Letters / Leadership or follow sheep?
The SIC’s ‘apolitical’ political leader Emma Macdonald claims that her Scatsta deal with the Norwegian Statkraft corporation “aligns closely with the principles we recently approved in ‘A Fair Share for Shetland’, which aims to ensure our islands and our community benefit as much as possible from the development of renewable energy projects in our area.”
A ‘fair share’? Differing views on Scatsta community benefit agreement
Oh no it doesn’t. It’s a sell-out, pure and simple. The corporate benefits will dwarf the public good. This is not leadership. It’s follow sheep.
If councillor Macdonald had really been following her own stated policy she would have insisted on a realistic commercial rent, based on a thorough, independent valuation of this uniquely attractive industrial site.
As usual, she gives us a trite observation: “There are a number of renewable projects either underway or in planning for Shetland, and it is critically important that we as a council do what we can to ensure the isles see a benefit if the projects proceed.”
Yes, we already knew that. But behind her clarion call for justice and equity lies either a woeful misunderstanding of the stakes or an unforgivable timidity in the face of them.
Councillor Macdonald, who no doubt fancies herself as a minister in a future Lib Dem government (or a government of whichever party ambition may lead her to join next) has just given us a masterclass in missed opportunities. She has squandered the chance to make a robust case for Shetland’s rightful place in the UK’s renewable energy future. If she hopes to achieve anything for Shetland, she will need to sharpen her arguments and stop mistaking platitudes for progress.
David Meddes
Sandwick
