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Setting the record straight                        9/2/12

 

Sirs,

One can only wonder whether Susan Duncan appreciates the nature of employment (letter published on 5/2/2012 on Hebrides News). To suggest that my fulfilling the directions given by my employers is tantamount to the use of the Nuremberg Defence is as ridiculous as it is offensive. What condition would our local and national economy find itself in if individuals felt free to disregard the instructions given by their employers? If teachers disregarded their head-teacher, policemen ignored their inspector’s commands, and employees rebelled against employers what kind of chaos would ensue? Perhaps that is the type of SNP-world that Susan Duncan wishes to inhabit. Thankfully the rest of us do not. Presumably Ms Duncan would also use this description to refer to the SNP MP & MSP over their refusal to resign their positions over the scandalous and financially devastating commercial RET policy imposed by the SNP government?

Susan Duncan alleges that I was being racist in my comments towards her at the fuel meeting held in the council chamber on Tuesday 31st January. She helpfully suggests people view the incident on video. Any reasonable person would be able to see for themselves that my comments, rudely interrupted by the usual SNP cohorts, were far from intended as being racist. The comments were clearly given to show that unlike my colleagues from GB Fuels who were present at the meeting, I am from this community, it is a community I care passionately about and I share the concerns of the community over fuel costs. It was not any slight against Susan Duncan which I attempted to make perfectly clear. I see the diversity of backgrounds and opinions within our islands as a good thing and help to make our islands what they are, a wonderful place to live.

With regard to the conflict of interest in my role as a Councillor for Sgire an Rubha and my role as manager of Scottish Fuels in the Western Isles, it was made clear that steps are taken to ensure there is no conflict. As was explained on the evening of the fuel meeting I, like other councillors, vacate the council chamber if issues from our day job are to be discussed, whether that is fuel, architecture or whatever other working background our councillors come from. I have stated previously that I would happily contribute to debates on fuel pricing in the Comhairle but the legal advice is that would occasion a conflict of interest, hence why I do not participate. This is the nature of local politics. Most councillors have dual roles. And any effective, representative council body will have diversity with councillors possessing different employment experience.

Susan Duncan is correct in one aspect of her letter; the people of Point are good people. It has been my privilege to serve them as an Independent councillor, free from party-interference, for the past near thirteen years. Along with my fellow colleagues in Sgire an Rubha, whether in helping individuals, families, village projects, or whole community initiatives such as the new community school, and even serving our interests in the wider region of the Highland and Islands, I have counted it an honour to serve them and should they wish me to continue to serve I will do so with dedication and diligence.

Cllr Norman M Macleod

Sgire an Rubha

16 Eagleton

Point

 

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