Letters / Horrified by Israel report spend
On Friday afternoon I was horrified to read that Shetland Islands Council had spent in excess of £9,500 on a 16 page report to investigate if they had any financial investment linked to Israel.
The figure that was returned was that of only 0.1 per cent of total council assets that have links to the nation, and that the recommendation is to take no further action.
Consultants believe ‘no immediate action’ is required by SIC over investments linked to Israel
Whatever your personal opinion is on the Middle East conflict, I think everybody can agree that at a time in which our council is facing financial instability and councillors are warning of tough decisions ahead that the spending of over £9,500 on a report that does not tell us anything is nothing short of irresponsible.
Furthermore, the council’s duties are to the local population and local issues. That is why Westminster exists and why we have a government to represent us on an international stage. Shetland Islands Council should be more focused on Shetland not international politics.
Our council engaging in this area does not serve the local people nor the wider community. All it accomplishes is in taking time away from areas where they should be focused, such as the disastrous state of our roads and the continuing fall of our schools from national league tables.
Danny C. Parker
Delting
