People felt ignored over the stranded oil rig on Lewis, and want to be kept informed about what is happening in the wake of the grounding, a community leader has said.
Don Mackay, chairman of Carloway Community Association, hit out at what he said was “top-down communication” from officials and warned it risked generating hostility towards those working hard at the oil rig.
It comes after an earlier community meeting, on Monday this week, was not attended by various parties, including the rig’s owners and the official overseeing the operation.
Mr Mackay, who was in the audience at Thursday’s public meeting in Carloway, did not direct his comments at any specific people or organisation.
But he told the panel of officials that the community had “extended a very warm hand of friendship to the new folk in our midst” and invited them to the Monday meeting as it came together to make sense of the “seismic” incident.
“We looked for a friendly, supportive gesture from those people who are on the platform here tonight because that is the norm that we are used to when we extend kindness and cordiality,” he said.
“Instead we found ourselves wholly rebutted, totally ignored, completely disregarded without an apology or an explanation, without a by or a leave or a thank you.
“You can be sure that really did get up our nose.”
Mr Mackay went on: “Top-down-only communications is at best not ideal, it’s not appropriate, and at worst it’s a recipe for dis-satisfaction, unrest and a growing hostility towards folk who are trying to work very hard down at the oil rig.
“We urge you on the platform to engage with us please in a meaningful two-way dialogue that will keep us informed at all times about what is happening down at the oil rig.”
Mr Mackay’s comments were met with applause from some members of the audience.
Before Mr Mackay spoke, Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention, told the audience: “I know some of you are disappointed that I was unable to attend the presentation on Monday night.
“We felt, leading up to Monday, that there was insufficient information to pass out to you.
“We felt we’d be much better placed to push the meeting back later in the week and we would be able to bring the full team along and give you a lot more detail.”
