Lotten Hjelm, chair of Skärgårdarnas Riksförbund, wants Sweden to introduce an island law like several European countries. She highlights the need for clearer rules on public transport to islands with permanent residents.
Lotten Hjelm was met at the pier in Stavsnäs while traveling from Nämdö toward Gotska Sandön. She said around 200 islands with about 700 residents lack regular public transport.
According to Hjelm, access to services such as school transport, broadband and home care varies between municipalities and regions. She calls for a law or policy that gives municipalities and regions clear rules to follow.
– Six weeks a year the market rules the archipelago. We are here all year round, putting out fires, helping neighbours denied security alarms and keeping the cultural landscape alive as our ancestors did, Hjelm said.
Rural affairs minister Peter Kullgren has not commented on the proposal.
