The SDLP were once a party I would have voted for without question. However it would appear to me that it has lost direction and no longer has people of the abilities of Hume or Mallon to encourage the loyalty and faith of the electorate.
To me a classic example of the state of mind of the SDLP is to be found in its reaction to crime clear up rates issued by the PSNI regarding burglaries in Newry and Mourne.
In a calander year (Feb 06-Jan 07) 367 domestic burglaries were reported and 24 were cleared up. This is a success rate of 6.53%. Now when I went to school, and it a few more years than I care to remember now, this % result would have been seen as abject failure, both by the school and my parents. But not if you are an SDLP member of the District Policing Partnership. Gary Stokes, for it is he, decribed this result as the PSNI getting "modest success" and wonders if the PSNI "let their guard down on occasions". This really is forceful criticism and I am sure will spur the PSNI on to take immediate action such is the fury of Mr. Stokes. I was of the belief that the SDLP joined the Policing Boards to hold the PSNI accountable, not to try to put a positive spin on its failures.With figures like these the PSNI may as well roll out the red carpet and put a sign up welcoming all burglars to our area.
I suppose Mr Stokes reckons we should be grateful that at least 24 were cleared up.
Football - an Irish Problem
I write this the morning after the Rep. of Ireland beat Slovakia and Northern Ireland beat Sweden in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. There followed a discussion on the Nolan Show on BBC that was along the lines that Nationalists would not join in the celebrations of the Northern Irish result.
While there may be a small element of the Catholic population that might think like this my view, and I suspect the view of the majority, is that we welcome the Northern Ireland result and marvel at David Healy's first goal. Other than when they play the Republic I would always wish N.I. well.
The problem is not with the football team, but with the historical sectarianism of its supporters. I recognise that the IFA are making huge efforts to combat this and I do not believe that it is a bad as it has been in the past. After all this attitude of the supporters forced Neil Lennon to quit playing football for N.I.
However I still would not be comfortable going to Windsor Park to watch N.I. play as I still feel it is a ''cold house'' for Catholics. Maybe when N.I. play their internationals in a new national stadium this perception might change. For the moment I think the vast majority of the Nationalist community are prepared to wish N.I. well but only from afar......maybe in time that will change....we will see.
Picture from bbc.co.uk
Picture from bbc.co.uk
Warrenpoint CCTV and Gangs
I read with interest your report on the gang which gathered in Warrenpoint on 12th. March. I witnessed this gang and can describe their presence in Church Street and the Square as intimidating. The only saving grace is that the other gang from Newry did not arrive or goodness knows what the consequences for the town would have been. However the police comment that they found the town to be quite and that no damage or injuries were reported is slightly misleading. There may have been no injuries as the Newry gang did not arrive, but there was certainly damage. I have seen the damage that was done to at least one business premises on Church Street. The fact of the matter is that the owner did not consider it worthwhile reporting this matter to the police because he felt it would be a complete waste of time. The fact is that unless necessary for insurance purposes minor damage is not reported as the belief is that it will never be investigated.
Even more worrying is the belief that CCTV is seen as some sort of saviour for the town and is being promoted by some of our politicans as the greatest arrival since Christ's at Bethlehem. My fear is that CCTV will be used by the police as a further excuse to abandon the need to patrol the town as they will argue that CCTV is present. The question will need to be asked if this CCTV will be monitored on a full time basis so that problems can be identified and immediately dealt with (I suspect not) and secondly it must be obvious that in this age of the hoodie culture that it will be impossible to identify troublemakers - do they expect them to remove their hoods and scarves and smile to the cameras before they move on. CCTV is not the answer, what is needed is regular police patrols on the streets who are prepared to deal with anti social behaviour and not more excuses for the police to abandon the town to the gangs.
Newry Democrat 27/03/07
Even more worrying is the belief that CCTV is seen as some sort of saviour for the town and is being promoted by some of our politicans as the greatest arrival since Christ's at Bethlehem. My fear is that CCTV will be used by the police as a further excuse to abandon the need to patrol the town as they will argue that CCTV is present. The question will need to be asked if this CCTV will be monitored on a full time basis so that problems can be identified and immediately dealt with (I suspect not) and secondly it must be obvious that in this age of the hoodie culture that it will be impossible to identify troublemakers - do they expect them to remove their hoods and scarves and smile to the cameras before they move on. CCTV is not the answer, what is needed is regular police patrols on the streets who are prepared to deal with anti social behaviour and not more excuses for the police to abandon the town to the gangs.
