Following the DUP u-turn on the Maze TUV Leader, Jim Allister, raised with SEUPB how the £18m could be spent on other projects. In reply SEUPB Chief Executive, Mr Colgan, has decreed such would be premature because “SEUPB is in discussions with the Lead Partner about the continued viability of this project”.
Commenting, Jim Allister said:- Continue Reading…
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-
“What a night – victory over Russia and victory on the Maze!
“Congratulations to all who campaigned so hard against the Provo Project at the Maze, particularly innocent victims. Every signature on our petition helped force the DUP into a monumental climb down. We must ensure there is no backsliding on the issue!
“Despite all the diversionary talk from Peter Robinson about the changing stance of others, his Maze u-turn is seismic, but none the less welcome for that. Continue Reading…
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“As time goes on it is becoming increasingly clear that the concerns of innocent victims about the Sinn Fein/DUP plans for the Maze site are well founded. An answer which I received today from the Education Minister will compound those fears.
“I asked the Education Minister how his Department and schools will relate to, and use, the proposed Conflict Resolution Centre and prison buildings at the Maze site. O’Dowd responded telling me that the “Conflict Resolution Centre and prison buildings at the Maze site are likely to provide important educational opportunities for our young people”. He then went on to say that the Department could “facilitate the dissemination of materials produced by the Centre to schools” and likened this to work the Department of Education has already done with resources produced by the Imperial War Museum dealing with the Holocaust! Continue Reading…
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:
“Playing with words over what won’t or will be within the proposed new Conflict Centre does not address a key issue concerning the Maze.
“What is the plan for the existing prison buildings, the IRA citadel buildings of the hospital and the H block? Sinn fein has been very clear on this issue with Raymond McCartney MLA boasting, “The listed and retained buildings…will be open to the public. There will be the opportunity for the many stories of the gaol to be told” (see http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/22471). The DUP remains silent on the issue, though Jeffrey Donaldson has insulted the intelligence of us all by saying Bobby Sands name won’t even be mentioned!
“Will the buildings be closed, or open? If open, for what purpose? We need to know the agreed DUP/Sinn Fein position. Continue Reading…
Extract from speech by TUV leader Jim Allister to the Lisburn protest against building the Conflict Resolution Centre at the Maze:-
“From no terrorists in government to IRA Commander as Joint First Minister; from no stadium at the Maze, because of the threat of a Shrine, to a ‘Conflict Transformation Centre’ capable only of being built beside the very Shrine buildings: that is the sad transformation of the DUP. Such is what happens when you end up in hock to IRA/Sinn Fein.
“The Conflict Transformation Centre is planned for the Maze because Sinn Fein would agree to it no where else. And in this government, what Sinn Fein wants Sinn Fein gets. But what of the people, what of the victims of the IRA, what about what they want? When were they consulted? The truth is never. Continue Reading…
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“I am outraged to discover by way of a written answer from OFMdFM that £260,000 has been wasted on maintain the ugly prison buildings at the Maze.
“It is scandalous that such a sum has been squandered on maintaining buildings which, as numerous DUP politicians have pointed out in the past, will inevitably become a shrine to Republican terrorism.
“The First Ministers claim that they are merely fulfilling their “statutory obligations” but there are many beautiful listing buildings in Northern Ireland which have nothing like that sum spent on them. One has only to look at the dilapidated state of Craigavon House – which is a building of immense historical importance to the history of Northern Ireland and its founding – to see that the Maze is evidently receiving gold standard treatment. Why? Because the Maze prison buildings and hospital wing are hallowed ground as far as Republicans are concerned. Continue Reading…
