Stormont scrutiny committee chair 'never going to challenge' witness claim Housing Executive is institutionally racist

Timothy Gaston “quite properly” challenged a witness on a Stormont committee who said the Housing Executive was institutionally racist, the TUV have said.

The Executive Office committee heard evidence this week from groups who represent some of Northern Ireland’s ethnic minorities, in light of racist attacks over the summer.

placeholder image — TUV MLA Timothy Gaston's attempt to scrutinise an unevidenced claim that the Housing Executive is "institutionally racist" was shut down by committee chair Paula Bradshaw who said she would not question a witness's "lived experience".

Takura Donald Makoni, from the African and Caribbean Support Organisation NI, said that organisations – including the Housing Executive – were guilty of institutional racism, and despite messaging on diversity, equity and inclusion, third sector organisations suffered from “ubiquitous” institutional racism.

North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston rejected the claim that the Housing Executive was institutionally racist – saying it was unfair and should have been challenged. Mr Makoni said he wouldn’t have experienced institutional racism “because you are white”.

Sinn Fein’s Emma Sheerin and committee chair Paula Bradshaw criticised Mr Gaston for questioning Mr Makoni’s “lived experience”.

Ms Bradshaw said “We are here as Emma said to hear about lived experience. It is us as scrutineers to possibly bring the Housing Executive in and put that accusation to them. But I am never going to challenge – if somebody is individually coming here to give testimony.. we will listen to them and then we will take it to the relevant authorities. That is the role of us as a scrutiny committee”.

A TUV spokesperson said the “very serious charge” did not enter public discourse this week but is drawn from the Stephen Lawrence inquiry which heard evidence from 88 witnesses, considered 100,000 pages of statements and documents and produced a 350 page report to back up his finding that the Met Police were ‘institutionally racist’. The witness cited no evidence” they said.

“Assembly committees exist not just to listen to but to interrogate witnesses in order to better inform public policy and address the issues brought to their attention”, the TUV added. Mr Gaston has submitted a question to the Communities Minister asking if there is “evidence of institutional racism in the Housing Executive because if there is we want to expose it and root it out” the party spokesperson said.