RSPB weighs up legal options as senior executive blasts 'most vile racist commentary' he has ever had read

                                                               

Coquet Island where a staff bust-up has caused aggro

THE RSPB's chief operating officer has today hit out at  'vile racist commentary' which he says has appeared in social media.

Dr James Robinson, who is the charity's chief operating officer, has waded into a row over a controversial shake-out  of staff and volunteers at the Coquet Island seabirds reserve off the Northumberland Coast.

Editions of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail are among mainstream media outlets that have  reported on the ructions that resulted from the replacement of longstanding manager Dr Paul Morrison with Dr Ibrahim Alfarwi who is understood to be a refugee from Syria.

Says Dr Robinson: "I won’t comment on previous members of staff, but I feel strongly that I want to put something on the record in support of Dr Alfarwi.

" We are disturbed and angry at the divisive nature of some of this media coverage. 

"This goes against everything we stand for as an organisation. We do not tolerate the abuse of our staff and are supporting them at this difficult time.

Dr Robinson - 'culture wars'

"I should like to stress that we have thorough, fair and legal processes and procedures that we follow when dealing with staff issues. 

"We take pride in being an organisation which is committed to ensuring all employees and volunteers are treated fairly and reasonably.

"We absolutely stand by our colleague in the face of, frankly, some of the most, vile racist online commentary that I have had the misfortune to read in my career.

"This member of staff has been cleared of any wrongdoing following a full and thorough investigation."

Dr Robinson, who is a tern ecology expert with first-hand experience of Coquet Island, continues: 

"I can categorically say that we have absolute confidence in the new team on the island. 

"Standing up for our staff really matters. 

"It is  personally deeply upsetting that a place I know, and love so very much has also become a target in the culture wars."

He adds: "We are currently exploring what legal options are open to us all and will be standing by our colleague."

The Wryneck says: Talk about fanning the flames . . . the Coquet Island staffing controversy would probably have petered out, but now  RSPB's management has whipped up the flames anew. It is right for the organisation to express public support for its existing staff but not in such a way as to risk disregarding the contributions of previous staff. Notable from the executive's ill-judged statement has been   any word of thanks to the previous manager and volunteers for their dedicated and longstanding work in safeguarding the rare roseate tern and other of Coquet's precious marine-dwelling species. And of the ensuing debate, his characterisation of it is as 'vile' and 'racist' serves only to slur those commentators who are making perfectly legitimate comments untainted by even the slightest hint of racism. As for the prospect of pursuing legal action, please RSPB, don't even think about it. That would really be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

* Photo of Coquet Island: Nick Rodd ( (rspb-images.com)