Transition to Where?
27 October 2009
Reacting to the launch of the Communities and Policing in Transition Programme (CAPT) by Junior Minister and convicted terrorist Gerry Kelly TUV leader Jim Allister said:
“The launch of a cross-border project which will develop joint action plans and strategies agreed between communities and the police according to a press release issued by the Office of the Joint First Ministers chimes exactly with Sinn Fein/IRA’s declared policy of evolving a 32 county policing and justice system. In their 2005 manifesto the party stated:
“Our strategy is for a new all-Ireland policing and justice system. That cannot be achieved without the transfer of policing and justice powers away from London, into an Executive and Assembly and the all-Ireland institutions.”
“It is significant in the extreme that that this move was announced by OFMdFM. If the Office of the Joint First Ministers can issue statements like this pre-devolution, how much more will McGuinness and Kelly be able to set the policing and justice agenda once powers are transferred to Stormont?
“Let’s just remember who Gerry Kelly is. A convicted bomber who, just a few months ago, laughed as he recalled how a prison officer was shot at point blank range in the head. Yet now he is announcing a policing programme! So much for DUP assurances that Sinn Fein/IRA wouldn’t get anywhere near these decisions!
“Where was the DUP veto? Are they are happy to be involved in the evolutionary process towards all-Ireland policing arrangements.
“And I do not believe I am the only Unionist who finds the thought of Republican communities in places like Londonderry and West Belfast far from a healthy prospect”.
Note to editors: The OFMdFM press release is online here.
