Comments for Iain Maciver writes ...

Comment on Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET by Rich Tea

Rich Tea — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:50:14 +0000

Re Bill MacArthur

So, according to your definition of democracy, ‘if the minister decides to meet with’ a group, ‘he can decide to meet with those who (he??) believes are appropriate people concerned’. Isn’t that a fantastic idea? I can see why it would be so popular just now in Iran, North Korea, Syria, Burma, China, Putin’s Russia …

Unfortunately, it shouldn’t work like that in a parliamentary democracy where a group surely has the right to choose its own representatives – unless, of course, there is an issue of personal security and safety. Is there in this case? Do you have any evidence that any of the group of hauliers intend to perform a criminal act? If so, there are people you should inform of this.

As for the rest of your diatribe, it’s best off ignored. I told you earlier that I believed in RET – for all the island groups that might benefit from it, including Orkney, Islay, the islands in the Firth of Clyde. Most of these places are suffering similar problems and should be provided with support provided in a fair manner.

Or don’t you believe in that either…?

Comment on Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET by Maca

Maca — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:48:22 +0000

No one said anything about the previous MSP doing anything illegal, that is your suggestion.
Do you believe that it is right for the hauliers to pocket the money ? You appear to have a problem answering this ? Do you believe that the fraudster Labour MP’s desereved to go to jail ?
I’am not smearing anyone, the Labour MP’s smeared themselves by their own admission. Another point you appear to be missing is that it was the Labour party who caused this economic crisis. This is not a smear, it was Labour party’s banking policies which is at the core of the RET problem.

Comment on Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET by Bill Macarthur

Bill Macarthur — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:35:37 +0000

I see Mr Labour is back trying to score points. I have never said that the hauliers could not appoint people to assist them. I have never said that the hauliers could not lobby the government. What I have said is that the minister is not bound to meet with those who are lobbying. If he decides to meet with them he can decide to meet with those who believes are appropriate people concerned. You are already aware of this, what’s your problem ?
As for yourself and your political pals, you were totally opposed to RET in any shape or form. The man you want to meet with the minister told the people of this island we didn’t need any ferry discount scheme when he was MSP. When the scheme was announnced for the Nothern Isles he still told us we didn’t need anything similar. Why would anyone in their right mind want someone to fight for something they don’t believe in. When RET was introduced both the hauliers and the Labour party opposed. Why are you so worried about it now ?

Comment on Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET by Rich Tea

Rich Tea — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:24:43 +0000

Re – Maca

Was the previous MSP for the Western Isles sent to prison for fraud? Or are you now reduced to trying to smear all those with whom you disagree?

Comment on Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET by Maca

Maca — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:20:20 +0000

When I took issue on this I was informed the rules on RET were never set in stone as it was only a pilot. According to the government study the savings were not passed on to us the end customer. Why are you defending the hauliers is a mystery ? Do you believe it is right for people to take tax payers money for their benefit when they are to use it for the benefit of the community.? We have already seen Labour MP’s going to prison for fraud, do you think this was right or wrong ?

Comment on Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET by greed or concern for the islanders?

greed or concern for the islanders? — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:12:34 +0000

i am all for the RET BEING KEPT for goods vehicles BUT……….when did we see the savings of the hauliers passed to the general public? i for one did not see a reduction of any services or “necessities” such as food animal feeds, coal or anything else that came to the islands on the back of these lorries. if anything their prices continued to rise wheather they had RET or not!!!!! they say removing the RET will be to blame for the cost of living going up due to the lorries having to pay their way? it didnt reduce the cost of living when intoduced it was never passed to the general public or local companies !! and still we have to pay excess for everything we order from the mainland due to our post code? we never had that issue before RET!!! its the hauliers that are taxing us,not the government,we choose to live on these islands and we know how much it costs, so if we dont like it we should move where a ferry is not required to bring produce to us!! if a pint of milk will cost an extra 10p well we will have to pay it ,if the haulier companies are not happy with RET get mainland contracts and leave your lorries on the mainland im sure other companies would love your contracts and pay the required fares on ferries and the products would probably cost the same to the end consumer, i dont see the hauliers passing on the savings they make on filling their fuel tanks up on the mainland? does this bring their prices down? (filling up on the island would help the local economy more!!) or the savings on accommodation that they possibly factor into their prices does anyone else? it seems that the hauliers that deliver the produce to the islands have the monopoly and can charge as they please, are they really concerned about the consumer ? or perhaps profit margins.
The government is there to represent us and nothing in our rights state that we are entitled to attend government meetings personally,there are processes we must follow!! we must be represented by elected ministers or council representitives otherwise what is the point in a democratic system which elects a spokesperson/people ? and not by company owners that could shoot themselves and the island communities in the foot

Comment on Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET by Rich Tea

Rich Tea — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:03:19 +0000

Re – Macca

Even if that last sentence were the case, it should not make any difference … Surely members of other parties have the right to raise political issues if or when they choose to do. It’s part of the price we pay for living in a parliamentary democracy – and if Macca wants it any other way, perhaps he should go and move to a country which is a one-party state. It might suit his personality a lot better.

Bill MacArthur even goes further in his prize-winning contribution. He thinks the group representing the haulage companies does not have the right to choose who represents it. He thinks it even wrong when people climb on ‘band-wagons when it suits them’. No doubt it’s okay then when it doesn’t!

Both of them, of course, think the Scottish Government has the right to change the rules on RET without any real consultation or regard to the ‘Concerned Uist Resident’ or anyone else.

Clearly this pair only believe in democracy when it suits them!

Comment on Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET by Maca

Maca — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:30:04 +0000

According to a government study the hauliers never really passed on the initial benefits. It appears for the first few years the hauliers were pocketing the subsidy. If investigated this would be deemed illegal. The only winners appear to have been the hauuliers and it is their greed which has had this subsidy withdrawn. By the looks of things it is the hauliers we should be taking issue with and not the Scottish Government. I would suspect the former Labour MSP’s interest is mainly down to political gain as he opposed the scheme long before it was introduced.

Comment on Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET by Concered Uist resident

Concered Uist resident — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:24:37 +0000

As an islander this is very worring for us to think how the RET being taken away is going to affect everything from food shopping to other types of deliveries. It is highly important that the local MSP’s and all hauliers are allowed to go to this meeting or have some sort of representation to put our case accross. They have the luxury of living on the mainland so I think they should come here and see for themselves the effect this decision is going to have on local families and businesses.

Comment on One man and his bunny by Three Bags Full

Three Bags Full — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:18:05 +0000

I take great exception to your comments. How dare you compare these well meaning, intelligent, trust worthy sheep to CNES councillors. Sheesh!