Ill-judged comments

I was stunned by the remarks made by councillor/windfarm director Bill Manson following the Sustainable Shetland rally in Lerwick on Saturday, which according to him was designed to terrorise the community and filled people with disgust. How did he obtain these opinions so quickly?

Unlike Mr Manson, I was present at the rally. It was made up of older people, some using walking sticks, the middle-aged, people with disabilities in wheelchairs, young people including couples with children in their arms and in prams. Hardly the picture of an aggressive mob!

The rally was well conducted, good humoured, family friendly and completely without trouble.

These objectors to the Viking windfarm project were using their democratic right to express their opinion peacefully and should not be mocked by this councillor/windfarm director for their genuine concerns.

Ian Sinclair
North Garden,
Bixter.

COMMENTS(7)

Add Your Comment
  • Ann Wiseman

    • February 22nd, 2011 14:32

    The view I have about Sustainable Shetland, remains the same as it has always been. However, I shall not go into that.

    Yes, people are entitled to their own opinions. Yes people of any age, race, mobility or whatever can do what they please using their democratic right to express their feelings, but parading up and down commercial street is not going to change peoples opinions. It shall not alter any amount of signatures for or against the proposed windfarm that have already been processed.

    The rally may well have been well conducted, good humoured, family friendly and without trouble, I shall give respect where respect is due, but there were some remarks made to members of the public, walking along the street, asking them if they were coming to join in the parade. That sort of thing does fill people with disgust. If they wanted to take part in it they would have made sure they were included at the beginning.

    The only circumstances in which I have heard any mockery, are from people trying to imagine which member of Sustainable Shetland was going to try to get to the front of the picture or hold the biggest sign.

    REPLY
  • Sandy McMillan

    • February 22nd, 2011 22:37

    Bill Manson will need to get it in his head we live in a DEMOCRACY, people have a right to do and say as they wish, that is within the law, until there is a tyrant like Bill Manson in charge, we will do and say what we wish.The comments Bill Manson made are those of a loser.

    REPLY
  • Gordon Harmer

    • February 23rd, 2011 10:09

    Your right Sandy this is a democracy and if what you say about people doing and saying what they like is true then Bill Manson has a right to say what he likes. Therefore if he is a tyrant and a loser what does that make you.

    REPLY
  • Sandy McMillan

    • February 23rd, 2011 14:43

    Hi Gordon nice to hear from you again, Bill Manson did not have to make these remarks, against the folk he represents as a councillor, this was a rally that was conducted in a peaceful, lawful manner, would Bill Manson come forward and say who was terrorised, and by whom, Bill Manson should be made to apoligise for using the word terrorise against his fellow Islanders, or better still he should resign for what he said, better men have gone for less

    REPLY
  • Gordon Harmer

    • February 23rd, 2011 19:46

    Yes Sandy maybe his remarks were a bit OTT but I don’t know what was said and by who, some people may feel intimidated by some thing most people would ignore. Thank goodness there are columns like this one where we can get things off our chests in a civilised manor. Every one has an opinion and while I disagree with some I still respect their right to express their view it does not mean I am right and they are wrong or visa versa. Debate is healthy and should be encouraged without using OTT expressions such as terrorise, if terrorise was OTT in the instance above. Sandy don’t you think when you name call i.e. tyrant and loser you are lowering yourself to the very level you have just spoken out against in Bill Mansons statement.

    REPLY
  • Sandy McMillan

    • February 24th, 2011 8:45

    Bill Manson has a right to say as he wishes as a layperson, but his position as a ccouncillor and a Director of SCT he needs to choose his words, or was he saying this in his position as a director of VE, never the less he needs to watch his tongue, and treat his constiuents, and the general pubiic, with some respect after all he is basically employed by the general public of the Shetland Isles.,

    REPLY
  • steve mcmillan

    • June 23rd, 2012 4:04

    hi Sandy,

    Are you or your family related to my dad and his family, whom I am searching for? His name is Alexander or ‘Sandy’ McMillan. They were from Prestonfield. He had a brother, Tom, and a sister Marie or Mary. He married my mum, Jenifer Hudson in 1964 at Yeovil, where they were stationed in the Army. Many thanks – Steve.

    REPLY

Add Your Comment

Please note, it is the policy of The Shetland Times to publish comments and letters from named individuals only. Both forename and surname are required.

Comments are moderated. Contributors must observe normal standards of decency and tolerance for the opinions of others.

The views expressed are those of contributors and not of The Shetland Times.

The Shetland Times reserves the right to decline or remove any contribution without notice or stating reason.

Comments are limited to 200 words but please email longer articles or letters to editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk for consideration and include a daytime telephone number and your address. If emailing information in confidence please put "Not for publication" in both the subject line and at the top of the main message.

200 words left

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.