Sinn Féin MLAs welcome Ugandan choir

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA and joint first minister Martin McGuinness were on hand to welcome an African choir to the North.
Seventeen children from four different schools in Uganda that have been affected by poverty, depravation and conflict have banded together to form a choir and spent four weeks in the North on a singing and dancing tour.
The ‘Voices of Life’ choir raised funds to give boys and girls from Burundi, a tiny East African country, that has just come out of years of bitter civil war and through conflict resolution is struggling to heal old wounds and build a better future, an equal opportunity for an education and a brighter future.

PSNI failure to meet crime targets slammed by Sinn Féin councillor

Sinn Féin councillor Conor Maskey said with so many 'x's in the PSNI's latest quarterly report for April through to June it felt like something out of the X Factor.
The PSNI in it’s North Belfast division failed to make the grade in 13 out of 17 categories
"Simon Cowell would have a field day with us although in terms of talent spotting, he might have a hard time," the Sinn Fein councillor quipped.
The incoming chair of the North Belfast DPP said police must do more to improve their figures.
"The figures are a damning indictment of their performance, The police themselves say there are too many officers pushing paper and on top of funding shortfalls they clearly have serious issues facing them.
“The only way they are going to achieve better results is through pure partnership initiatives like the multi-agency meetings with community and other statutory organisations,” said the Sinn Féin representative.
"We believe the best way of addressing the problems in our community is not just effective policing, but effective community policing, and the community part is essential."
There are good news stories too the Sinn Fein councillor added, such as efforts to engage with residents over vandalism and anti-social issues.
"The figures only tell a part of the story and it is important to acknowledge that there is hard work being done on the ground," he said.
"Sometimes the success stories won't be reflected in statistics. However the PSNI design a plan every year in co-operation with the DPP's and against those targets they clearly aren't doing the job."

Protest cancelled because of pressure from residents - Kelly

The decision to call off a protest at a multi-agency meeting in Ardoyne Community Centre has been welcomed by North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly.
"I welcome the fact that RNU have withdrawn the threat to protest against the regular multi agency meetings that are held in North Belfast," said the Sinn Féin MLA.
"Clearly they [RNU] called it wrong and withdrew the threat because of pressure from residents themselves.
"These public meetings are for the residents and the rest of the community sector to discuss issues with the statutory bodies who service the community and also to hold them to account if these services are not fulfilling their role."

Kelly challenges supermarket giant on price difference

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has challenged supermarket giant, Tesco on the pricing of their petrol which is priced higher in North Belfast than in the affluent hinterlands of Holywood.
The Republican representative said he was deeply concerned that car owners had to pay four pence more for unleaded petrol at Tesco's Yorkgate garage in comparison with its outlet at Knocknagoney.
"North Belfast is an area of deprivation and yet Tesco is charging more for their fuel than in an area which is very affluent. It is very unfair," said Kelly.
"We will certainly be asking Tesco to explain themselves about this. We regularly meet them about other issues like anti-social behaviour so we will certainly be raising this matter at future meetings."
"This is an injustice and a clear equality issue. How can they seriously stand over charging poorer people more? We call for Tesco to take into account that this is an area of deprivation and high unemployment and to redress the balance."
Those topping up their car at Knockgoney not only fork out four pence less for a litre for unleaded petrol but also three pence less for diesel.

Road should stay open during parade - SF Councillor

Sinn Féin councillor Tierna Cunningham has called on the PSNI to ensure the Whitewell Road is open to traffic during this Saturday's loyalist band parade after the road was closed for four hours last year despite the Parades Commission ruling it should stay open.
This Saturday 30 bands are to descend on the Whitewell Road to take part in the Whitewell Defenders Flute Band parade, which was previously known as the Thomas McDonald Memorial Parade.
Although there was no official determination on last year's parade the Parades Commission said it could go ahead as long as one lane of traffic on the Whitewell Road was kept open.
Despite this for a large parts of the weekend parade the whole road was closed to traffic which had to be diverted at the bridge and bottom of the Whitewell Road, leading MLA Carál Ní Chuilín to hit out at the PSNI for failing to keep disruption to a minimum.
This year the parading body have again made no official ruling on the parade but said they are "working on an assurance that the parade will not close the road to traffic".
Sinn Féin councillor Tierna Cunningham said she hopes this year the PSNI work to the Parades Commission recommendation and ensures the road is kept open.
"I hope the police act according to the ruling of the Parades Commission and make sure that traffic can get up and down the road and disruption is kept to a minimum," she said.
"I hope the parade passes off peacefully with no trouble."

Responsible parenting needed after park vandalised - Cunningham

The only children's play park in the Whitewell area is under threat of closure after vandals caused thousands of pounds worth of damage over the weekend.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Tierna Cunningham was in the park as Belfast City Council staff attempted to clean up the worst of the damage.
"I called a meeting here on Monday to observe the damage and see the council staff try and clear it up," said the Republican representative.
"I totally condemn this and am very disappointed that it was local people who did this. All I hear is that there is nothing to do for young people in the area but here there was a play park and they have destroyed it.
"I sometimes drive past the park at 2.30am at the weekends and see kids as young as 12 years old still in the park. What we need here is responsible parenting. They need to know where their children are and what they are doing."
Finlay Park was attacked by thugs who set fire to swings and used a saw to damage equipment and the mounting bill for the upkeep of the park is becoming so high that Belfast City Council, who undertake the upkeep of the park, are considering giving up maintenance of the facility.

Sinn Féin councillor logs complaint over unfinished housing estate

Sinn Féin councillor Margaret McClenaghan has logged a complaint with the Health and Safety Executive over the way a brand new housing estate in Ligoniel has been left unfinished.
Wolfhill Manor is a private housing estate just off the Ligoniel Road and despite residents moving in over three years ago, much work remains to be done.
Unfinished roads and pavements and a muck-filled football-sized pitch, which hasn't been properly secured, are all unacceptable say residents.
Margaret McClenaghan said she had made several enquiries on behalf of residents and made a complaint to the Health and Safety Executive. She is also trying to organise a meeting between the builder and residents.
"I've been in contact with the council about the fact that three years on, the area still doesn't even have an official street name," she said.
"Part of the site isn't secured properly and the roads and pavements clearly are not up to scratch. People are not happy and they feel as if they've been treated very shabbily here,” said the Sinn Féin Councillor.
The DRD Roads Service said they were taking the matter very seriously and had now initiated enforcement action in which the developer has a final opportunity to complete the outstanding works.
Should the developer not respond positively to the Notice by the end of September, Roads Service will arrange to undertake the remedial works at the developer's expense as soon as a Roads Service contractor becomes available.