Republican News · Thursday 12 December 2002

Demil failure slammed

Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Michelle Gildernew says that nationalists throughout the North are angry at the failure of the British government to move on the demilitarisation promises made in the Good Friday Agreement.

According to Gildernew nationalists are set to increase their protests against the lack of movement on demilitarisation.

Indeed Gildernew, the recently appointed Sinn Féin spokesperson on demilitarisation, has accused the British crown forces of increasing their activities throughout the North and of, "subjecting people to harassment and interrogating them at checkpoints".

The MP was speaking to An Phoblacht after a Sinn Féin organised conference held in Carrickmore on Saturday 30 November.

Over 100 delegates from across the Six Counties attended the conference, which looked at how the party could build a strategy aimed at highlighting the British government's failure to keep its promises on demilitarisation.

"We need all our elected representatives to be more proactive on this issue", concluded Gildernew. "Not only do we need to highlight the fact that the British government has failed to live up to it's commitments in the Good Friday Agreement but these bases pose a real threat to the lives and well being of people throughout the North and the border counties of the 26 Counties."

McGuinness opens new Irish school in Derry

A new Irish language school, Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir was officially opened in Derry on Friday 6 December.

The school was opened on a new site which is a part of the Gasyard Development complex in Derry's Lecky Road. The school was opened by Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness and the opening was attended by local councillors and parents and friends of the school.

The school received official recognition from the Department of Education in September 2002. Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir is the first Irish-medium school to open in Derry for 20 years and is the first primary school to open in Derry's inner city for over 50 years. The school now has 65 students and five classes.

McGuinness congratulated, "all of those parents and Irish language activists who put so much effort and energy into ensuring that this venture became reality. Education through the medium of Irish is flourishing throughout the country and particularly here in the North".

Water charges fear

Mid-Ulster Assembly member Francie Molloy is calling for a meeting with Finance Minister Ian Pearson to discuss the party's concerns that the British government is set to introduce of water charges in the North.

"The possible introduction of a blanket charge on water, which could amount to as much as £275 per household, represents an attempt to increase rates by another means," said Milloy.

"If introduced, no householder will be exempted from paying this charge. As the proposal sits water tax will fall beyond the existing housing benefit scheme, meaning that all people, irrespective of ability to pay or the amount of water that they actually use, will be required to forfeit the same amount."