Uist Economic Task Force has launched a petition to introduce community representation on boards of public organisations delivering lifeline services to island communities, such as such as Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd (HIAL).

Rona MacKay, Angus Campbell and Naomi Bremner have raised the petition on behalf of Uist Economic Task Force calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce community representation, which would be in line with Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.

HIAL, who own Benbecula Airport (pictured), is presently moving forward with a controversial redesign of air traffic control services for its airports, which, it has been argued, will result in a significant economic hit for communities affected, including the Outer Hebrides.

The petition states: “We believe that public organisations delivering lifeline services to island communities, such as the Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd (HIAL), should have representation from those communities on their boards. We also believe that this is in line with the National Islands Plan.”

Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd (HIAL) is used as an example throughout the brief of how the petition aims will work, if successful.

One point explains: “Assigning three of the seats on the HIAL board to people who live in the communities served by the HIAL airports (we suggest a preference for island residents, on the grounds of air services being lifeline to islands, but commercially desirable for mainland areas).”

“We believe that this approach is in keeping with the principles of public appointments, namely appointed on merit, and committed to diversity and equality, with a board that is representative of the community that the organisation seeks to provide services for,” continues the statement attached to the petition, published now on the website of the Scottish Parliament.

Further information can be found at the link below, where the petition, which is to remain open until 24th March 2021 can also be signed: https://www.parliament.scot/gettinginvolved/petitions/PE01862