United For Equality

Gerry Kelly with Antrim footballers John Finucane and Aaron Douglas

By Gerry Kelly

A few years ago, Danny Morrison told me a story about the time he ran for election in Mid-Ulster. He was introduced to a man called John Joe Quinn from Pomeroy who asked him if he really wanted to win. “Of course I do!” said Danny.
“Then listen to what I am going to tell you.” He told Danny things he knew, things he took for granted, but it was refreshing and educational to hear these things spoken from the lips of a man who had been involved in many elections.
John Joe had worked in the Tom Mitchell campaign in 1955 when the IRA prisoner was elected MP for Mid-Ulster by just 260 votes. He worked for Bernadette Devlin in 1969 when she became the youngest MP ever elected.

John Joe told Danny that his parents, grandparents and great grandparent had struggled, marched and fought for the right to vote in order to have some say in their lives. That the right to vote was conceded grudgingly, first to Catholics who owned property but who could only vote for Protestant representatives.
That the franchise was slowly extended over a period of a century (and only later extended to women) but that even then it was people with money and influence, who had a hold over working-class people’s lives through employment or trade or religion, who swayed elections in favour of the establishment, the status quo.

He told Danny that these ‘opinion makers’ were later moved aside as ordinary people gained confidence to speak for themselves and represent themselves. Danny said that John Joe spoke in that earnest but slow Tyrone way which left Danny thinking that John Joe personally had witnessed two centuries of struggle!

John Joe Quinn’s principal advice was never to take votes for granted. Despite the high price that has been paid for the right to vote people can become complacent, apathetic or lazy and don’t appreciate its importance. He told him to canvass non-stop, from early morning to late at night.

To go to the top of mountains to isolated farms which had never been canvassed before and ask people to come out and vote. To knock on every door in every hamlet and town. To encourage a mood, a bandwagon feeling, which would unite people and motivate people around the same proud project of choosing who should best represent them. Danny took his advice and the city man got elected in rural Mid-Ulster!

That advice, never to take votes for granted applies to every candidate in this election. It applies to Alisdair McDonnell and the SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie who so ungraciously dismissed Sinn Féin’s real gesture to maximise nationalist representation by withdrawing Alex Maskey from the South Belfast contest in order to get Alasdair elected.

And it particularly applies to me in North Belfast, where I am seeking not just every republican vote but the goodwill of SDLP voters to oust Nigel Dodds.
The DUP are trying to frustrate the equality agenda Sinn Fein put at the centre of government. We are poised to take North Belfast for all of the people who live here, for the first time in over a century. It needs a good turnout on May 6th.

Together, we can do it! Together, we can take North Belfast!

Higher insurance a rip off - Kelly

Gerry Kelly has welcomed the decision of the Assembly Finance committee to investigate why North Belfast residents have amongst the highest insurance costs in the North.
"The 40% more for our insurance is a rip off. This comes on top of North Belfast people being charged higher fuel costs which we challenged Tesco's on recently,” said Kelly.

“Acting on the Sinn Féin proposal the Assembly Finance Committee has accepted the need for an investigation of the high cost of insurance in the North Belfast.
“It has long been a point of contention that insurers charge clients here disproportionately higher rates than clients elsewhere for similar cover and this is another hidden tax on some of our most deprived communities.

“According to Consumer Council reports clients here pay almost 40% more in total on car, household contents and building insurance.

“Insurance Industry sources justify their higher charges by pointing an accusatory finger at the legal profession fee structure as being the biggest contributory factor in the higher tariffs.

“This aspect will obviously have to influence the remit of any Committee investigation as will the Insurance premiums structure. Now that we have Justice powers transferred to the Assembly the Finance Committee will be able to ask for co-operation from the Justice Committee to ascertain whether the legal system is contributing to these unacceptable inequalities. 


“We would hope that an investigation carried out by the finance and personnel committee will shed light on what the true cost of insurance should be and bring some benefits to customers who are finding it hard to make ends meet in the present economic climate.
“It's a wonder that particularly local car owners can afford to keep their vehicle on the road," said the North Belfast MLA.


