Stòras Uibhist reject community petition
In a statement issued by Stòras Uibhist yesterday (10 May), the South Uist community company said that it was ‘minded to give no weight’ to the community petition which requested that the company ‘cease their land court action against Murdo MacKenzie, 186 Snishival.’
The petition went on to say that: ‘We believe that this land court action is against the interests of the common decency and justice expected of a community owned estate.’ It is understood that over 190 members of the community have signed the petition.
The community company’s statement said: ‘The petition contained no names, but a handwritten note stated that: “You may verify the signatures by arrangement with Gilbert Walker or Eric Twelves at Lochboisdale Police Station.” This statement was also unsigned.’
However, with a postal election of directors due to open on Thursday 12 May, the company appeared to leave open the possibility of a u-turn.
While the statement says that: ‘In the circumstance, the Board is minded to give no weight to the document,’ it goes on to qualify that by saying, ‘unless the membership considers otherwise.’
In February this year an EGM of the community company passed a controversial amendment to its constitution after 92 members voted in favour. The community petition has collected more than twice that number of signatories, including three of the four South Uist, Eriskay and Barra ward councillors.
It is unknown how many members have subsequently made contact with Stòras Uibhist, but Am Pàipear has been copied in to one response to the company’s statement.
A letter signed by members, Lilian and Donald MacLennan ‘urge[s] the board of directors to acknowledge and consider this issue.’ They go on to say that: ‘It is sad that a community organization has the effect [of] incurring fear into their members as a number were scared to put their names to the petition in case of some form of repercussion from their “Land Lord”.
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