LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, POLITICIANS ARE URGED
Listen to the people, politicians are urged
POLITICIANS in all parties were urged to "take a risk for peace" and work together to resolve the political deadlock at a rally in Omagh on Friday.
The 'People's Rally', in support of the Time's Running Out Campaign, was organised by local community groups, and was supported by unions and businesses in the area.
Run by the Confederation of British Industry (CDI), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and NICVA, the campaign is seeking to remind politicians that public opinion is still behind a speedy settlement.
Despite a small turnout, those who took part in the rally at the old Town Hall heard appeals to the politicians to resolve the political stalemate, and get on with the task of running Northern Ireland and making the important decisions that are currently on hold.
Among those on the platform were local representatives of the trade unions. Unison and GMB, young people from Omagh and District Youth Council, and Michael Gallagher and Stanley McCombe, chairman and vice-chairman of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group.
Geraldine Keys, of the local community network, FOCUS, called for a minute's silence in memory of all those who had lost their lives over the past years. The victims of the Paddington rail crash were also remembered.
"Our thoughts today are with their families and friends. May they find solace that we, the people of Omagh, understand their suffering and show we care," she said.
Anna McGonigle, local member of Unison's executive council, said the union had backed the Good Friday Agreement as it believed it was the only opportunity to heal the wounds of 30 years of conflict.
She said Unison had campaigned for peace over many years, for jobs, inward investment and decent services. But the politicians were not working together to achieve similar aims.
She said the union had strongly supported them in the risk they look for peace with the Agreement, but they now stood at a critical juncture.
"We call on all the politicians to remember that risk taking. They have an absolute responsibility to do so. There is no such thing as a problem that cannot be resolved, and we call on them to take that big risk for peace," she said.
Mr. Viv Brady, the GMB local senior shop steward at Desmond's factory, said people had come out on the streets before to persuade the politicians to work together.
"Now we find ourselves here again, 16 months on. Despite your overwhelming support for the Agreement, it failed to go full circle, with both sides becoming increasingly polarised," he said.
Mr. Brady said people felt entitled to ask what was going on.
Whose interests?
"Whose interests are these politicians serving their own party interests or the interests of the people who elected them?" he asked.
"Since the Assembly began, it has cost us �2.5 million in salary alone for these politicians. It is time we saw some return on that. But it is not only money we have invested. It is also our hopes and expectations for the future."
Mr. Brady went on to ask where were the jobs for Omagh and the inward investment, and he referred to the future of hospital services locally.
Commenting on the textile industry in Northern Ireland, he said 1,000 jobs a year were being lost.
These were the problems people needed to see addressed, with the politicians working together to demand better services and conditions for everyone, he said.
"We cannot have failure. We must demand that they will not let this opportunity pass. It is time to build a new society, built on mutual trust and respect," he said.
"It is time to return to the real politics of health, jobs and education, and time for them to do the job for which they were elected. The current situation demands it, and, more importantly, we the people demand it."
Two young people from the Omagh and District Youth Council also spoke at the rally Kerryann McMahon, a pupil at Loreto Grammar School, and Gary Campion, from Omagh College.
Both called on the politicians to listen to the people, particularly the young, and work together for a better society for all.
Kerryann said: "We want the politicians of today to address the real social issues for us the politicians of tomorrow."
She went on: "I wish to pursue a career in Northern Ireland, but if things continue to remain at a standstill, I and my peers, will have no alternative but to leave."
She urged the politicians to forget their own agenda and listen to the youth.
Speaking on behalf of the Self Help and Support Group, Mr. Gallagher said it was 14 months to the day since the Omagh bombing.
Since then, there had been a choice of having more atrocities, or having change, he said.
"There is no doubt what the people wanted. Sadly that fell on deaf ears of the politicians," he said.
"Many party leaders came to my house and told me how sorry they were. If they are really sorry then they should do something about it."
Annie Campbell, director of NICVA, said people were "fed up" having to come out on the streets to get the politicians to listen to them.
"But we have to do this because time is running out. Internationally, this country and the politicians arc being laughed at. Meanwhile, we are being left to live in this limbo state," she said.
She stressed that the campaign was not a political one, as it was beyond party politics.
In a message to the politicians, she said: "This is about the society we want to live in. You have been voted in to do a job. Do it. Do it like we do our jobs," she said.
It was the ordinary workers who were keeping the communities going, caring for the elderly, running the health services, and getting on with life, she said.
Governed
"This country has to be governed. We have to know where we are going, and there are critical decisions that are not being made," she said.
She went on: "There is a crisis in health, and there is no Government directive about what is going to happen."
She added: "We know this country can be better, and that we can work together. We are asking the politicians to reach out and do this. We know there is a risk. Change is hard, but we have all had to do it. Reach out, do the deed, get a solution."
Speaking afterwards, Barry Benson, of FOCUS, said the aim of the rally was not to point the finger of blame, but to implore the decision-makers to make a genuinely conscious effort to move the peace process forward.
"This town has suffered like so many throughout the north as a consequence of the Troubles. We have an opportunity for change and a better future for us all, so we must give encouragement and support to those who have the duty to reach a settlement," he said.
