Letter: Canna clarity

As members of the Canna Community Association, we wish to make clear our disappointment and anger at recent media coverage concerning our community. We disassociate ourselves from critical remarks made by a particular individual (your report, 24 May). We had no knowledge of approaches made to the media.Neither was there any meaningful discussion with us about the issues raised.

The comments made about Canna and its management by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) do not reflect the reality of the situation here. These comments have encouraged us to unite as a community as never before.

The trust's founding charter states that it cares for its properties "on behalf of the nation". This is interpreted to mean that properties owned by NTS are there to be enjoyed by visitors and residents. They are places that enrich lives and from which we can learn more about ourselves, our history and environment, and are places at which people can undertake practical conservation and research.

We, as a community, have no appetite now, or for the foreseeable future, for a community buyout or takeover and most certainly not a hostile one.

Canna is a unique and special island, all the more so for being held in trust for the nation. Most of us now settled here have chosen to live here because of that. The heritage, culture, conservation and protected nature of this land are among the reasons why we choose to stay here.

Land tenure is not an issue we wish to publicly battle over; we are committed to working with the NTS for a sustainable, stable and co-operative future. We support the NTS as our landlord and partners in the development of Canna. We have welcomed the arrival of Stewart Connor as the NTS manager on Canna, and he has already made substantial, positive changes.

Amanda McFadden, Stewart Connor, Murdo Jack, Aart Lastdrager, Geraldine MacKinnon, Norah MacKinnon, Winnie MacKinnon, Julie McCabe, Magda Sagarazuzu, Joaquin Gironza

Canna Community Association

Inner Hebrides