The Ferries Community Board has noted the resignation of Robbie Drummond as chief executive of CalMac.
We understand this would have been a difficult decision for Mr Drummond given his involvement and commitment to the company over the last number of years.
This was during a time when lack of investment in vessels made service delivery extremely difficult and created unprecedented impacts on our islands.
The Ferries Community Board has consistently asked for a change of approach from top management at CalMac to be more islanders and community centred.
This will only be achieved by changing the culture of the organisations in terms of policy, structure and strategic decision making.
The best route to improving decision making and communication is to fully involve islanders, communities and build again a service designed around the needs of these communities.
We will continue to push decision makers on these issues and constructively work to bring these improvements.
If we are to get the best outcomes of the investment in new vessels and infrastructure these changes must be made.
Angus Campbell, chairperson, Ferries Community Board
Having lived through the atrocities of war, millions of Ethiopians are now facing emergency levels of food insecurity and hunger.
The charity Mary’s Meals serves school meals to children in the Tigray region of the country, but sadly the stories we are hearing from Tigray are shocking. After the two-year civil war, so many children are still out of school, and many of those who are in school can’t learn due to debilitating hunger.
Before the conflict Selemon and his parents lived a happy life. Now his father has suffered a mental breakdown and is unable to support the family.
With no food at home, nine-year-old Selemon comes to school without eating anything and sits in class feeling hungry, instead of being able to focus on the lessons. He used to be bold and active in class, whereas now, he often seems to get confused when he’s asked a question. His teacher says: “He always gets sick. He even has a skin disease, which I think is a symptom of hunger. His family is one of the poorest.”
The past few years have stolen so much from Selemon. Mary’s Meals is striving to reach his community and start serving meals to the children in his primary school.
Alongside our local partner, we are ready to expand our school feeding programme to more schools like Selemon’s but we urgently need more funds to do so. With your help we can reach these desperately hungry children with food and boost their chances of engaging with education again.
You can provide them with hope of a brighter future. Please visit marysmeals.org.uk&source=gmail&ust=1712649704707000&usg=AOvVaw19xFvWGSW1wtFZYIg65cV8">marysmeals.org.uk to give what you can to our Crisis In Ethiopia appeal – at just 10p a meal no donation is too small.
Matt Barlow, executive director, Mary’s Meals
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