Somaliland talk at LIBG Scotland agm

Willis Pickard reports.

In Somaliland everyone was born on 1 January. That at least is what is recorded on the identity/voter-registration cards recently produced with the help of international advisers. There is no malfeasance or incompetence involved. Somalis traditionally pay little attention to birthdays, and so many adults are unsure about the exact date of their birth. Hence the decision to use New Year's Day for everyone.

That was one of the fascinating details revealed to the annual general meeting of Liberal International in Scotland about life in a Horn of Africa country that is unrecognised by the rest of the world, including Britain and the EU.

Gillian Gloyer, a member of LI, spent several months last year helping the Somaliland people prepare for their (successfully conducted) presidential election.

She pointed out the distinction between democratic progress in the unrecognised area that was the former British protectorate and the anarchy to the south in Somalia.

The British embassy in Ethiopia looks after our interests in Somaliland, but many Liberal-minded observers must surely question why our Government is so reluctant to give the people of Somaliland recognition of their progress and potential.

The formal business of the meeting included a discussion of how best to use the legacy bequeathed by founding chairman Ronnie Fraser, and the committee will now look in detail at the proposals.

The office-bearers were re-elected: Willis Pickard, chairman; Clive Sneddon, secretary; and John Barnett ,treasurer.