The Emigrants, a 10 foot high bronze statue of a family fleeing their home, has just been erected in Helmsdale, Caithness, to honour those left the Highalnds and Islands during the notorious Clearances.
Alex Salmond, First Minister, said on unveiing the staue that te Clearances were 'a blot on Scottish history'.
'However', he added 'while you deplore what happened, you have to celebrate the contribution the people who were cleared made in the four corners of the Earth'