Letters / Do councillors share her view?
Does Emma Macdonald [SIC political leader] have no ambition for Shetland?
On the day that [First Minister] John Swinney opened the door for Shetland autonomy, she seems to have closed it on behalf of the council.
Autonomy is not some vague concept. It is real and it is essential. It is all about Shetland having the ability to have more say over our own affairs. Things like Shetland having control over our vital NorthLink contract, the ability to control renewable energy projects in the same way as we did with the oil industry in the 1970s, the return to the islands of the millions per year that the Crown Estate takes in rent from the Shetland aquaculture industry, the pressing need for Shetland to have more say over how Marine Scotland manages and enforces fisheries around Shetland.
So – is Emma no longer in favour of any of this? Do all councillors share her view?
Instead of autonomy, Emma wants fairness. Like apple pie, everyone likes fairness. But what was fair about the SIC giving away even more of Shetland’s precious wilderness for a pittance to let Statkraft make super profits.
This disaster was described by Emma as a project that ‘aims to ensure our islands and our community benefit as much as possible from the development of renewable energy projects in our area.’
This is exactly where political leadership without ambition gets us.
Gary Horne
Levenwick
SIC leader says ‘fairness rather than autonomy’ discussed with Scottish Government
