Sir, – On May 3, 2015, a young man, Sheku Bayoh, lost his life in the custody of nine police officers in Kirkcaldy.
I do not pretend to know what happened on that morning, but am very concerned at the length of time it has taken the authorities to investigate and publish the facts.
The PIRC (Police Investigation and Review Commissioner) prepared an interim report for the Crown Office on 7th August last year, yet nothing has emerged to help interested citizens understand what happened that day.
Has it been kicked into the long grass until after the election?
To ensure public confidence in the police, the PIRC and the Crown Office, we need to be told the circumstances of this man’s death urgently.
Alan Thomson.
Easter Dunochil,
High Street
Kinross.
Duck’s death was avoidable
Sir, – I was distressed to read of the death of the Mandarin duck, former partner of Morag and pet of Suzi Anderson.
Hamish’s death could probably have been avoided but for the intransigence of the custodians of the Loch of the Lowes nature reserve who refused to grant Ms Anderson access several weeks ago to retrieve the hapless duck on the grounds that it might disturb the ospreys nesting there.
If ospreys are resilient enough to maintain a presence during events such as T in the Park, it seems unlikely one woman rescuing a duck is going to upset them unduly.
What happened to the ‘right to roam’ charter talked about so much? It sounds like double standards here. Obviously ospreys, of which we are told number around 240 breeding pairs in the UK, are considered much more important than the fate of one duck left to starve to death.
It would appear organisations like SWT and the RSPB wield far too much influence nowadays.
I am an avid conservationist, but as with everything, there has to be a balance.
Sylvia McHardy.
Endrigs,
Cupar,
Fife.
Unfair attack on the President
Sir, – I was appalled by the attitude and bitterness expressed by N. Addison in his/her letter in Saturday’s Courier towards US President Barrack Obama.
As the head of one of the world strongest countries, President Obama has every right to be concerned about what goes on in Europe, and in particular the UK, and was simply passing on his concerns and pointing out the pitfalls of the UK opting out of the EU. He was not interfering or telling us how to run our country, he was merely confirming what the majority of our intelligent Brits already know.
I am equally disappointed that the editor choose to publish the letter which was nothing more than a verbal abuse of the American President
Ian McLean.
34 Woodlands Way,
Dunnikier Park Homes
Kirkcaldy.
Best to think before your vote
Sir, – The EU referendum is not only about the EU that exists today, but more about avoiding what it will become with its relentless and illogical plans for expansion, that will include countries such as Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo and Turkey.
Many of these countries have a complete lack of economic and social structure, and it would take time and money to make them useful contributors to the European project. Some have itinerant populations, understandably looking elsewhere for better prospects for themselves and their families.
UK citizens should perhaps think more about what tomorrow’s EU might become before they vote.
Malcolm Parkin.
Gamekeepers Road,
Kinnesswood,
Kinross.
No second chances
Sir, – Had the 2014 independence referendum been in favour of Scotland breaking away from the UK, would those who favoured remaining within the UK be granted the opportunity to hold a second vote to rejoin the UK? I think not.
Colin Topping.
Crathes Close,
Glenrothes.
Evil is in the Eye of the Beholder
Sir, – At a recent meeting at The Ministry of Defence’s headquarters in Whitehall discussing a procurement project, ideas appeared to be at a premium, prompting a senior colonel to suggest the members of the meeting might “brainstorm” together to introduce new concepts. This is a word commonly used in meetings as an ideas forward vehicle.
One senior civil servant, possibly overpaid and doubtlessly under endowed with common sense, immediately took umbrage at this word, stating that this could be seen as offensive to epilepsy sufferers: however he came to this conclusion defies understanding. Thus instead of accepting the matter in its true context it appeared more important to interrupt the flow of thought on serious issues to propagate a self-seen point of political correctness. Soon we will be apprehensive of entering into dialogue with others in case we offend “jobs worthies.”
No truer case of “evil is in the eye of the beholder.”
David L Thomson.
24 Laurence Park,
Kinglassie,
Fife.
We need a strong BBC
Sir, – I refer to BBC Scotland’s Reporting Scotland’s party leader interviews over the past few days and particularly Sally Magnusson’s interview of Nicola Sturgeon on Friday April 29.
In stark contrast to the hectoring of the other party leaders by Jackie Bird and Sally Magnusson, where virtually every point they tried to make was interrupted or contradicted, the latter, clearly nervous, asked a few questions, probably vetted by the SNP machine, and allowed Ms Sturgeon free rein, with a couple of weak token interventions, to launch into what was in effect another party political broadcast on behalf of the SNP.
To add insult to injury the interview was then given virtual eulogy by the SNP’s man at the BBC, Brian Taylor. It is shameful how far the BBC in Scotland have bent the knee to the SNP PR machine.
We need a fearless and free BBC in Scotland similar to their counterparts in England who do not hold back when interviewing Westminster politicians at the highest level and who hold them to account whenever the need arises.
We are descending into a state television situation.
Donald Lewis.
East Lothian,
Pine Cottage,
Beech Hill,
Gifford.
The park must be fully utilised
Sir, – Now that Aberdeenshire Council has granted permission for North Esk Park, it will be possible to relieve pressure on our local authorities by asking them ensure that it is used to full capacity.
The park is able to house between 70 and 100 more Travellers’ caravans than are presently there, so let us see the park filled. Any adjustment required to bylaws and such like to facilitate full usage will be easy for the relevant authorities to make or ignore.
Gordon Norrie.
Mains of Gardyne,
Forfar.
Gender makes no difference
Sir, – Nicola Sturgeon has been reported as saying that there would be a £7.6 billion boost to the economy – wiping out half of Scotland’s deficit – if the number of women-led businesses matched the number led by men.
This is ridiculous. It’s brains not gender that we need to run our businesses and country.
Gender does not make a difference and is irrelevant to efficiency, whether it be running Parliament, business or scrubbing the floor.
Jenny Barnett.
The Garden House,
Campsie Hill,
Guildtown,