Newry Democrat 27/03/07
Stormont Candidates - Posters
What interesting concerns our hopeful candidates have in the race to Stormont. What major issue occupies their minds and causes them sleepless nights. What are these concerns - water charges, school selection or crime? No, a far greater issue of national importance dominates it appears - who's tampering with who's posters.
Does any candidates seriously believe that in these days of mailshots, TV and newspaper coverage and even political broadcasts on You Tube that the destiny of a seat will come down to an electorate influenced by a picture on a poster. Are we to conclude that the electorate study each poster to determine which candidate's face appeals to them most. Maybe they dream of an electorate being swayed by their dashing movie star looks. How they must fret that the photographer caught their best side. Personally I think their best side would be if they turned their back to the camera. After all that will at least show which part of their body most of their words come from.
It is not time that all posters were banned in these time of supposedly environmentally aware candidates
Newry Democrat - 06/03/07
Does any candidates seriously believe that in these days of mailshots, TV and newspaper coverage and even political broadcasts on You Tube that the destiny of a seat will come down to an electorate influenced by a picture on a poster. Are we to conclude that the electorate study each poster to determine which candidate's face appeals to them most. Maybe they dream of an electorate being swayed by their dashing movie star looks. How they must fret that the photographer caught their best side. Personally I think their best side would be if they turned their back to the camera. After all that will at least show which part of their body most of their words come from.
It is not time that all posters were banned in these time of supposedly environmentally aware candidates
Newry Democrat - 06/03/07
Warrenpoint Plots - Jim Boylan
I read with interest the issue raised by Jim Boylan in relation to the plans for the Plots area of Warrenpoint. He is quite right to point out that the provision of an all weather floodlit pitch , rather than another basketball court, is desperately required in the town. It would appear that this is another example of a council allocating the least possible amount of money to a project in Warrenpoint. The fact that it is seen as a major announcement by our mayor that monies are to be spent in ''sprucing up'' the park speaks volumes.
I remember that when he was first elected as mayor Mr. Carr stated that one of his main aims would be the provision of a pool in Warrenpoint. As his year draws to a close it appears that his legacy will be some plants in the park.
I don't blame Mr Carr for this and I know that he is a decent man. The problem remains that as long as we continue to elect politicans along party lines then they will always be beholden to their political masters, whether in Newry or elsewhere. This will always result in a situation where facilities will be allocated to Newry first and the scraps thrown from the table to all the other areas in the Coucil District. The situation is likely to get worse with the introduction of the super councils. Unless local people are prepared to elect people on local issues, and then judge them only on that record, the situation will not change.
Perhaps we ought to learn from the electorate in the South who consistently return Independent candidates to the Dail or local council to push local agendas.
Newry Democrat - 13/02/07
I remember that when he was first elected as mayor Mr. Carr stated that one of his main aims would be the provision of a pool in Warrenpoint. As his year draws to a close it appears that his legacy will be some plants in the park.
I don't blame Mr Carr for this and I know that he is a decent man. The problem remains that as long as we continue to elect politicans along party lines then they will always be beholden to their political masters, whether in Newry or elsewhere. This will always result in a situation where facilities will be allocated to Newry first and the scraps thrown from the table to all the other areas in the Coucil District. The situation is likely to get worse with the introduction of the super councils. Unless local people are prepared to elect people on local issues, and then judge them only on that record, the situation will not change.
Perhaps we ought to learn from the electorate in the South who consistently return Independent candidates to the Dail or local council to push local agendas.
Newry Democrat - 13/02/07
Mission Statement
Why was this blog created?.....maybe vanity.....to show my views are of some importance to the world.......but the real reason - just to allow me to vent some frustration, to observe and comment on happenings in my town, the surrounding area or any issue that catches my interest. Its just for my benefit but if it provokes the interest of anyone else then I thank you for your time......and forgive the ramblings of a mad man.
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