Mohammed attended Stornoway Primary and the Nicolson Institute and like many of our youngsters, he went away to University and successfully graduated with a BA Hons in Accountancy and Finance and a LLM in Corporate Governance. Mohammed decided to come back to the islands as this is where he calls home.
Mohammed understands how high level corporate governance should work and wants the Comhairle to be much more responsive and accountable to the people it serves, who are after all, the shareholders in CNeS. Mohammed himself says “a clear sense of direction is required to establish the island's interest first and by setting out our manifesto for the next Council term, I believe we will give the public assurances to what we are trying to do”. More tellingly Mohammed went on to say
“I would like to see a Comhairle where the public can ask questions and get straight answers”.
“I want to see a council that does its best for the whole island and its people and like most people I want to see the island prosper. This can only happen if Local jobs are protected, local schools are defended and that there is accountability and transparency in the Comhairle”.
With serious budget cuts affecting the Council over the next five years Mohammed has the technical skills and training to properly analyze the budget situation
When Mohammed came back home after university he set up his own business on Lewis and it well aware of the difficulties and hurdles you need to overcome if you are to set up a successful business in Stornoway. If elected Mohammed wants to be involved in the planning process so that he can help make it easier for people who want to start up new businesses in Stornoway. Mohammed said
“some of the hoops I had to jump through and some of the things I had to do simply didn’t make sense, we need to make it easier for people to start up new businesses. The council should be encouraging business and local economic growth”
His childhood growing up and living in Stornoway gives Mohammed a clear understanding
of the issues close to many people. Mohammed is very approachable and is never afraid
to ask questions and find the issues affecting the people in Stornoway. When Mohammed
asked the residents of Stornoway North personally, on their door step, what is affecting
them he came up with a huge list of issues such as;
- · Improvements required for local parks,
- · roads needing urgent repair,
- · weavers and shellfish owners concerned about their cost of transporting their goods,
- · local residents concerned about fumes from the Marybank refuse site,
- · senior citizens concerned about the cost of elderly care.
- · Fuel costs and its effect on heating the home,
- · More needed to be done develop the industries on the island especially the tourism industry.
- · The Lack of investment on our island directly leading to local employment and the lack of jobs that is forcing many to leave.
The list goes on and on. But Mohammed gives this assurance “ I wont stop asking questions
to find out the concerns of my people living in this area and no matter how long
the list is I will try and tackle them one at a time”.
Mohammed made the following pledge :
“If I am elected to serve in Stornoway North I will represent everyone to the best
of my abilities. I will hold regular surgeries and I will be available to the residents
of Stornoway North when they seek my assistance with any matter. I will be working
with a strong team of SNP candidates bringing new ideas to the Comhairle and presenting
a clear manifesto, available to see at Western-
Mohammed Ahmed, SNP
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath / Stornoway North