Barriers to peace must be removed

Having twice formally raised the need to remove these barriers which prevent us being a normal society, in the last six years or so as a member of Belfast City Council, and received unopposed support for more dynamism being introduced to the removal process, we have achieved too little.

I am aware of the fears of local people who live near the barriers, but there are barriers which local people are prepared to see opened/removed/improved.

We have seen local activists prepare plans which are acceptable to local people and which are stymied by politicians and bureaucrats, and the inevitable bleat that we have no funds.

Peace wall removal has been in the programmes for Government for years. Why is the money not sitting ready to be used quickly and efficiently.

If local progressive activists get substantial agreement then politicians have no right to interfere to stop the progress.

Politicians should be leaders going forward, not followers going backwards.

As David Ford, Minister of Justice, recently commented on his department’s progress considerable progress but too slow.

He indicated that we know what we have to do, we know how to do it, but the slowness of politics and bureaucracy have greatly hindered progress, thus holding our society back.

By my counting that is three Ministers who have said largely the same thing, so what is stopping them getting a move on, for the benefit of everyone in NI, including the uncomplaining tax payers.

Tom Ekin, Former Lord Mayor