Pig in a poke

Many years ago, on holiday in Spain, I attended a time share presentation where I was told the “fantastic” discount and perks on offer were for that day only. When I declined to pay up without time to consider the pitch was abruptly terminated, for the simple reason the vendors knew if I looked into it I would see it was a “pig in a poke.”

I was reminded of this when I learned of the ultimatum delivered to SCT trustees by SCT financial controller, Dr Goddard.

Coming out of the blue the “special (lame duck) meeting” of trustees on their way to pasture and the “buy today or lose out” ultimatum amount to a grubby proposition, reminiscent of a Wild West medicine show in which the “miracle elixir” was, like my timeshare offer, “for today only” enabling the “Doc” to escape tarring and feathering when the hillbillies woke up next day.

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I don’t believe for a minute that all the partners would condone this undignified way of doing business and if they did I would expect “Doc Goddard” as the trustees’ professional adviser to advise the trustees that such business people are best avoided.

In the unlikely event the threat of share dilution is carried out, newly-elected SIC councillors might well take umbrage and withdraw SIC land from the deal – hardly in VE’s interest given the cable justification is, presumably, already on thin ice following the latest reduction in turbine numbers?

If Shetland residents want a wind farm they should have one – because they decide they want it, not because a clique of councillor-entrepreneurs and nationalist politicians “railroad” one through to suit their own political and financial ends.

My advice to trustees is; call VE’s bluff, insist on taking time properly to consider such a major investment and if they refuse, show them the door.

John Tulloch
Lyndon
Arrochar