No Delhi for Shetland

PROPOSALS to send three young dancers from Shetland to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October were thrown out yesterday (Thursday) after councillors heard that it would cost the public purse more than £13,000.

Culture spokesman Rick Nickerson said it was the “opportunity of a lifetime” to represent Shetland at the official flag handover for the games in Glasgow in 2014.

But councillor Alastair Cooper argued it would not be appropriate to use council funds for the project, saying it would send out the wrong message to the public at a time public services had to tighten their belts.

He was supported by Jonathan Wills, who said he had read that child labour was used to help construct the Delhi stadium.

Dr Wills referred to the council’s work in the wake of the Christmas 2004 tsunami, when Shetland Islands Council supported education services in the affected area of Tamil Nadu.

He said the money would be far more beneficial if it was used to help provide another school bus for the area.

Council convener Sandy Cluness spoke in support of the project, but the opponents won the vote by eight to four.