Letters / Our own referendum
Both sides in the Scottish referendum debate continue to make promises on which they cannot deliver.
It is time to wake up to the fact that Shetland is the prize they are fighting for: Shetland’s oil, Shetland’s taxes.
Shetland continues to be seen as a cash cow, remote enough not to matter, but with resources to be coveted.
Shetland supports the UK treasury to the tune of £76 million per year. We have a positive balance of payments with the rest of the world of £131 million per year. Shetland’s oil supports the UK economy to the tune of £10 billion per year.
How many small independent nations would give their eye teeth for such financial clout?
Our existing administration is hampered by having to work within the diktats of the EU and the Scottish and UK governments.
It finds itself having to make drastic cuts because the government bailed out the banks. It finds itself having to make decisions based on financial constraints rather than what people want.
Money is not everything, but an extra £76 million in the economy would save some rural schools and enable us to build up our reserves – and a small percentage of the oil revenue would make us very comfortable indeed.
What is more important is having a society that puts people first – one run for the benefit of the people rather than the bankers. Neither side in the Scottish referendum can offer that – their focus is on what they can get from Shetland.
The Sovereign Nation of Shetland exists to bring about a fair society with rules by which we want to live.
Shetland now has its own referendum – we don’t need to ask for permission from anybody to hold it. Vote for the Shetland you want at www.yesshetland.org
Stuart Hill
Ocraquoy
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