Hamilton Rotary Club welcomes MSP Linda Fabiani

Apr 10 2008 By John Rowbotham

HAMILTON Rotary Club welcomed Linda Fabiani MSP as guest at their recent meeting.

Linda originally comes from Glasgow and now lives in Strathaven.

She is the regional member of the parliament for central Scotland and is the SNP’s Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture.

Linda spoke enthusiastically about her broad remit.

She was happy to record that while the opposition members in the parliament thought the SNP would fail because of their lack of experience in government, in her opinion and according to the polls this has been proved wrong.

Linda referred to the ‘National Conversation on Scotland’s Constitutional Future’ and the importance of listening to what people have to say before determining policies.

She also referred to Scotland’s place in Europe and recognising the innate value in the country’s people and what they have to offer Europe.

With external affairs included in her remit, Linda praised the previous First Minister for the stand he took to enable the Scottish Government to contribute to international development.

She mentioned in particular Malawi because of the country’s strong historical, church and political links with Scotland.

When she talked about promoting Scotland, Linda spoke of the changes being made to Tartan Week in New York.

She explained that the approach will be broadened and Scottish Ministers will separately visit New York, Chicago and Toronto.

After responding to many broad-ranging questions, Linda accepted the deserved vote of thanks given by past president Hamish Wilson.