South Uist vote for
Stòras Uibhist directors

South Uist vote for Stòras Uibhist directors

AS Am Pàipear goes to press, the deadline for nominations to the  board of directors of Stòras Uibhist, the South Uist estate community company has passed.

This month’s vote will determine the members of the community tasked with taking forward a number of critical projects that will have a crucial bearing on the future of the community-owned estate.

The vote for directors will be determined in a secret, postal ballot, to be administered by the Electoral Reform Society.

In 2009 there were a total of 650 members eligible to vote, with 66% of them taking part in the election. At the last count, there are now over 850 members, with indications that more members are joining as the South Uist community awaken to the critical role their membership and votes play in the running of the estate they collectively own.

Stòras Uibhist is encouraging as many eligible members of the community as possible to join the company. It is a statutory requirement to join the community company before a member of the community is eligible to vote. Membership costs a nominal fee of just one pound, currently for a lifetime membership. Only full members are eligible to vote for directors.  Membership forms are available to download from the Stòras Uibhist website or can be collected from the company’s offices at Bornish.

This year sees the current chairman, Angus MacMillan and vice-chairman, Fr Michael MacDonald and director, John MacMillan stepping down. All three are eligible to re-stand and are expected to have confirmed their nomination for re-election as we go to press. [Since going to press, all three have confirmed they will re-stand.]

The vote for new directors comes at a crucial time for the company; in the past week Scottish and Southern Energy have confirmed that they have withdrawn their offer of a grid connection to the company. The news is a devastating blow for the community and puts the company’s plans for a wind farm at Loch Carnan into serious doubt. The wind farm was expected to provide significant funds to finance the company’s future economic plans. Directors have expressed dismay and called for SSE’s senior executives to come to Uist and see for themselves the importance of the grid connection to the company.

It is thought that the company’s plans for the development of Lochboisdale harbour are also in serious danger of falling through with funders hesitant to commit to the project.
The Askernish Golf Course controversy remains unresolved as agreements between the community company and some crofters remain unsigned. And the company has been dogged by further negative headlines as litigation against crofters continues to be highlighted in press reports.

It is understood that a petition circulating in the community to request the company cease its litigation against one particular crofter has received several pages of signatures.
At the time of going to press, Am Pàipear has been contacted by three members who have decided to throw their hat into the ring, ensuring that an election will be required.

Local GP, Dr Louise Crockett, who stood last year, has once more confirmed that she will seek election.

Speaking to Am Pàipear she said: ‘As a local GP, my job begins with listening to people. I believe Stòras needs to listen too, and consult local opinion in a meaningful way.
‘There should be openness in their dealings, with real community participation. Problems identified early can be resolved early without damaging and expensive legal action.

‘Stòras Uibhist should encourage local small businesses, entrepreneurs and community groups to develop their ideas, sponsoring and backing them wherever possible.

‘We need many home-grown, Uist-sensitive and sustainable developments to answer our needs. This is the way to create jobs and a secure future, whilst nurturing local culture and our unique social and physical environment.’

Shona MacDonald, manager of the Lochboisdale centre of the Tobar an Dualchais project, and former owner of ISSI Travel, has also confirmed her intention to stand.

Shona pointed to her considerable experience in business, the voluntary sector, in the culture of the Uists and as a wife and mother: ‘I will endeavour to support the aims and objectives of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire,’ said Shona, ‘as detailed in the Memorandum and Articles of Association: From my experience gained as a director of two charities; from establishing and running my own business and from heading up the South Uist office of the cultural heritage project, Tobar an Dualchais.

‘As a wife and mother I hope to broaden the cross-section of the community represented at board level.  I will seek fairness, accountability and transparency on behalf of the community.’

The third candidate known to be seeking election is Stephen MacAulay, who, while emphasising his commercial experience working at his family’s long-established firm, MacAulay Askernish Ltd, wishes to see the younger members of the community represented.

‘My reasons for standing are to help bring Stòras Uibhist forward as a developing community company, helping  to achieve the company’s and the community’s goals to the best of my ability,’ says Stephen.

‘I would like to represent the views of the youth in our community and in doing so, I would like to highlight their importance in developing our community’s future.  In addition, my experience in commercial business will contribute to further enhance Stòras Uibhist.

‘Finally,’ he says, tongue-in-cheek, ‘I would also contribute to halving the board’s average age.’

Am Pàipear also asked the directors of Stòras Uibhist seeking re-election to outline their personal manifestos for the future of the company, but they declined.
Voting opens on May 12th and closes on May 28th with the AGM taking place in Daliburgh Community Hall on June 3rd.