Kelly outraged as Kunjumons are forced to leave

Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast, Gerry Kelly, has spoken of his outrage that the Kunjumon family have finally been forced to leave the New Lodge district.
Speaking after a further attack on the family home at the weekend Kelly said:
“I am outraged that the Kunjumon family have been left with no alternative but to leave their family home in the New Lodge.
“Unfortunately, a small minority have constantly targeted the family and indeed their neighbours when they came out to support them, in what can only be described as a series of racially motivated attacks.
“The local community, elected representatives, neighbours and everyone else has stood shoulder to shoulder against these attacks and the dangerous, racist actions of a few. “On Saturday I attended a very special Christmas' event in North Belfast celebrating the Indian community which typifies all that is positive about inclusion and integration, and which showed in the strongest most positive terms how welcome the Indian Community are and the massive contribution they make in key areas such as the health service.
“However, the Kunjumons leaving does not end the predicament that this family finds themselves in. The will still have a mortgage and will be having to pay rent on alternative accommodation which will undoubtedly place massive financial hardship on the family.
“It is very clear that they are victims here after five years of attacks on their home. They have had little quality of life and have not had the right that we all take for grated, to feel safe in ones own home.
“The PSNI Chief Constable must sign the certificate that will allow the family to be included in the SPED scheme. What needs to happen to this family before this happens the PSNI believe the qualify for the scheme? To state that this is simply anti social behaviour is wholly unacceptable.
“I have written to the Chief Constable, Matt Baggot and the members of the Policing Board outlining our serious concerns on this case. The PSNI now need to come out publicly and explain why it is possible to issue these certificates for some and not for others.
“Further to this those responsible need to be arrested and placed in front of the court’s. Anyone with information should pass it on immediately. This behaviour cannot be allowed to destroy a community.”

Report highlights continued failings of Prison Service - Conor Maskey

Sinn Féin Councillor Conor Maskey has slammed the findings of yet another report highlighting delays in the implementation of numerous recommendations within Maghaberry Prison since the death of prisoner Colin Bell.
“There has obviously been a huge deal of concern throughout the community as a result of Colin Bell’s death and the findings of the subsequent investigation by the Prisoner Ombudsman as well as this latest result,” said Conor.
“Unfortunately, it seems as though all the warnings have been ignored, recommendations have gone unimplemented and we have seen vulnerable prisoners die as a result. It is clear that a fundamental sea-change is needed within the Prison system.
“The latest findings indicate yet again that the Prison Service has to do substantially more to ensure the safety and wellbeing of prisoners being held in the system here; the findings also fly in the face of commitments made by British Minister Paul Goggins following the death of Colin Bell.
"I intend that this tragic death will be a watershed for the North’s Prison Service. I am determined that the Prison Service will instil a consistent culture of care for all prisoners, but especially those who pose a danger to themselves."

Christmas fire safety appeal

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has called for people to heed the Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Christmas Fire Safety Appeal which calls for people to be ‘fire aware during the holiday period’.
“The facts show that the festive period brings with it additional fire hazards. Within an 18 day period last Christmas, the Fire Services were called out to 60 house fires, an average of between three to four fires a day,” said Ní Chuilín.
“In almost 25 per cent of these fires there was either, no smoke alarm or one that didn’t work.
“The economic recession is making it difficult for families to manage a budget and at the same time provide their children with a festive Christmas but I would appeal to everyone not to be tempted to take risks with fire safety.
“In 50% of deaths, caused by fire in the home, the smoke alarm was faulty and failed to work. Make sure your fire alarm is working and if you don’t have one get one.
“Don’t use faulty electrical equipment and make sure that electrical equipment, including festive lights, don’t over heat and are switched off when not in use. “Make certain that all naked flames are put out at night and when the house is unoccupied.
“Enjoy the Christmas period but exercise care and ensure that there are no possible fire hazards within your home.
“If a fire should start don’t be tempted to deal with it yourself. Get everyone out of the house immediately and call the Fire Service.
“Property is replaceable, a life is not. Detailed information on fire safety and what to do in the case of a fire can be found on the Fire Service’s web site at http://www.nifrs.org/home_page.php or by contacting, the Corporate Communications Officer, Tel 02892 664221 or Mb 07789208811 or the Temporary Corporate Communications Officer, Tel 02892 664221 during office hours.”

Huge alarm at fuel poverty figures – Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin's Assembly Chief Whip Carál Ní Chuilín MLA has said she is concerned at figures contained in The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) Annual Update on Fuel Poverty and Health 2009 which has warned that levels of fuel poverty are expected to increase in the North as improvements in energy efficiency are negated by increasing fuel costs.
“The annual update from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) Fuel Poverty and Health 2009 is very worrying indeed,” said Ní Chuilín.
“It has warned that levels of fuel poverty are expected to increase as improvements in energy efficiency are negated by increasing fuel costs.
"People living in the North of Ireland know only too well the effects of the high price of fuel costs and many households are struggling to meet energy bills.
“It must also be remembered that wages here fall well short of the average used in many of these studies and the shortfall in pay scale is not matched nor is there a rise in benefits to offset those costs,” said the Sinn Féin MLA.
"I was alarmed to read that winter deaths as a result of cold has increased steadily. There was a 23% increase in the number of people dying in the winter of 2008, compared to the winter of 2007.
“Excess winter deaths are now approaching 1,000 per year in the North.
“It has been clearly established over recent years that households headed by older people are much more likely to be living in fuel poverty. Older people are more likely to live in older houses which are less likely to be energy efficient.
"It's scandalous that people are missing out on millions of pounds in benefits that they are entitled to tackle issues such as fuel poverty.
“I would appeal for as many people as possible to check with the many excellent community advice centres and elected representatives constituency services to ensure that they are receiving all of the benefits to which they are entitled.
“They could find that they are missing out on that much needed extra ten or twenty pounds a week or should be getting help with such things as their rates or are entitled to a home insulation grant."

