
We need a united, confident, smart Shetland voice as per the councils of yore, in the 1960s and 70s, to now push full steam, or sail, ahead for much greater autonomy so we can get the very best leaders and strategic decision-makers fir our islands empowered.
Where have all our leaders gone? Some of our rural communities can clearly create and employ them. Mark Lawson is clearly one. This needs to be replicated AND empowered. Maybe a council of successful business people, like Cllr Dennis Leask, with vision, management and questioning skills is what we really need?
Let’s unite to make it so. Come and join in the discussions and ideas generation to campaign for much greater Shetland autonomy. Neither Westminster nor Holyrood first, but Shetland First!
‘Mair Poostir’ as an auld Yell friend used to cry!
James J Paton
SAAT – Shetland Autonomy Action Team on Facebook
