Let's make history
The focus has been on the Westminster election but in the
north of Ireland the local government election is the one to
watch, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams told a press
conference in Belfast this week. The conference, held in the Tom
Williams lounge at the Roddy McCorley Club, was organised to
launch the party's local government manifesto, `Changing the face
of local government'.
Sinn Féin is standing 153 candidates in the local
government elections, an increase of 57 on the last election. As
an all-Ireland party, Sinn Féin has elected
representatives across the island, including 62 councillors in
the 26 Counties.
Sinn Féin expects to increase its percentage of the
vote by 10%, said Adams, perhaps even 15%. As for the number of
candidates successfully elected, ``a hundred would be a nice
round figure.
``Ever since Alex Maskey was elected to Belfast City Council
in 1983, Sinn Féin has been changing the face of local
government,'' said Adams. ``Alex led the way in confronting
unionist bigotry and discrimination in Belfast City Hall.
``Eighteen years on, Sinn Féin is still changing the
face of Local Government. We are standing more candidates than
ever before and in more areas than ever before, underlining the
growth of Sinn Féin in recent years.''
Adams highlighted the scope of Sinn Féin representation
on both sides of the border and those representatives' ability to
secure positions at all levels within local government structure.
``In the past four years we have led the way in many local
authorities on the island - in Derry and Belfast, Leitrim and
Cavan, Fermanagh and Strabane along with Newry, Sligo and
Monaghan.
``In the past year, Sean MacManus has served as the
Chairperson of Sligo Council, Micheal McColreavy in Leitrim,
Charlie McHugh in Strabane, Brian McKenna in Monaghan, Geraldine
Cassidy in Fermanagh and Cathal Crumley as Mayor of Derry.''
Adams described Sinn Féin as the only party with an
all-Ireland vision and the only party committed to building
strategic partnerships across Ireland and so end the economic,
social and cultural peripheralism of border counties.
As the manifesto points out, he said, Sinn Féin has
demonstrated leadership and determination. ``We have been dynamic
and have met all of the challenges placed in front of us. We will
not be diverted from demanding equality and justice. We will
continue to be a source of confidence and strength, replacing
conflict and division with peace and opportunity.''
Adams said that republicans viewed negotiations as part of the
struggle. ``After this election there will be crucial
negotiations on the key issues of policing, demilitarisation and
equality and human rights,'' he said.
``If these negotiations are to advance the process then Sinn
Féin has to go back to the negotiating table with an
increased mandate. Let's make history.''
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