Only direct elections will do

In addition to the arguments put forwards by Jonathan Wills (Less than a week to rescue the trust; SN, 15/02/17), it is particularly important that everyone concerned with those at the margins of Shetland society; the poor, the disabled, those affected by domestic abuse or by dependency issues, indeed all those who Bill Smith used to simply describe as being “less able to look out for themselves” consider how much more good a truly reformed Shetland Charitable Trust, closer to the people it should serve, benefiting from the regular public discussion elections for trustees would provide, could achieve.

Neither Bill Smith, Cecil Eunson John Graham nor Edward Thomason, to name but four respected former trustees dedicated to the common weal, would ever have imagined a Shetland in which so many would be so dependent on charity.

Neither would they have wished to imagine a Shetland in which those in the voluntary sector would feel so unable to speak out in public about the poor job Shetland Charitable Trust is doing lest their funding come further under attack.

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Please remember for a moment that most of the vital work done by CADSS, Women of Worth and SYIS has not been replicated. The harm done will be with us for generations.

In times past it seemed reasonable that large proportions of Shetland’s charitable sums be put into the arts, amenity and recreation trusts.

As any decision to change these proportions, potentially in favour of Disability Shetland, for example, or towards a fit for purpose Shetland Educational Trust, are decisions that may impact on Shetland Islands Council, it is important that these decisions are taken separate from the council by dedicated trustees with enough time to properly consider the issues and with their own mandate for change.

Clear blue water from the council and direct elections will achieve a trust in which no one is pulling any strings and no raiders, however energetic, can be pulling a fast one either.

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Only direct elections for a large majority, if not all, Shetland Charitable Trust trustees will help future proof Shetland.

Elections will mean the various competing needs, from having more wonderful tourist attractions to having trained face to face support for those in crisis, can be considered in public by the public so that Shetland’s charitable sums are used in the proportions Shetland approves.

This is the non-radical proposal repeatedly agreed on by Shetland Association of Community Councils and is the one sought by the many SIC councillors Shetland Charitable Trust’s unelected trustees have so arrogantly chosen to ignore.

Please act now to take Shetland’s Charitable Trust back into public control.

Peter Hamilton
Scalloway