A Scandinavian politician at the centre of an angry row over his nation’s continued whaling practice has urged his Highland critics to visit his island to discuss their concerns.
However, the plea may be too late.
Caithness councillors will today debate the possible termination of a 20-year town twinning arrangement between Wick and Klaksvik in the Faroes because of their difference of opinion.
While some far north councillors are not unduly concerned, others including Caithness civic leader Gail Ross are fuming.
She wants an end to the twinning arrangement because of the regular “Grindadrap” community whaling event.
An officers’ report to today’s committee meeting acknowledges that there has been minimal contact between the two ports for some years. The last formal visit was in 2001.
Last summer, councillor Ross wrote to Mayor Jogvan Skorheim to register her constituents’ objection.
He has said he will not allow people in Wick to “dictate what we should and should not do in our own country.”
Mr Skorheim insisted that Faroese whaling was a “legal and sustainable cultural practice which has been a natural part of Faroese life for centuries.”
The whale hunt is not a planned event. Its rewards are distributed equally among the participants and the local community.
Today’s committee meeting in Wick will not be webcast because of a switch of venue.
Its members will discuss whether or not to webcast future meetings if they consider the £26,000 annual cost good use of public money in an era of unprecedented budget cuts.
Councillors agreed last month (DEC) that each local committee must decide whether or not to continue with webcasts of their respective meetings.