Poor will pay the price for weak Copenhagen text

Speaking from the Copenhagen climate talks after world leaders failed to produce an agreement that would effectively tackle climate change, Irish GUE/NGL MEP Bairbre de Brun criticised the myopia of the COP-15 outcome and called for reinforced determination from climate justice campaigners.
"This document which the summit decided to 'take note of' clearly shows that the work was not done in time for Copenhagen and was not done at Copenhagen either,” said the Sinn Féin MEP.
“This lamentable lack of political leadership sends the wrong signals.
"Unless people across the world now tell their leaders we need much more courage and ambition from them the chances of effectively tackling climate change are nil.”
"It is left to Mexico at the end of 2010 to try and find the legally binding deal we should have negotiated here. We have not even given them the right tools to work with.
“The vague and badly written political declaration is a disaster for those hit hardest by climate change in the developing world. We needed ambitious targets on emissions reductions, clear sources for the substantial new finance needed and clear commitments, measures, and procedures on a range of other issues in order to limit the global increase in temperature to less than 2 degrees celsius.
"Without these the future of the planet looks bleak. For those who want climate justice, the tragedy and waste of this COP-15 must give way to even greater determination to see a substantial agreement struck during 2010 to avert catastrophic climate change.”

Housing waiting list not being tackled by DSD

By Carál Ní Chuilín
Sometimes I feel like I may as well just write a note to Santa asking for him to address the housing waiting list in North Belfast.
At least I would have a chance of getting a straight answer! The latest juggling of the figures on the face of it would give you the impression that the Housing Executive and the SDLP minister Margaret Ritchie are tackling the generations of stark inequalities between the nationalist and unionist communities housing needs.
That impression is wrong and it’s long passed the time when communities in need will be fobbed off with rearranging the deck chairs whilst the Titanic sinks.
In March 2002 nationalists made up over 80% of those on the waiting list in North Belfast. Six years on the differential is slightly less. In March 2008 nationalists made up just over 70% of those on the housing list in North Belfast.
Closer examination of these statistics tell a more alarming story. The slight lessening of housing inequalities between nationalists and unionists in North Belfast cannot be attributed to a proactive effort on the part of the NIHE or the DSD.
Things have not got better for the nationalist community. The number on the waiting list has risen steadily year on year and reached 1053 by March 2008.
The differential has been closed because Unionists are increasingly represented on the social housing waiting list.
Since 2002 the numbers of nationalists on the waiting list increased by 38% while the number of unionists waiting for social housing increased by 132% to 421.
Whilst two and a half times as many unionists across the North of Ireland are in need of housing for older households as nationalists .
There are also significantly more nationalists than unionist ‘small family’ and ‘large family’ households on the waiting list, and slightly more ‘single’ nationalist.
Thus the increasing demand for the aging Unionist population simply increases the total demand and gives the impression of addressing inequality.
Let me make Sinn Féin's position clear. Equality is indivisible. Need must be addressed wherever it exists and nowhere is that more stark than in this constituency. The insulting attempt to represent the change between Nationalist and Unionist housing need as tackling the problem, whilst the overall demand increases, is pathetic. Worryingly the projections are that the social housing new build programme will fall by a quarter over the coming five years in Belfast.
Also the small impact that ring fencing had on the crisis in North Belfast gets axed in yet another strategy which housing campaigners still await a coherent explanation of.
We on Sinn Féin's DSD team battle on a daily basis because for us these are issues of social justice. DSD Minister Margaret Ritchie has a duty to manage the budget effectively and not just produce endless strategies and glossy master plans that fail to tackle housing need objectively.

No Reprieve for 11+ petition submitted at Assembly

Sinn Féin Education spokesperson John O’Dowd MLA has congratulated all those involved in signing and the collecting of a petition of over 10.000 names delivered this week to the Assembly Education committee opposing any return to the failed 11plus.
“The signature of over 10.000 names collected in a two week period shows the strength of feeling in regards opposition to the 11plus and academic selection,’ said John O’Dowd.
“While sections of the media solely concentrate their attention on those schools and parents who support selection, it is clear that there are many who are opposed to selection and who have a right to have their voice heard.
“There is no educational requirement for Academic selection, there are schools all across the Island of Ireland who prove on a daily basis as to why there is no requirement to select and reject 10 and 11 year old children.
“Academic excellence is a priority for Sinn Féin and I have no doubt those 10.000 people who signed the petition are as keenly interested in the education of their children and their broader family as anyone else.
“It is time we moved education into the 21st century an education system based on Equality, Excellence, the needs of the Economy and one which encourages all children to meet their potential,” said the Sinn Féin MLA.