Leadership the key to positive change - Kelly

Speaking at the launch of the party's election manifesto this week Sinn Féin candidate Gerry Kelly said the election was about leadership.
The North Belfast MLA, hoping to oust Nigel Dodds and become the area's first ever nationalist MP, joined his party colleagues in the Baby Grand to push home the message that he will “deliver for the people of the area”.

“Sinn Féin delivers leadership. We delivered on peace, on power sharing institutions, and on the transfer of policing and justice powers," he said.
"We are the party which is fighting for equality, peace and jobs. And we are building for Irish unity.”

Kelly said voters should look to his party’s track record in government.
"Sinn Féin has brought equality to the heart of government – from tackling fuel poverty to scrapping the 11-plus; from keeping water in public hands to campaigning for deprived communities,” he said. "The Executive has brought about an end to prescription charges and the freezing of the regional rate. Good work has been done. Sinn Féin have made job retention and job creation central to the Executive. We have used public procurement contracts to ensure the hiring of long-term unemployed and apprentices.

"Sinn Féin is committed to maintaining frontline services and protecting jobs. Slashing public services, allowing unemployment to soar and increasing poverty is not an option. We all must unite against the cuts."

He called on North Belfast voters to head to the polls next Thursday and show their support for Sinn Féin.
"The key to making progress, to making positive change irreversible, is political leadership. We want to bring the vision, the focus and the determination which created and sustained the peace process, to deal with the economy. In this election the electorate has the opportunity to endorse Sinn Féin’s strategy for positive change; to build a better future for all our people but especially our young people and to advance the goal of Irish re-unification."

Cunningham hits out at DUP over apartments decision

Sinn Féín councillor Tierna Cunningham has hit out at DUP councilors on a council committee after they voted to pass plans to build 28 apartments that are heavily opposed by local residents.
Plans were submitted to the Planning Service to build four apartment blocks, which will make up 28 apartments on the wood at Pineview on the upper Whitewell Road. The wooded area links Pineview and the Antrim Road and is one of the few green spaces left in the area.
People living in the area are heavily opposed to the plans and met with planning officials in January to discuss the proposals and outline their reasons why the build should not go ahead.
However the Planning Service gave the development the green light. The development then went before Belfast City Council's Town Planning Committee last Thursday. The committee does not have the power to veto the Planning Service's decision, however they can voice their objection to it. If that is done it the goes back to the Planning Service for further consideration.
However at last week's meeting the DUP voted against residents' wishes and, without cross party opposition to the plans, the application was passed by the committee. The only chance for the application to be halted is if the whole council opposes it at next month's meeting.
Sinn Féín councillor Tierna Cunningham, who lives in the area and is opposed to the build, said she was under the impression the DUP would support the residents’ objections.
"Last week it was put on the agenda of the Town Planning Committee as an approval. At this stage the only way to get a previously deferred item taken back is to have cross party support on this matter," she said.
"This had not been a problem as prior to the meeting I had strongly lobbied all the parties who sit on the Town Planning Committee and they all agreed for it to be taken back.
"However ten minutes before the meeting started a DUP councillor approached me and said that unfortunately they were withdrawing their support.
"I understand as a local elected representative and a resident the importance of this issue for the community and I am sure residents are feeling particularly frustrated at this decision. There is no obvious local rationale for the DUP’s decision especially given that none of the councillors who voted for this proposal to be passed are from North Belfast.
"However I have to commend residents for the hard work and effort they are putting into their fight and hope that at the full council meeting we receive cross party support."
“We have been advised by the Planning Service that no political party has made any objection to the Planning Service on this application. The application has yet to come before a full Council meeting for a final decision by Belfast City Council.”

