LOCAL NEWS NOVEMBER 2 2023
Written by MartyM on 7 November 2023
MSP Forbes “did not use WhatsApp” for Covid decisions
Former finance secretary Kate Forbes has said she did not use WhatsApp when it came to making decisions about Covid-19
The Skye and Lochalsh’s MSP comments come amid a request by the UK Covid-19 inquiry for the Scottish Goverment to submit 14,000 WhatsApp messages to the investigation.
The Scottish Government had been asked to disclose private messages containing discussions on key decision-making through
a legal notice under the Inquiries Act 2005. Under the notice individuals are instructed to hand over evidence, with those who refuse facing jail or a fine.
Kate Forbes was appointed as the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy a month before the first UK lockdown in March 2020. She held the role until March 2023.
In a statement sent to Radio Skye, a spokesperson for Ms Forbes said “Kate has fully participated with the Scottish Covid Inquiry, and has already made an extensive initial submission.
“Kate has retained and submitted all relevant correspondence about decisions made during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“She did not use WhatsApp messages to make decisions about Covid-19.”
At First Ministers Question, the leader of the opposition, Conservative MSP Douglas Ross claimed that the Scottish National Party brought in an auto delete policy, not just after being told not to do so by the UK Covid inquiry, but after Nicola Sturgeon had set up a separate Scottish inquiry.
First Minister Humza Yousaf told the parliament that the Scottish Goverment were in the processing of sending all 14,000 WhatsApp messages to the inquiry, and defended his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon who has said has been transparent throughout her tenure as leader.
On Monday, Tuesday Nicola Sturgeon said Ms Sturgeon said she did not “manage the Covid response by WhatsApp” that she has got nothing to hide”
Portree to host Skye and Lochalsh local democracy event
People across Skye and Lochalsh are being invited to have their voices heard at a local democracy event on the island
Democracy Matters 2 event which will take place at the Portree Community Centre on Tuesday 14th November from 12pm to 2pm.
The session will be hosted by Skye and Lochalsh Council of Voluntary Organisations and Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) and is part of national Local Governance Review which is looking across all of Scotland’s public services to consider how power and resources should be shared between national and local government.
The discussion will be facilitated by the Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC). A light lunch will be served at 12.00noon and the discussion will take place between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
Scottish Goverment pledges £250,000 to support people in Gaza
The Scottish Goverment has pledged a further £250,000 to towards aid relief efforts to support displace people in Gaza.
An estimated 1.4 million people have been displaced in Gaza by conflict and military evacuation orders.
The funds will be used to help people in Gaza access food, water, shelter and medical supplies through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s Flash Appeal (UNRWA)
The support will be distributed through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s Flash Appeal (UNRWA)
More than 1,400 Israelis were killed by Hamas on October 7th, since then more than 8,805 Palestinians have been killed according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
Police highlight risk of daily scams
The Highlands and Islands Police are asking people to keep vigilant for frauds and daily scams by issuing advice on what to look for.
Police Scotland says it receives reports of Frauds/Scams daily, with phone scams proving an easy way for criminal to con people out of their money.
The police have asked the public to be aware of banks scams where a scammer may ask for you pin number of tell you to give your bank card to a courier – this something your bank would never do.
Scammers may also pretend to be a member of the HMRC and claim that there is an issue with your tax refund or an unpaid tax bill – they may leave you a message and ask you call and also ask you to reveal personal financial information – which the real HMRC would not ask of you.
The Police say no to any request if you are unsure and contact the real service in question later.
Five-a-side tournament for girls
Skye & Lochalsh Female Football Club are hosting a girls only indoor football tournament in Portree this month
There will be two competitions within the tournament – one for 10 to 13 years and – and another for 14 to 18 year olds – both will be contested in five-a-side format.
The tournament will be held at the Fingal Centre in Portree on Saturday 18th November.
Anyone who would like to get involved can email slffc@hotmail.com
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