– We have had enough ice in our stomachs. We have seen municipal directors and mayors come and go. It has not brought any change, says Ida Wiman Jektvik. She is a member of the rural growth committee on Rolvsøya, at the far end of the sea gap in Western Finnmark. People on the island are so dissatisfied with the offer to Måsøy municipality that they have now sent an application to the state administrator to become part of Hammerfest, writes Hammerfestingen. Earlier this year, they collected 62 signatures on the island. The municipalities of Måsøy and Hammerfest have been given a deadline by the State Administrator to give feedback on the demand from Rolvsøya before 1 December. If one of the municipalities says no, the matter goes on to the Ministry of Local Government and Districts for assessment. Jektvik says that the problem has been going on for years. Have no faith in a new party In the autumn, Bygdelista took control of Måsøy municipality, where the Labor Party has dominated for years. But Jektvik has no hope of improvement with the new protest party. During the process of the announced transfer to Hammerfest, Hammerfest has found itself in financial trouble. Nor has it caused people on Rolvsøya to reconsider the demand for a transition. – We think that it is not a good thing that Hammerfest is struggling the way they are now, but we consider it so that we have nothing to lose. Because we have not received what we should have received from ordinary municipal services and follow-up from Måsøy municipality. Rolvsøya has 70 resident years. Here is a picture from Gunnarnes. Photo: Allan Klo Ho explains that today they use many municipal services in Hammerfest and thus want to get closer to the city. By becoming part of Hammerfest, Måsøy will lose residents and income. – We have a very large fish farm which is Måsøy municipality’s largest workplace. That will entail a number of financial cuts, says Jektvik. Dilapidated school The problem they have today is a dilapidated teacher’s residence, school and lack of drinking water. – It was decided to close deviations at the school before the summer. Nothing has been done. Now it’s almost Christmas. School is hard. Member of the rural growth committee, Ida Wiman Jektvik, says that they have been promised change, but nothing has happened. Photo: Privat In the teachers’ residence, it is 11 degrees in winter. – The indoor climate is bad and there is no clean drinking water. They have to carry drinking water into the house. They haven’t been able to keep the heat there once. There is a lot of replacement of teachers, which is again a district problem, Jektvik believes. – We believe that Måsøy municipality has not done what it should do to keep the teachers we have got. We have had excellent teachers at Måsøy for the past two years now, but we have not been able to keep them. – Trist Deputy mayor from Bygdelista in Måsøy, Serine Larsen, says that they think it is sad that Rolvsøya wants to become part of Hammerfest municipality. – There are many challenges facing Rolvsøya, but Måsøy municipality works diligently to make it better for the population out there, so they can be part of Måsøy, or want to be part of Måsøy municipality. Serine Larsen, Bygdelista, is deputy mayor in Måsøy municipality. Photo: Private – In the future, we are working to close deviations at school, water and other things that are not in place out there. She believes that it is important for the municipality and the politicians to continue working with the structure on the island for both adults and children. For several years, Larsen says that this is not a case that has suddenly arisen. – It is a very complex matter, and it has lasted for several years. She herself thinks it’s a broken situation: – You can feel the frustration. Måsøy is not a large municipality, and we work to try to take care of everyone from all sides. So that it will be possible to both live and live out there in the future. Jektvik says the application has been sent and is hoping for the best: – The level of conflict is high and has been for a long time. If Hammerfest municipality says yes, then I am sure that we have something to contribute.
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Rolvsøya in Finnmark has applied to move to Hammerfest – news Troms and Finnmark
