Stòras Uibhist -
Hundreds of unhappy islanders have signed a petition airing a raft of grievances.
Some 259 people – about a third of its members -
Only the support of 10% of its members were required to trigger an extraordinary general meeting but three times than level put their names to the petition.
An additional 130 islanders who are not members also put their name to the call.
Under its own rules, the body is duty bound to organise the forum within four weeks.
The petition -
Mr MacGillivray who maintains directors are being kept in the dark says Stòras Uibhist acts like a private owner.
He warns “community trust and confidence that Stòras can deliver a better future would appear to be at an all time low.”
He believes there is a “clear breakdown in relationships between the community and Stòras” which “behaves more like a privately owned company” than a community body.
Mr MacGillivray insists as he was democratically elected he is “responsible to the members in the community” and thus resist pressure to toe the company line.
One bone of contention locally is the landlord’s aim to licence seaweed extraction to a commercial company.
Crofters who fear they will lose their traditional practice of collecting seaweed to fertilise crops were told to forward their concerns with a Northamptonshire consultancy firm which is handling the tender process.
The landlord’s financial position and the cessation of the community fund should be investigated says the petition.
Claims of an “unhealthy secrecy” has prompted islanders to ask the meeting to allow directors elected by the community access to company information essential to their function as directors.
The petition queried why board meetings have been reduced from monthly to once every three months.
In addition, there is a strong call that people who are members of the body be allowed to observe board meetings.
A statement from Stòras Uibhist said: “We have taken receipt of the petition presented to us by some of the community members.
“The process will now commence to arrange the requested EGM and further details will follow in due course.”
Stòras Uibhist accused of acting like a private company
9 May 2018