Sinn Féin made right decision - Alex Maskey

Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey has said he has been “inundated” with messages of support from the local community after his withdrawal from the South Belfast Westminster race last week.
North Queen Street born Maskey, who stepped aside hours before last Tuesday’s nomination deadline, said the strength of feeling among constituents had convinced him he had made the right choice by giving the SDLP’s Alasdair McDonnell a clear run at the seat.
“The party’s local branch was not too happy to begin with because they had been gearing up for this election for a long time, but we brought them together and eventually they saw it was part of a long-term building project,” he said.
“There has been an incredibly strong reaction from the public, more than I had even anticipated. The strength of feeling I have seen has been humbling.”
The South Belfast MLA said Sinn Féin had only decided to withdraw from the poll at the 11th hour.
“We had been looking at it long and hard, because the issue of unionist unity in South Belfast and Fermanagh-South Tyrone had been on the radar for a number of months, and we had been hearing anger and annoyance about it from all over the local constituency.
“It was raised routinely on every street that it harked back to the old days and we were continually being asked what we were going to do about it. The big risk was damaging our standing in south Belfast but we weighed it up and took the decision, only hours before the deadline.”
He admitted he did not believe the SDLP would reciprocate Sinn Féin’s move by withdrawing its candidate Fergal McKinney in Fermanagh-South Tyrone before the deadline.
“They seem to be so hostile to us that they’ve lost all political perspective. They will have heard the same things on the doorsteps that we did but they refused to even have a meeting with us.
“A lot of people are annoyed by the way they have dealt with us, in a seemingly ungracious manner. There are issues that are more important than individual parties and I believe this is one of them.
“I have heard from a number of my constituents that they won’t vote for Alasdair McDonnell because he has been very politically hostile to our project for years. I would say to him if he wants those votes, he has to work for them. I have given him a clear run, it is up to him not to squander it.”
Critics of Mr Maskey’s move have said it has “sectarianised” the election, a claim he rejects.
“Unionists have been arguing for months about South Belfast and Fermanagh-South Tyrone, so it’s not as if it was a secret agenda. It’s not as if my withdrawal has suddenly made South Belfast an issue.
“I reject any notion of sectarianism from our perspective, although I believe the way unionists have come together is purely sectarian. Their only common agenda is to get rid of nationalists and that is what makes a sectarian headcount. You can’t ignore that and have to challenge it.
“I hope people will understand and appreciate what we are doing in the constituency. I have a great commitment to South Belfast but I advocated taking the initiative because I thought it was the right thing to do. I certainly won’t be standing aside in South Belfast again, because we made the effort this time and it was ignored. I will continue to work very hard for the constituency and I will be going forward in next year’s elections on a solid track record. I’m certainly encouraged by what I have heard so far.”

Community comes together against attacks on Fire Service

Young people, political and community representatives and local residents came out in a show of unity with the Fire Service this week following a number of attacks on fire officers.
North Belfast MLA and Westminster candidate Gerry Kelly urged the local community to unite behind the Fire and Rescue Service after recent attacks.
"The work that these people do to keep us safe in our homes from fires, dealing with the most appalling carnage on our roads and in the past week even putting their lives at risk evacuating homes minutes before a bomb explosion should earn them the highest admiration."
"The idiots that have bricked and abused our emergency services need brought before the courts. This community is sending out a clear message that when you attack our emergency services you attack this community."
Staff from the Fire Service met with the locals to talk about ongoing problems when they attend call outs in North Belfast. Two weeks ago the Fire Service was attacked in the Limestone Road area. The windscreen of a fire engine was smashed and although no fire officers were hurt the appliance was off the road for six hours while the windscreen was replaced.
Local young people are so angry at the ongoing trouble caused by some of their peers they decided to join forces with the Fire Service to show their support.

Residents celebrate safer roads result

Upper Whitewell Road residents who campaigned for traffic calming measures in the area, backed by local Sinn Féin councillor Tierna Cunningham, have been celebrating this week with the news that work on the measures is due to begin.
The Roads Service carried out a traffic survey in the area and last week announced they would be putting measures in place to slow traffic. The department will be erecting slow signs along the road as well as slow markings on a red surface on the road. The footpath will also be lengthened to go the whole way up to the Antrim Road on both sides.
"I am delighted that the work is going ahead and it is going to make a big difference to the lives of the people who live here," said local Sinn Feín councillor Tierna Cunningham.
"I would like to congratulate residents on their successful campaign and I hope now that their safety and that of their kids will be protected."

Sinn Féin backs campaign for new school

Speaking in advance of yesterday's protest in support of a new school for Whitehouse Primary, North Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said:
“Sinn Féin Fully support this campaign for a new school for Whitehouse Primary. The party have spoken to parents and the Department of Education this week after misleading reports in the media claimed that they had reneged on a commitment to a brand new school.
“We have consistently backed the case for a new build since the appalling fire which totally destroyed the old school.

