Letters Page

Published:

Consultation on crofting

SIR, – Patrick Krause, chief executive of the Scottish Crofting Foundation (SCF), has claimed (the Press and Journal, July 2) that crofters are misinformed in opposing some of the proposals of the Shucksmith report.

There are 17,700 registered crofts in Scotland, 11,500 households, with a total population of 33,000.

There were just 282 submissions to the inquiry from the 6,000 consultation documents distributed. The questionnaire, a daunting and complex document, was either distributed at the meetings or available online.

I attended the Broadford meeting. There were fewer than 150 people there, of whom fewer than half were crofters.

The Shucksmith report is therefore unrepresentative of crofters’ views.

The majority of crofters have not been consulted, nor read the report, nor are they aware that the Scottish Government will seek to impose changes in crofting legislation based on the views of the few who have.

The Scottish Crofting Foundation’s chief executive does not represent the views of crofters. Indeed, I believe he does not represent the views of the SCF membership.

It is Mr Krause and his ilk who are misinformed and who should not be permitted to influence government ministers or MSPs with their unrepresentative and undemocratic views.

Helen Hunter,

13 Linicro,

Kilmuir, Skye.

Views on Robert Mugabe

SIR, – Sitting here in south Florida, I often cast an expat eye over your online pages. Generally, I end up on the Letters page to see what the good folk of the north-east are voicing their concerns about.

I was drawn to the views of Lance Black (Letters, July 3). Reading between the lines, he appears to blame the British for Zimbabwe's current problems. Reading between the lines, Mr Black appears to be an apologist for Robert Mugabe. Below, I've listed a few of Mr Mugabe’s achievements

The World Health Organisation says life expectancy for Zimbabweans is 37 for men and 34 for women. Robert Mugabe has waged a violent campaign against homosexuals. In 2005, he rendered 10,000 of his own poor homeless. Opposition leaders and supporters have been arrested and beaten and often killed. After 28 years in power, he has taken a wealthy pocket in Africa and systematically bankrupted the country and the people. The list goes on and on.

One wonders how Lance Black, as he sits in comfort in Aberdeen, can defend Robert Mugabe in any shape or form.

Neil Sharp,

8369 NW 144th Street,

Miami Lakes,

Florida, USA.

‘Taking out’ leaders

SIR, – I write with reference to the reply (Letters, July 3) from Lance Black to Tom Adams’s “Rambo-esque” comment (Letters, July 2) about Robert Mugabe being “taken out by British or American soldiers”.

Lance Black asked: “How would we feel if an African army came here and ‘took out’ our leaders?”

The word ecstatic comes to mind.

A.J. Virtue,

47 Main Street,

New Elgin.

Powerboats’ effect on wildlife

SIR, – Your story (the Press and Journal, June 28) regarding the Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race was, to say the least, a wee bit misleading.

It was stated that the powerboats passed safely through the Moray Firth without seeing any wildlife. Maybe the boats were travelling so fast that they were unable to see anything.

There were cetaceans in the area, maybe not in the path of the boats but, with land-based sightings prior to and during the race, cetaceans were there.

Also, thousands of birds were in the path of the boats and many took flight in panic, scattering eggs and chicks.

The boats were so close to the shore, some as close as 100m from the cliffs. After all the meetings that took place regarding staying in a three-mile limit, this was sadly ignored.

Regarding the whales and dolphins, who knows what damage was done?

So, there was wildlife about.

All the cetacean research groups and other environmental organisations must now get a single plan of action to stop this happening again.

The powerboat race brought nothing to the area. How many people saw the race? And what does it say of our Moray Firth, a Special Area of Conservation?

Peter MacDonald,

Friends of the Moray Firth Dolphins,

4 Craigview,

Findochty.

Advice for Maddy’s parents

SIR, – Should the Portuguese close the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and wind down the hunt for her, her parents should recall Winston Churchill’s words: “Never give up; never, ever, give up; never, ever, ever, give up.”

James Murray,

250 George Street,

Aberdeen.