Unique cross-community and cross-border project launched by Gerry Kelly

A unique project aimed at creating meaningful engagement between communities and policing was launched by North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly last week.
Communities and Policing in Transition Programme (CAPT), is a cross-community and cross-border project which will target interface and disadvantaged areas in Belfast and Derry City Council areas, as well as the Tyrone and Donegal border region.
It will develop joint action plans and strategies, agreed between communities and the police, to address the changing nature of violence and crime, including sectarian and racist hate crime.
The project was organised by Intercomm which was came as a direct response to grassroots community concerns about inter-community conflict and social deprivation in North Belfast.
"The Communities and Policing in Transition project aims to make a real difference to people’s lives in meaningful and sustainable ways,” said Gerry Kelly at the launch of the project in the Northern Assembly.
“This is a unique and innovate community-driven programme targeting rural, urban and cross border areas tackling issues such as perceptions of policing, sectarianism, racism, domestic violence and the implications of a devolved criminal justice system.
“These are not issues that can be dealt with by a short term, ad hoc approach. It requires a great deal of knowledge about the issues affecting local communities as well as leadership and buy-in from local communities.
“Progress and movement must come from within the communities themselves, through dialogue, mutual understanding and accommodation,” said the Republican representative.
“The aims of this project reflect many of the aims of the Executive and chime well with that strategic direction. We are determined that everyone in our society should have the opportunity to live in a fair and equal society, which is at ease with itself and where everyone can share and enjoy a better quality of life.”

Residents and community workers come out in support of Sinn Féin activist and community worker

North Belfast Sinn Féin activist and community worker Gerry O’Reilly received a the backing of residents and community workers from throughout North Belfast after his New Lodge home was attacked for the seventh time in the past year.
Residents, republicans and community leaders from both sides of the community came together at a vigil in support of a North Belfast interface worker just days after criminal thugs smashed windows in his New Lodge home.
Gerry works alongside Protestant community groups from across the interface and the PSNI to enhance community safety and the Sinn Féin activist has also taken a strong stance against drug use in the area.
The republican activist dubbed the latest attackers of his home as ‘criminal thugs’.
"This is a sad reflection that a small number of people are intent on attacking the homes of community workers in the area," said the former Republican POW.
"I realise I am to the fore in relation to community safety in the area but my work is about bringing a better quality of life for the people who live here.
"The people who attack homes in the dark of the night are criminal thugs. If they want to speak with me and debate with me on any issue they only have to come to me. To attack someone's home is cowardly. These people are faceless, they have no support.
"I just want to thank everyone in the community who has supported me and called to the house to let us know how they feel about it. My family and I are very grateful."
Local Sinn Féin councillor Conor Maskey spoke at the vigil in support of Gerry and his family as did New Lodge housing campaigner Liam Wiggins and Paul Roberts Chief Executive of the Ashton Community Trust.
The community groups including Intercomm, the Ashton Community Trust, North Belfast Community Development Group which is based on the York Road, New Lodge Safer Streets, New Lodge Neighbourhood Watch, New Lodge Housing Forum and community groups in the Cliftonville and Ardoyne all stood behind the community worker.

Called for joined up approach to Neighbourhood Renewal programmes

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has called for a more "joined up" approach to the Neighbourhood Renewal programmes which she says are a major part of the fight for social justice.
Carál's main concern is the piecemeal approach the social development department has taken to Neighbourhood Renewal groups which play an essential part in delivering vital services in deprived areas of North Belfast and across the north.
As Sinn Féin DSD spokesperson, Carál hosted a meeting last Thursday in City Hall in conjunction with Tom Hartley, chair of the council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and took the opportunity to update the city's community groups on her party's progress on the issue to date.
"Neighbourhood Renewal is a good and progressive concept which, if introduced effectively, will place communities' needs and the delivery of services and equality at the heart of local government," said the Sinn Féin elected representative.
"Sinn Féin set out our vision of how this should proceed and used this meeting to update local groups. We are clearly campaigning against deprivation and for social justice for communities and Neighbourhood Renewal is a major part of getting it right."
Carál said communities across North Belfast, and indeed the entire city, had experienced years of deprivation and needed firm commitments that their needs would be met.
The main lesson to be learned from last week's meeting, she said, was that community planning needed to be more accountable and better resourced as she called on the DSD to start leading by example.