“The facts are that due to the current review of capital budgets all programmes are on hold.
“The review will be completed soon and Sinn Féin are fully behind the delivery of a new school for Whitehouse Primary and the Bunscoil on the Cliftonville Road.
“We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the children and parents of Whitehouse Primary in their campaign.”
“It is wrong sections of the media to spin the current review as an attack on our Minister. This is toying with the emotions of the children and parents of Whitehouse Primary for short-term electoralism.
“They are stooping pretty low and I welcome the opportunity to get the facts clear to those who are so distressed by this miss information.”

Vótáil Gerry Kelly- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltJF6l2Q2vo&sns=em

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltJF6l2Q2vo&sns=em

Former Republican prisoner part of committee to scrutinize the new Department of Justice

Policing in the community, prisons and the Public Prosecution Service are all top of the agenda for North Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín who takes her seat on the new justice committee today (Thursday).
The Sinn Féin assembly woman attended the first meeting of the cross party committee of assembly members which will scrutinize the new Department of Justice.
Described as the "final piece in the devolution jigsaw", powers of policing and justice were transferred to the North's politicians on Monday 12 April, the first time locally elected politicians have controlled policing in 38 years.
The new minister David Ford now takes responsibility for many functions and agencies previously controlled by the London-based NIO.
As well as taking over responsibility for the police, the new ministry will oversee bodies like the Prison Service, the Public Prosecution Service, the Court Service, the Probation Board and the forensic science service.
Carál said she is eager to get in to resolving the big issues she feels are important such as the role of the Prison Officers Association, (POA) the work of the PPS and building a policing system the community can have confidence in.
As the MLA for the area in which North Belfast teenager Thomas Devlin was murdered she said she has particular interest in the role of the PPS. The PPS was heavily criticized by Thomas’ parents Jim Devlin and Penny Holloway after it initially decided not to prosecute the men who were subsequently convicted of murdering the 15-year-old.
"Looking at the PPS, particularly after the Thomas Devlin case, people feel it is an institution that needs a lot of accountability and transparency. If the Devlin family had not courageously fought for justice the case would not have been heard."
The former republican prisoner said she also wants to scrutinise the prison system, in particular the role of the Prison Officers Association, the treatment of prisoners on Maghaberry and the treatment of women prisoners.
"The POA are operating on a work to rule basis - locking up prisoners for 23 hours a day- this is totally unacceptable. The POA are a law into themselves and I am going to try and get this resolved. There needs to be a whole regime change.
"The prisoners are being denied a right to education, educational materials, free association and this is totally unacceptable.
“The criminal justice inspectorate pointed out the POA needs to change. It is not representative of Catholics, women or ethnic backgrounds and this has to change. We need almost a Patten-like approach to the prison system and we will certainly be asking for it."
Carál will use her role to be calling for tougher sentences on repeat offenders, as well as new legislation to address issues the North Belfast community feel strongly about. The MLA said communities are justifiably angry that constant trouble makers in their areas seem to be regularly bailed and soon back involving themselves in antisocial behaviour.
"We have sat in multi agency meetings for well over a year. No one wants children to go through the criminal justice system. Even residents tortured by them will say they don't want kids ending up with criminal records.
"But where it has been demonstrated time and time again that children are proving themselves to be out of reach, haven't availed of help and support, the parents have no influence and the communities have no influence, then action needs to be taken.
“I'm not talking about draconian action but they need to feel like if they do something they aren't just getting away with it.
"Something that affects residents all the time such as antisocial families, kids who are repeat offenders, antisocial behaviour on interfaces, robbing and damaging areas and in the long-term damaging themselves.
"In the first instance communities have been sympathetic and understanding but these communities need justice themselves and need to know someone is listening to them and taking them seriously and valuing them."
Policing Board figures show that the PSNI tripled their use of stop-and search in the North in the year 2008/9 compared to the previous year. Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police to act without reasonable suspicion, is used regularly in North Belfast.
""We are very clear and on the record that some stop and search use in particular areas is having an adverse influence. It is infringing on people's civil liberties. Some people are getting stopped and questioned and not getting searched, some are getting asked ridiculous questions and it smacks of some of the stuff people complained about years ago and rightly so."
She also hopes to push for legislation that will have a direct impact on local people.
"The transfer of powers may not mean much to people now but on a community level it will make a difference. Even small things such as the legislation around quads or on-street drinking. Drinking is currently dealt with the council, the PSNI can't arrest someone or take drink off them if there's no signs. Silly things like that, that we can get stuck into and get sorted."
As the North settles into the first few weeks with local politicians in charge of its own policing and justice powers, the New Lodge woman believes her past experiences will help her in the task ahead.
"I am a republican ex prisoner, I have been through the justice system from one side to the other. It’s been a journey for me too as someone who was convicted under a Diplock court, went through Castlereagh, strip searched in Maghaberry and now I am scrutinising the Minister for Justice.
"It will be a challenge but one I am looking forward to. There are areas that before I even see a paper in committee I know need changed and there are areas I won't have mentioned here that we can work on. Overall I am looking forward to helping implement a human rights based approach to policing and justice."

