Council convenor Alex Macdonald is retiring after a tenure spanning 28 years including over a decade as transport chariman and the last 13 years as convenor.
Council leader Angus Campbell praised Mr Macdonald who is the islands’ longest serving convenor and has a “distinguished record” of public service.
“There was no better ambassador for the Western Isles,” he stated which initiated a standing ovation, the first of two of the evening, for Mr Macdonald.
In response, Mr Macdonald praised the good teamwork between councillors and officials which resulted in progress for the island community.
He flagged up the dramatic improvements in infrastructure, causeways and roads over the last nearly 30 years with all the islands from the Butt to Barra being treated equally.
He insisted the quality of island councillors were the best. He has seen the comparision to councillors on the mainland and those representing the Western Isles were of a much higher standard, he said.
Mr Macdonald highlighted three personal bones of contention with the local political scene.
He said: “I don’t think multi-
Finally, he deplored the “scurrilious and cowardly” internet blogs which should “have no place in our community.”
Hebridean ambassador retires 8/3/12