I was born and brought up in Lower Bayble, and still live in the family home with my wife Christina and our two sons, David, 18, who is a first year apprentice electrician and Andrew, 13, who is a pupil in the Nicolson Institute.
I attended Bayble School from 1967 to 1976 and then the Nicolson from 1976 till 1980. I have worked for CalMac for 19 years and became Port Manager in Stornoway in 2005.
I have been a member of Point Free Church since 2010. I am a native Gaelic speaker and a regular contributer on Radio nan Gaidheal, often on issues relating to, dare I say it, Glasgow Rangers.
Having been selected as a candidate to stand at this election for the SNP, I decided , as a matter of conscience to resign over the withdrawal of RET from commercial vehicles.
I am aware of the arguments that say the haulage companies never passed on the savings when RET was introduced, that is not the issue for me at this time, but that they most certainly will pass on the increases now. For that reason, I could not ask people in Point to vote for me as an SNP candidate where I was seen to be supporting a decision that was going to hurt us financially.
If I am elected, my promise is that I will fight for
- Local jobs
- Fair fuel prices
- Reinstatement of RET
- Openness and transparency in Council matters
- Anything that is benefit to the whole of Point
I will not make any unrealistic or unachievable pledges just to pick up votes. I do promise that, if elected, I will do my best to represent Point in the Comhairle, being vocal when required. I will also ask questions where any doubt exists and will not just accept information as presented.
Change for the sake of change is not always a good thing, but it is sometimes beneficial for an organisation to have an injection of new and fresh ideas from people who have had no previous involvement with that body. Fairness, openness and transparency in all matters is what I would promote.
Iain Don Maciver, Independent
Sgire an Rubha / Point