Kenneth Mackenzie, the Alliance to Liberate Scotland candidate for the Western Isles, has pledged to relocate CalMac’s headquarters to South Uist and impose a moratorium on new wind farm developments ahead of the 7 May election.
The proposals focus on ferry services and renewable energy across Barra, Uist, Harris and Lewis.
Mackenzie said:
“Relocating CalMac’s headquarters to South Uist will bring decision-making home to the islands that depend on these routes every single day.
“Local control means local accountability.
“No more distant boardrooms in Gourock deciding our lifeline services while islanders suffer.
“The disbandment of CMAL by the Scottish Government is required to rectify the shambles our ferry fleet has been dealt over the years of mismanagement, with ferry designs not fit for purpose.
“Stuart Ballantyne should be re-invited to design and consult on Scotland’s future ferry services with the proposal of doubling the ferry’s servicing busy routes using the Catamaran’s designed by Stewarts and offered to the Scottish Government, Designs proven to be more cost effective and economical compared to any of the existing fleet models.
“Lewis communities have every right to be concerned.
“We have watched commercial developers line up massive projects while islanders worry that the profits will flow straight to shareholders on the mainland or abroad.
“Enough is enough.
“I will push for an immediate moratorium on ALL wind farm developments onshore and offshore until a binding agreement is reached with EVERY community in the Western Isles, from the Butt of Lewis to Barra Head.
“That agreement must deliver genuine, direct benefits: free or heavily discounted electricity for every island household that is hosting these developments.
“The wind that blows over our islands belongs to us, not to distant investors.
“Islanders should not be paying some of the highest electricity bills in Europe while giant turbines spin on our land and sea.
“Uist and Barra deserve reliable ferries run from an HQ that understands island life.
“Lewis and every other community deserve to see real, tangible gains from the wind rush, not empty promises and community benefit funds that barely scratch the surface. One Western Isles, one strong voice, putting islanders first.
“The Alliance to Liberate Scotland exists to liberate our communities from remote control, whether that’s CalMac’s mainland bosses or energy companies that treat the Hebrides as a cash cow.
“If elected on 7 May, I will hit the ground running to deliver these commitments for every family in South Uist, Barra, Lewis and all the islands in between.”
The proposals place ferry services and energy policy at the centre of the campaign in the Western Isles.