POLITICIANS in all parties were urged to "take a risk for peace" and work together to resolve the political deadlock at a rally in Omagh on Friday.
The 'People's Rally', in support of the Time's Running Out Campaign, was organised by local community groups, and was supported by unions and businesses in the area.
Run by the Confederation of British Industry (CDI), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and NICVA, the campaign is seeking to remind politicians that public opinion is still behind a speedy settlement.
Despite a small turnout, those who took part in the rally at the old Town Hall heard appeals to the politicians to resolve the political stalemate, and get on with the task of running Northern Ireland and making the important decisions that are currently on hold.
Among those on the platform were local representatives of the trade unions. Unison and GMB, young people from Omagh and District Youth Council, and Michael Gallagher and Stanley McCombe, chairman and vice-chairman of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group.
Geraldine Keys, of the local community network, FOCUS, called for a minute's silence in memory of all those who had lost their lives over the past years. The victims of the Paddington rail crash were also remembered.
"Our thoughts today are with their families and friends. May they find solace that we, the people of Omagh, understand their suffering and show we care," she said.
Anna McGonigle, local member of Unison's executive council, said the union had backed the Good Friday Agreement as it believed it was the only opportunity to heal the wounds of 30 years of conflict.
She said Unison had campaigned for peace over many years, for jobs, inward investment and decent services. But the politicians were not working together to achieve similar aims.
She said the union had strongly supported them in the risk they look for peace with the Agreement, but they now stood at a critical juncture.
"We call on all the politicians to remember that risk taking. They have an absolute responsibility to do so. There is no such thing as a problem that cannot be resolved, and we call on them to take that big risk for peace," she said.
Mr. Viv Brady, the GMB local senior shop steward at Desmond's factory, said people had come out on the streets before to persuade the politicians to work together.
"Now we find ourselves here again, 16 months on. Despite your overwhelming support for the Agreement, it failed to go full circle, with both sides becoming increasingly polarised," he said.
Mr. Brady said people felt entitled to ask what was going on.
Whose interests?
"Whose interests are these politicians serving their own party interests or the interests of the people who elected them?" he asked.
"Since the Assembly began, it has cost us �2.5 million in salary alone for these politicians. It is time we saw some return on that. But it is not only money we have invested. It is also our hopes and expectations for the future."
Mr. Brady went on to ask where were the jobs for Omagh and the inward investment, and he referred to the future of hospital services locally.
Commenting on the textile industry in Northern Ireland, he said 1,000 jobs a year were being lost.
These were the problems people needed to see addressed, with the politicians working together to demand better services and conditions for everyone, he said.
"We cannot have failure. We must demand that they will not let this opportunity pass. It is time to build a new society, built on mutual trust and respect," he said.
"It is time to return to the real politics of health, jobs and education, and time for them to do the job for which they were elected. The current situation demands it, and, more importantly, we the people demand it."
Two young people from the Omagh and District Youth Council also spoke at the rally Kerryann McMahon, a pupil at Loreto Grammar School, and Gary Campion, from Omagh College.
Both called on the politicians to listen to the people, particularly the young, and work together for a better society for all.
Kerryann said: "We want the politicians of today to address the real social issues for us the politicians of tomorrow."
She went on: "I wish to pursue a career in Northern Ireland, but if things continue to remain at a standstill, I and my peers, will have no alternative but to leave."
She urged the politicians to forget their own agenda and listen to the youth.
Speaking on behalf of the Self Help and Support Group, Mr. Gallagher said it was 14 months to the day since the Omagh bombing.
Since then, there had been a choice of having more atrocities, or having change, he said.
"There is no doubt what the people wanted. Sadly that fell on deaf ears of the politicians," he said.
"Many party leaders came to my house and told me how sorry they were. If they are really sorry then they should do something about it."
Annie Campbell, director of NICVA, said people were "fed up" having to come out on the streets to get the politicians to listen to them.
"But we have to do this because time is running out. Internationally, this country and the politicians arc being laughed at. Meanwhile, we are being left to live in this limbo state," she said.
She stressed that the campaign was not a political one, as it was beyond party politics.
In a message to the politicians, she said: "This is about the society we want to live in. You have been voted in to do a job. Do it. Do it like we do our jobs," she said.
It was the ordinary workers who were keeping the communities going, caring for the elderly, running the health services, and getting on with life, she said.
Governed
"This country has to be governed. We have to know where we are going, and there are critical decisions that are not being made," she said.
She went on: "There is a crisis in health, and there is no Government directive about what is going to happen."
She added: "We know this country can be better, and that we can work together. We are asking the politicians to reach out and do this. We know there is a risk. Change is hard, but we have all had to do it. Reach out, do the deed, get a solution."
Speaking afterwards, Barry Benson, of FOCUS, said the aim of the rally was not to point the finger of blame, but to implore the decision-makers to make a genuinely conscious effort to move the peace process forward.
"This town has suffered like so many throughout the north as a consequence of the Troubles. We have an opportunity for change and a better future for us all, so we must give encouragement and support to those who have the duty to reach a settlement," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1406
Published Date: 21-Oct-99
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