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October 26: No surprise if Trump has Salmond in corner

October 26: No surprise if Trump has Salmond in corner

Today’s letters to The Courier.

Sir, I watched on STV’s Scotland Tonight programme the interview with Mr Trump regarding his opposition to the proposed offshore windfarm which he claims shall have a detrimental effect on his golf course project.

It is clear Mr Trump is vehemently opposed to this windfarm being so close to the coastline and has in all probability got Mr Salmond and the Scottish Government backed into a corner.

Whatever some might think of Mr Salmond he nevertheless is an astute politician and shall realise full well he cannot lock horns with Mr Trump over this because of the level of backing he and the government has already given to the Trump Organisation.

Mr Trump, in the interview, was also fulsome in his praise of Alex Salmond, yet I can’t help feeling he sees the First Minister and his colleagues as ”backwoods hicks” whom he easily outmanoeuvered in his initial dealings and feels he can do so again with regard to the offshore windfarm.

It would not surprise me greatly if discussions have already taken place between Mr Salmond and the company behind the offshore windfarm with a view to getting them to alter their plans and relocate the turbines away from the vicinity of Mr Trump’s golf course.

R. T. Smith.30 Braeside Terrace,Aberdeen.

Youngsters flung on the scrapheap

Sir, Thousands of people across Scotland blast into spanking new apprenticeships time and again. Yet all too often we hear not only how short-lived their stint at work was but many witness the ever-lasting effects on all of society.

Scottish apprenticeships nurture the talent of quick-witted youths but profit from them as well. Business, communities and society can be proud of them all.

Scotland can and will only succeed by ensuring the achievers of today become the whizz-kids of tomorrow. And the Scottish Government has countless powers to steer and bring about social change for us all.

Yet all we see is dithering and indecision.

Skills Development Scotland recently released numbers to appal all Scotland’s go-getters. During June 2009, almost 1,916 casualties were laid off, and 2010-2011 saw a crowd of gifted people hung out to dry.

Heaps of dosh is flung hard and fast into business by the Scottish Government. And when our Holyrood captains are lavish with taxpayers’ money, let’s make sure we get the biggest bang for our buck.

If the SNP Government really cared about the jobless, wouldn’t they insist that companies greedy for public-sector contracts had to take on an agreed amount of apprentices?

Instead, inaction, shilly-shallying and compromise swell unemployment figures and break the spirit of the jobless.

As each day falls, another begins. The Scottish Parliament deserves and should demand a full-forceful debate from our SNP masters, to discuss the daunting times facing us all.

Gordon Barlow.43 Timmons Park,Lochgelly.

US position is consistent

Sir, The US ban on Aberdeen Angus-flavoured crisps is consistent with its early anti-BSE precaution of blocking our beef exports unilaterally long before the rest of the world followed suit (October 24).

The US already had a good reputation for safety after it avoided the Thalidomide disaster which produced malformed babies all over Europe.

Ironically the oldest victim of variant CJD the human form of BSE was a 65-year-old American who holidayed here specially to enjoy slap-up meals of British beef every year.

Many people and even a few butchers thought that Aberdeen Angus cattle were immune from BSE, but hundreds died of it.

Angus Ramsay.34 Kings Road,Rosyth.

Dealing with those tailgaters

Sir, With regard to the letter from Mona Clark about tailgating, the correct way to deal with this problem is to move over into the left-hand lane and let the tailgater go past.

Unless you are an officer of the law it is not your place to prevent anyone exceeding the speed limit, for two reasons. First you don’t know why they are speeding they may very well have a justifiable reason for it. Secondly, it is their licence the points will go on, not yours.

If you are taking up position to turn right then move into the right-hand lane and put your indicator on. This then tells anyone behind you what your intentions are.

Tailgaters are the scum of the road and I, too, hate them but don’t be a bad driver just because you don’t like someone’s behaviour on the road.

Iain Day.31 Rosamunde Pilcher Drive,Longforgan.

Why only meet in the evening?

Sir, As a member of various organisations some local, some national with local branches I would like to question why in 2011 most organisations hold their meetings in the evenings.

I congratulate Friends of Dundee City Archives which has monthly meetings at lunchtime and the Dundee Afternoon Lectures at the University of Dundee there may be others.

Many residents in Dundee are retired others, unfortunately, not in work so perhaps those groups would appreciate such meetings taking place during the day, even turn about with evenings.

Another factor is that bus services do not always stop at the door of the venues and many people do not want to drive in the dark only to be confronted by parking problems.

K. A. Butlin.249 Strathmartine Road,Dundee.

Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.