Comhairle Highlights Invaluable Role of Local Businesses Throughout the COVID-19 Crisis

Following the recent launch of its Economic Recovery Strategy, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, this week has paid tribute to the invaluable role local businesses have played throughout the COVID-19 crisis.  

Councillor Donald Crichton, Chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee at the Comhairle said: “I think it is a good time to reflect on and appreciate the role our many local businesses have played in keeping key services and products available to our communities.  I see and hear first hand of how so many businesses have stepped up and continued to deliver in this period. Many cannot, even if they wanted to, but those who could did an excellent job. And whilst my focus is on our local businesses I am ever mindful of the contribution the nationals like the Coop and Tesco make across our islands not only in terms of the service they deliver but in the number of our people they employ.”  

He continued: “ Islands wide hauliers like D R Macleod have continued to deliver goods, retained their staff, adapted to very challenging ferry timetables and delivered to many rural shops who themselves have done a stalwart job and enjoyed good local support. Let’s hope that local support continues. Woody’s kept the parcels flowing and our Postmen and women never faltered.

Local fillings stations with their accompanying grocery shops have continued to serve us all well and we hope they continue to do so for years to come. Some garages continued to operate and I know that the emergency services appreciated the ongoing essential service provided throughout the period by firms like Lavas Garage and others who were unswerving in their support of those needing to keep vehicles on the move.

Local pharmacists such as K J Macdonald and Back Pharmacy ran a very efficient medicine delivery service.  Many people have volunteered to help with these deliveries and their quiet and committed efforts have not gone unnoticed. In addition this community appreciates the efforts of each and every business, like the butchers, fishmongers, the bakers and the newsagents, all local and all worthy of our support, that has helped make our lives much easier and more comfortable during this period of lockdown.”

Cllr Crichton concluded: “There are many more we could mention but I just think it’s important that whilst we salute, and rightly so, front line staff in the health and care sector, we remember all these front line staff in businesses who have helped keep the islands ticking over in the challenging times we have encountered.”