Kelly back cross community worker

A rally for a cross community stalwart whose home was the target of a blast bomb last week has attracted widespread support from across the political divide including that of Sinn Féin.
A show of support for Glandore Avenue grandmother Mary Kelly was organised by the Skegoneill Glandore Common Purpose (SGCP) group on Tuesday afternoon after a second brutal attack on her home in as many months.
The bomb which was left on her windowsill blew in her living room window.
North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said he was heartened to see such a good turnout at the vigil.
"This gives a very clear message that Mary is doing very good work, she is very energetic at it. She'll tell you herself she's no wilting violet, she's gets slegged about being a pensioner but she's the most lively pensioner I know.
"There is a personal thing in this too, everyone knows Mary and this is a personal message to say, as your friends, we're behind you and supporting you.
"At a social and political level, with the politicians here, we represent people from all over the place and we're here to say we're against what happened to you today as well. And don't forget, this was a device that had shrapnel in it, it was meant to kill. She was lucky.”

Paving The Way Ahead

Work has started on the new footpath on the Whitewell Road after a campaign lead by Sinn Féin. Praising the determination of local people Gerry Kelly MLA said:
"For years the absence of a safe footpath on this stretch of the Whitewell Road has meant either having to walk into dangerous, oncoming traffic or cross twice on this busy road, particularly in dark winter evenings.
"Parents had major concerns about local children's safety but with the help of Tierna they successfully battled with the statutory bodies for safe access.
"Winning this campaign will put many minds to rest when young people are out playing and going to friends’ homes in the area.
"Local efforts such as this mean a lot to residents,” said Gerry Kelly, “and combined with traffic-calming measures means a safer environment. Sinn Féin encourages, and will support the efforts of other residents across North Belfast to organize around vital local issues.”
The residents were backed in their campaign by local Sinn Féín councillor Tierna Cunningham.
"I am delighted that the work is going ahead and it is going to make a big difference to the lives of the people who live here," she said.
"I would like to congratulate residents on their successful campaign and I hope now that their safety and that of their kids will be protected."

Kelly appeals to nationalists to help get Dodds out

Sinn Féin's candidate for North Belfast in the May 6 Westminster election race has called on nationalist voters of all colours to vote for him in a bid to oust the sitting DUP Member of Parliament.
North Belfast MLA and Minister in the Stormont Executive Gerry Kelly said the time had come for change.
"Yes we can do it, this is the time to do it," the Junior Minister claimed.
"I think this is the first time in our history we can have a nationalist republican representing this area. That is huge.

"The DUP are against equality, they have used their elected positions to fight against equality, particularly against leisure facilities and again housing for nationalists even though 80 per cent of nationalists are on the waiting list.
"There are two nationalists running, myself and Alban Maginness.
"I would remind the SDLP voters, this is first past the post, and that the only chance of unseating the DUP is myself.
"Your vote is crucial, it's not proportional representation where you use your votes once or twice or use preferences. So let's make history, let's do it."

In the 2007 assembly election six politicians were elected to North Belfast. Nigel Dodds (DUP) topped the poll with over 23 per cent of the vote, Gerry Kelly came in second place with 18 per cent, party collegue Carál Ní Chuilín with 12 per cent, Fred Cobain with eight per cent, Nelson McCausland with eight per cent and Alban Maginness with seven per cent.

