To members of the anti-Nordic Aquafarms group who disagree with the unanimous decision made by the Belfast City Council on Tuesday, please be kind. Don't insult, misquote or worse, threaten your elected officials. And, NO, I can assure you that my wonderful wife Brenda of almost 30 years and her colleagues on the City Council are not bought by corporations. 

An independent thinker and a small Main Street entrepreneur, Brenda is a kind-hearted person that truly wants what is best for the citizens of Belfast. Like her colleagues, she attends countless hours of monthly meetings after carefully reviewing briefings on a myriad of complex issues.

She, and only she decides on how she will vote, sometime in agreement with her colleagues, sometime very much against the majority. She has earned her seat and respect on the council. As many expected, she has brought peace after several tumultuous council years and her kind and supportive approach is widely appreciated by people working for the city.

You have the right to be opposed to the Nordic aquaculture project and this despite the overwhelming community, business and state support (including on both sides of the political aisle).

The anti-Nordic group/property abutters (who conveniently and for better public appeal branded themselves/created the "Friends of Harriet L. Hartley Conservation Area”) absolutely have the right to organize, submit scripted opinion pieces to local papers, online and e-mails, hire lawyers and make their case in court, as they have for the last three and half years.

They and the citizens of Belfast will also be able to run for and/or cast freely their votes in the next municipal elections.

In the meantime, Brenda will continue to respectfully and ethically represent the citizens of Belfast for which she was elected by a wide margin in 2019. Anti-Nordic folks, please return the same favor.

Thierry H. Bonneville lives in Belfast