Na Fianna Éireann commemoration night

One hundred years ago Countess Markiewicz, later to became a Sinn Féin MP and first woman elected to the British House of Parliament, and John Bulmer Hobson, founded ‘Na Fianna Éireann’.
Pádraig Pearse said of Na Fianna Éireann: ‘They were as important as the creation of the Irish Volunteers in 1913’.
Fianna Éireann went on to play an important and significant role during Easter week of 1916. It is reported that the first shots of the rising were fired by Fianna officers who attacked and captured ‘Magazine Fort’ in the Phoenix Park.
Many Fians were shot dead during the rising. Na Fianna Éireann were represented at all the garrisons where Irish republicans fought the British and after the Provisional Government abandoned the GPO, and set up their HQ at Moore Street, James Connolly gave command of the GPO to Seán McLaughlin, a Fianna officer.
During the course of the recent conflict, from the late 1960s, Na Fianna Éireann were once again to come to the fore.
Hundreds of young men volunteered their services to the Republican Movement as the political crisis in the North deepened and the situation militarised.
In total 21 Fians were to die throughout the North, four of those causalities came from Ardoyne.
Thirty-seven years ago in 1972, four courageous young men; Fian's David McAuley, Joseph Campbell, Josie McComiskey and Bernard Fox; lost their lives as a direct result of the political conflict.
They were bright intelligent young men, motivated by the political circumstances they found themselves in, they made conscious well-thought out decisions to volunteer to become active in the armed struggle against the forces of the British Government.
They were continuing the proud tradition of Na Fianna Éireann involvement in the fight for Irish freedom and they had witnessed first hand, injustice and discrimination and committed themselves to do something about it.
For republicans today the form of the struggle they died for has changed but the objectives remain the same - a Ireland united, free from injustice, discrimination and sectarianism and in control of its own destiny.
On Friday 27th November the ex-POW's from Ardoyne, Ligoniel and the Bone are holding an event in the Crumlin Star to honour the memory of these brave young men.
A play about the Fianna, entitled 'Young guard of Erin', will be performed and a fitting tribute will be conducted to commemorate their loss.
Doors open at 8pm and the play will begin at 8.15pm sharp. Admission fee £5.
People should attend this event not only to remember the Four Fians who died but also as a mark of respect to their families who will be in attendance. We remember our patriot dead with pride.

Sinn Féin host Belfast Neighbourhood Renewal Groups

A meeting of Neighbourhood Renewal groups from across Belfast was hosted by Sinn Féin on Thursday in the City Hall.
Speaking after the session Sinn Fein’s Social Development Spokesperson Carál Ní Chuilín MLA said:
“I’m delighted at the fantastic turnout today and that so many people have come along to voice their concerns.
“Neighbourhood Renewal is a good and progressive concept which if introduced effectively will place the communities needs and the delivery of services and equality at the heart of local government.
“Sinn Féin set out our vision of how this should proceed and took this opportunity to update local groups.
“We are clearly campaigning against deprivation and for social justice for communities through our work on the Social Development Committee and see Neighbourhood Renewal as a major part of getting it right.
“Finally the clear message from today’s meeting was community planning is vital and must be accountable, effectively structured and properly resourced,” said the Sinn Féin MLA.

Sinn Féin Councillor warns against cowboy builders

Sinn Féin Councillor and Deputy Mayor Danny Lavery today hit out at cowboy builders across Belfast that have taken advantage of home owners lack of knowledge of planning law.
“I am dealing with dozens of cases of people that have extended their homes by installing domer windows without planning permission,” said the Sinn Féin Councillor.
“Many constituents have been told by builders that planning permission is not required which is totally wrong.
“Vulnerable people are being taken advantage of by these cowboy builders and deliberately mislead,” said the North Belfast Councillor.
“Belfast City Council Planning Enforcement Department are warning against such practices and we support them on grounds of health and safety.
“However we are calling for them to treat these families with sympathy as many of them have been forced into this situation through overcrowding and the massive waiting lists especially in North Belfast,” added the Councillor.
“It's the small number of these cowboy builders that the Council should be tackling first as they are exploiting often the poorest of people in communities across the city.
“In my view as long as those extensions that have been completed pose no danger then the Council should treat these cases with lenience. However people should be cautious in future as the liability does lie with the home owner.”

McGimpsey needs to face Assembly -Ní Chuilín

Sinn Fein MLA Carál Ni Chuilín has today stated that the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, cannot keep avoiding scrutiny. This follows number of important motions not being accepted for debate in the Assembly due to the Minister not making himself available to attend.

“I have to question the apparent unwillingness of Michael McGimspey to make himself available to respond to questions in the Assembly about his performance as Minister for Health. As Minister he has a responsibility to the Assembly and the people that we represent to be available for scrutiny in an open, accountable, and transparent manner on the floor of the Assembly," said Ní Chuilín.

“However on four occasions in recent weeks health motions and adjournment debates have failed to be selected at the Business Committee because it was claimed that the Minister will not be available to be present in the Assembly chamber in order for the issues to be debated.

“These motions are dealing with key issues that fall under his remit such as the protection of children and vulnerable adults and the relocation of health services support staff from Armagh.

“It is unacceptable for the Minister to keep delaying and avoiding scrutiny of his performance in the chamber. Only last week a Member of the Minister's own Party the UUP was complaining about the cost of written questions to the Minister were excessive and politically motivated but if the Minister does not make himself available to answer questions in the Chamber then members have no other recourse but to seek answers in writing. Therefore I would suggest that the Member's time would be better served ensuring that his party's Minister make himself available o the Assembly.

"The question that needs answered is, what exactly is Michael McGimpsey attempting to avoid answering questions on?"