"In the last elections both myself and Carál Ní Chuilín beat Alban in first preference votes, so he's in third place, so there is no logic to his arguments."

According to the Electoral Office statistics, as of April 1 2010 there are nearly 66,000 voters in North Belfast, making it the biggest parliamentary constituency in the whole of the city.
This week North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness dismissed an electoral pact with republicans.
Gerry Kelly said SDLP North Belfast voters should realise the only chance of unseating Nigel Dodds, elected MP in 2001, was voting Sinn Féin.
"In the last elections both myself and Carál Ní Chuilín beat Alban in first preference votes, so he's in third place, so there is no logic to his arguments," Gerry Kelly said.

"I suppose I am appealing to the SDLP voter beyond Alban in this very specific election and to people who may not vote for me in normal circumstances, to vote for me because we could make an awful difference."

Tackling the issue of abstentionism the republican said the party's MPs had a strong reputation despite not taking their seats in the House of Commons.
"I am simply not going to take the oath to the queen. I think the SDLP are wrong for doing that, we are Irish, we are nationalists and our aim is a united Ireland.

"In terms of resources for the area, in terms of using the clout of being an MP, we have five MPs, they are all well known, and very effective, and all work on the ground from Gerry Adams to Michelle Gidlernew, Caitríona Ruane, Conor Murphy and Pat Doherty, and that's what I'll be doing if elected."

A grubby little Gerrymander in Newtiwnabbey - Kelly

Speaking after Sinn Féin voters in Newtownabby were disenfranchised at a special meeting of Newtownabby Council Gerry Kelly MLA said:

"This was a Sinn Féin seat and the SDLP joined with other parties to exclude a Sinn Féin co-option which is completely disgraceful and typical of this council’s treatment of Sinn Féin voters in Newtownabby over the previous years.”

Kelly’s comments came after a deal agreed between unionists, independents and SDLP councillors in Newtownabbey Borough Council has effectively disenfranchised Sinn Féin voters after the party’s proposed candidate to replace Briege Meehan was vetoed by other parties.

“New legislation passed last Thursday was intended to ensure political balance yet in a back room deal all the other parties joined to exclude a Sinn Féin candidate using the old system."

"Sinn Féin have been kept out of committee's in Unionist dominated councils and our voters have been treated as second class citizens. This decision to co-opt an independent candidate into a Sinn Féin seat is a grubby little Gerrymander!"

"We made our position perfectly clear and our intention to co-opt a Sinn Féin candidate into a Sinn Féin seat was the democratic entitlement of our voters."

"We have come to expect nothing less from the Unionist parties who demonstrate on a daily basis sectarian underhand dealings. However we are surprised at the SDLP have shown their colours in Newtownabby as they circle the wagons in their nasty attempt to cling on to power at the expense of other nationalist and republican residents in the area.

"Newtownabby councillors were faced with a stark choice yesterday, a bi-election or a Sinn Féin co-option. They hadn't got the nerve to face ratepayers with a huge bill for a bi-election and the prospect of Sinn Féin once again taking our rightful entitlement on the council was Hobson's choice for them.
“So they cobbled together this distasteful back room Gerrymander. We will be examining our legal options and call on the new candidate to do the decent thing and step aside," said Kelly.

Poverty figures show that North Belfast needs balanced investment - Ní Chuilín

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the figures released that North Belfast working-class communities are at the top of the north's poverty league were proof of the Assembly's continuing failure to address "chronic" need in North Belfast.

According to the most recent deprivation figures, a section of nationalist North Belfast is the fifth most deprived small area in the whole of the north.
Parts of the New Lodge are ranked fifth in the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation 2010 study while part of Ardoyne is the ninth most deprived small area in the north.
New Lodge and Ardoyne were split into three separate sections for the purpose of the statistics. All three Super Output Areas (SOAs) of the New Lodge were ranked in the top 15 most deprived small areas in the north.
The remaining two SOAs of Ardoyne were ranked 42nd and 43rd in the table of the north's 100 most deprived small areas.

