THE new owner of Eigg arrived unexpectedly on his island home
yesterday to an enthusiastic welcome from island representatives.
Lounging on the steps of the Grand Lodge, formerly the home of
unpopular laird Keith Schellenberg, Marlin Eckhard Maruma, a modern art
painter and professor of architecture, said that he had come first to
listen to the opinions of the local people. Then, he added, he would
make investments which he anticipated being around 10 times the purchase
price of the island, which is said to have been #1.6m.
Asked about his investment plans he said he had been aware from the
beginning that there is no point in purchasing a Rolls-Royce if you do
not have enough money for the petrol and had every intention of
investing money in the island.
As indication of his desire to be seen as a man of the people Mr
Maruma's first statement as laird was that on his first visit he did not
want any of the local people to have to come and see him in the lodge
but he would rather go and visit them in their homes to listen to their
opinions.
His subsequent tour of the island in a #700 former forestry minibus
brought about a flurry of spring cleaning in many of the homes of the
island's 75 inhabitants and many words of praise for the new owner.
Mr Maruma said that he had intitially signed letters of intent to
purchase the island from Mr Schellenberg as long ago as last August and
that he suspected that the former laird had been keen to get him to
withdraw from the deal, which was concluded on March 28.
Referring to the ownership of a map of the island which was disputed
last Tuesday, Mr Maruma said: ''The map doesn't belong to me, it belongs
to the island''.
Praising the local people for their ''healthy dislike of injustice''
he said that 20 years of world travel had taught him that his first
priority should be to listen to their views before proceeding to a
shared plan of economic development and then making the concept into a
firm reality.
Mr Maruma said that while he had not finalised anything he would even
be prepared to invest his own funds in the upgrading of the tiny island
pier, the responsibility of Highland region, as he saw improved
transport links with the mainland as being a vital stage in the island's
future development and would not be prepared to wait 10 years for the
Government to improve the pier.
His visit was greeted with initial enthusiasm by island
representatives, including Dr Christoper Tiarks who said: ''My wife and
I were delighted to entertain Mr Maruma to tea. I am sure that he and
his girlfriend are going to be good news for Eigg and I'm sure the
people will co-operate with him on his plans for the island.''
Mrs Marie Carr, the wife of Mr Schellenberg's former farm manager Mr
Colin Carr, who was recently under threat of eviction with her five
children, said: ''Our new owner seems very agreeable and interested
which is more than can be said for somebody else.
''He seems to be a genuine person with the island's interests at
heart.''
Also on the island was Isle of Eigg trustee and opponent of Mr
Schellenberg, Leslie Riddoch, who said: ''I am absolutely staggered at
this complete reversal of behaviour of this laird in contrast to the
last.
''I finally think that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for
this island and am convinced that all of us can work together.''
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