GETTING more islanders on the board of CalMac's parent company will be one of its new chief’s "first priorities", The National can reveal.
Transport Minister Graeme Dey confirmed on Thursday that the new chair of the David MacBrayne board has been tasked with exploring how to get more islanders involved with the running of ferry companies as a matter of urgency.
David MacBrayne is one of the companies owned by the Scottish Government responsible for operating the ferry service between the mainland and the Western Isles.
Alasdair Allan, the SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, said he was "very pleased" with the development and said it was a step forward for ensuring the voices of islanders were heard by ferry operators.
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Dey confirmed the move in response to a question submitted in parliament by Allan earlier today.
The minister said: "I have been determined to ensure the views, knowledge and experience of island residents informs the delivery of ferry and other relevant transport services.
"I am clear that I would very much favour an island-based presence on the boards of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and David MacBrayne Ltd.
"I understand the disappointment that the most recent round of appointments did not address such concerns therefore I have tasked the new Chair of the David MacBrayne board with exploring how we might achieve this, as one of his first priorities."
Speaking to The National, Allan said: "For some time people on the islands have been raising this question because there is no substitute for the lived experience of the reality of living on an island.
"The whole local economy and people's lives depend on a ferry running.
"It does seem strange that CalMac have nobody on their board who lives on an island served by CalMac.
"I have raised this in the past and I am very glad to see in today's exchange with the minister that he understand the problem.
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"Clearly the Government is recognising this is not a situation that can go on indefinitely and I am very pleased to see the priority the minister has given it."
Minsters have previously come under fire from islanders on the lack of representation on the boards of state-owned ferry operators.
Erik Ostergaard was appointed chair of David MacBrayne on November 25, along with Tim Ingram, Grant Macrae and Sharon O’Connor as non-executive directors.
Cuts to ferry services have sparked feelings of resentment from those who rely on them for their livelihoods and to accusations top managers do not understand the importance of ferries for islanders.
Uisdean Robertson, the chair of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar transport committee, wrote to Dey on the announcement of three appointments to the new board of David MacBrayne on December 22, 2021.
He wrote the decision to “ignore” a petition calling for legal quotas for community representation on the boards of organisations serving Scotland’s islands “showed complete contempt for island communities”.
Robertson added: “Islanders have felt frustration at the poor operational planning as well as the strategic direction taken by the senior management of Calmac Ferries Limited for many years.
“Yet we have seen little or no evidence of a Board which has sufficient understanding of the impact of its directions and decisions, because it lacks the fundamental knowledge to challenge the executive branch of the company.”
Transport Scotland was approached for comment.
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