"The bottom line is that we need balanced investment because any investment in the city goes to south and east despite the chronic need in North Belfast and these deprivation figures show the devastating consequences this is having," said Ní Chuilín.
"Resources need to be distributed according to objective need and if that was the case, North Belfast wouldn't have such high suicide rates, poor health stats and low educational qualifications."

Give Dodds his marching orders!

By Carál Ní Chuilín
I worry that some day while shopping, the staff of Tescos are going to ask me not to come back due to the traffic jams in the isles that I cause! The hold-ups are because neighbours stop to voice their views and opinions on the latest hot issue. What was unusual this week was that I was spending time defending the SDLP.
“Sinn Féin defending the SDLP?” you might ask.
Well, the party has at last come on board with the rest of the nationalist community and reversed its unpopular decision to block temporary changing facilities for the Cricky Pitch on the Cliftonville Road and one should always give credit where credit is due.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP also work well together in the Assembly and in committees for the good of our constituents. It would, of course, be progress if we could also agree to maximise nationalist representation but unfortunately on every occasion in the past when Sinn Féin broached the subject of a voter pact the SDLP rebuffed the offer.
Here, in North Belfast, both the nationalist and the unionist community have been failed by Nigel Dodds. Westminster represents little more than a gravy train for the DUP – as their expenses scandals have explicitly shown.
For 125 years unionism has dominated in North Belfast – always to the detriment of the nationalist people. We not only have had sectarian marches imposed on us but the DUP have used their status to block every aspect of equality, especially in relation to leisure provision and house building programmes aimed at tackling cronic need.
Fortunately, we now have a historic opportunity to dump Dodds and unseat the DUP.
How can this be done?
By tactical voting, like that in Mid-Ulster when SDLP supporters voted for Martin McGuinness and rid themselves of Willie McCrea
I know from talking to people – not least those who stop me in Tescos! – that this is something the nationalist community, and SDLP supporters, would like to see happening.
We in Sinn Féin have done our best to make sure that every single person who is entitled to vote has been registered. Sinn Fein voters have also significantly narrowed the DUP’s lead in North Belfast so much that the seat is now within grasp.
Provided.
Provided that we can persuade a section of SDLP supporters to vote tactically at Westminster whilst continuing to vote for the SDLP candidates of their choice in council and assembly elections.
It is as simple as that!
That is the formula for success, that is the way to make the historic breakthrough on equality for the whole community in May’s Westminster election.
Go for it!

MLA welcomes movement on Girdwood housing

North Belfast MLA and DSD committee member Carál Ní Chuilín welcomed the news that the Department of Social Development (DSD) has started the procurement process to appoint a housing association to begin work on 200 new homes at Girdwood
"We are happy that movement on building the new homes is going ahead and that a housing association is being sought," she said.
"The sooner it gets up and running and the much needed homes are built the better. We also need to make sure that the equality and objective need programme is delivered and that any inequalities are addressed. This is a priority for this site."

Paving the way ahead

Work has started on the new footpath on the Whitewell Road after a campaign lead by Sinn Féin.
Praising the determination of local people Gerry Kelly said: “For years the absence of a safe footpath on this stretch of the Whitewell Road has meant either having to walk into dangerous on coming traffic or cross twice on this busy road particularly in dark winter evenings."
"Parents had major concerns about local children's safety and with the leadership of Tierna they battled with the statutory bodies for safe access."
"Winning this campaign is great work by local people and will put many minds to rest when young people are out playing and going to friends homes in the area."
"Local efforts such as this mean a lot to residents and combined with traffic calming measures together we can design a safer environment. I would encourage residents across North Belfast to organize around vital local issues such as this and Sinn Fein is here as a resource to help,” Said the Sinn Féin elected representative.

Easter Parades for Belfast

Easter Saturday:
Whitewell. Assemble 1.30pm at lower Whitewell, parade leaves at 2pm.

Easter Sunday:
Carrickhill. Assemble at 10.30am, parade leaves at 11am.

Milltown: Assemble at Beechmount Avenue at 1pm, parade leaves at 1.30pm.

Easter Monday:
Newington. Wreath laying ceremony at 12 noon

New Lodge. Assemble at Carlisle Road at 1pm, parade leaves at 1.30pm.

Easter Tuesday:
Ardoyne. Assemble at Herbert Street at 1pm, parade leaves at 1.30pm.