Globusz^® Publishing 

“As most of you will know, my name is Jim Henderson and I am now the owner of the Scottish island named Enniskerry. I welcome you all to this, the first meeting of the proposed the proposed Enniskerry Island Community, and I am sure you will take this first opportunity to get to know each other. We will become neighbours, each bringing with us our share of individual assets, difficulties and responsibilities. Now, we are entering upon additional and wider shared responsibilities with a much larger group.

You, I hope, will join me, not as tenants, but more in the way of an extended family on Enniskerry, living as a community and working together to build a stable, efficient and enjoyable life together. It will not be easy. There are prophets of doom — you may have heard some of them giving vent to many reasons for their belief that we are destined to failure. Not least of these is the historical fact that many of the small-inhabited islands off the west coast of Scotland have failed due to the population decreasing to a point where continuance is not viable. This has usually occurred soon after the number of children drops to low single figures. But we must not be despondent for we have the potential for several children to start life with us on the island. I’m very positive that it can be a success, but this will depend as much on you as on me.

“Let me talk now about commitment. As you will be aware from my advertisement, my basic proposals include the need for a safety net of continuity. Applicants will be asked to sign a simple contract committing them to live on the island for one year, working together with the other members so as to provide the basis for a stable and lasting community that can survive into the future.

I want this enterprise to be as democratic as possible but I have a simple choice to make. Should I allow the inevitable uncertainty of people arriving and departing at their will or should I strive to proceed in a more orderly fashion?

“This contract is my way of getting those of you who think as I do, to agree that we are embarking upon something more durable than an annual holiday, and sign a simple form to that effect. In order to show that future islanders do in fact have a commitment to the island’s profitability, they should be able to show it to me in some easily recognisable way, each according to his or her means. For some, this may just be their word, for others it may be a more substantial offer.

Before I talk more about this matter I will re-state what many of you will already know: I envisage, after we are all adequately housed and the necessary farming and other services are in place, that islanders could eventually revert to other private methods of income. A certain proportion of their profits (yet to be agreed) would be allocated to an island fund, and thereafter their remaining profit being theirs to use as they wish. Some, who commit themselves and their family to island life, may wish to keep their options open. For instance, if they own property back on the mainland, they may wish to rent it out during their absence in case they decide to return at some later stage. Others will probably sell up, lock stock and barrel, and commit themselves totally.

We will start with next to nothing. We have to feed ourselves, construct accommodation and improve our situation from the day we arrive on the island. It will not be possible for you to make the crossing, step off the boat and wait on the landing stage or look around and ask: “What shall I do now?” or “Who is going to feed me.” Everyone will be responsible for themselves as individuals or as families until we can establish communal food supplies. Although some accommodation will be available straight away, you should, unless you have been given an allocation before, come with adequate tents, and bring sufficient food to last each person in your family for at least one or two weeks.

“We shall be taking emergency supplies of foodstuffs for ourselves and hay and feed for the animals. There is fresh water on the island but work will still be necessary to pipe it to the various locations. There are many more aspects to reveal to you but I would now like to open the meeting to comments and questions, I’m sure there will be many, but first can I have a feel of your immediate reaction to the question of commitment by way of a contract.

“Yes, Angus? By the way thanks for coming all the way down south.”

“I would just like to say that it is only fair and right that you should have some evidence that people will support you for the first year. Any contribution should be a matter between you and the person giving it, otherwise it could result in an unpleasantness and unworthy comparisons as to who has given or not given of their best.

“Thanks Angus, Charles?”

“You say you want us to operate in a democratic system but it seems your first action will not be at all democratic.”

“What in your view is undemocratic Charles?”

“Well, the need to get into contracts between us. One does not need this degree of control.”

“I have thought long and hard about this. I do not see my request for you to sign a simple contract as undemocratic. I do not demand that you come to this island. I ask you to come, but on the written understanding that you would stay for at least the first year. A person without a recognisable commitment is a risk to us all, over and above the actual risk of the basic idea. Do you see this to be a problem for you Charles?

“Yes, I think it would be. How would you deal under the terms of this contract with someone who had legitimate call back to the mainland for say, the death of a close relative or someone in need of urgent medical attention, would they have broken the contract?”

“No, of course not. I think you misunderstand my values and intentions. There would never be a situation where I could hold anyone against his or her will. The way I see it is a bit like a marriage: people pledge themselves to each other in good faith. This it what we will be doing and we all hope that it will not end in divorce. And, on the point about medical attention on the mainland, we will be at the mercy of weather and tides. Individuals should consider their own needs for insurance cover.

“Before we go on, there are about twenty-two potential members here tonight. Can I have a show of hands on the commitment issue?”

Eighteen voted in favour of everybody giving a commitment, and four voted against.”

“Thank you. Are there any other questions? Yes, Lynda.”

“How will things actually be organised on the island?”

“A useful question. Before we leave for the island I will appoint some individuals who I think will have the qualities to a specific organisational role. For instance, one person will responsible for land, agriculture, food etc. Another will be responsible for building, engineering, supplies and maintenance etc. A third will take on education, personal queries and other matters. These three will form the nucleus of a committee of six people plus myself, and I will have the casting vote if required. The committee will also consist of a secretary and treasurer and one other person. Any member can be voted off the committee if there are more votes cast for a new member than for the existing one. These votes can occur at any time after the first three months.”

“Belinda.”

“So we can’t democratically vote you off.” There was a ripple of laughter through the room.

“You’re quick off the mark Belinda. The answer is no, you might want to vote me off before we’ve even started. This is I believe to be my one small compromise with democracy.”

“One last question. Angus.”

“How many people do you want to start this enterprise and how many applications have you received to date?”

“My feeling is that about forty including the children might be about right. I have to be mindful of the number of dwellings existing and those, which stand a reasonable chance of being completed before the winter. As of now, sixty-three have shown interest, which includes partners and children and I suspect that no more than forty-five are serious at this stage. You may like to know, however, that I have had a request from a husband and wife, who lived on the island all their lives until recently and now wish to return. Thank you all very much, I will be in touch with you all shortly.”

A few evenings later, Bob and Susan and their daughter Jane, who I had met on my first interview, called round again for another chat about her future education.

“Jim, sorry we were unable to be at the meeting. As you know, Jane is seventeen and looking forward to going to university. Susan and I wondered how she stands regarding the one year commitment to the island.”

“Don’t worry, it has no legal standing. It is my way of getting people to think of a longer term and not just coming for a holiday. Jane, there are no restrictions here to hold you on the island. We’re going to try to do everything we can to give you as good an education here as you could get on the mainland, and we will encourage you to get to the university of your choice. I have always envisaged that people will leave the island, but my task is to try and make the time that they do spend there, memorable, and they look back to it as their home. There is the option of study through the Open University but I really hope that you and the other the youngsters will explore the world beyond the island’s shores.”