First Minister refuses to refute slur on Northern Ireland cultural history and heritage
09 January 2012
From Sunday 28th August 2011 the OFMDFM website carries a joint statement from OFMDFM’s Junior Ministers on the Mela event in Belfast. In this joint statement convicted bomber Martina Anderson declared that “The Mela event represents the evolution of the North from being internationally synonymous with the blight of tribal culturalism to today’s diverse, dynamic and dazzling display of unity.”
This gratuitous slight on Northern Ireland’s cultural history and heritage caused Jim Allister to write to the First Minister in the following terms:-
12 September 2011
Dear First Minister,
On your OFMDFM website a statement from Sunday 28th August 2011 on the Mela event, records Junior Minister Anderson as referring to Northern Ireland’s cultural history in most derogatory terms. In her official capacity, in a joint statement with Junior Minister Bell, she is reported as having said: “The Mela represents the evolution of the North from being internationally synonymous with the blight of tribal culturalism to today’s diverse, dynamic and dazzling display of unity.”
I for one take exception, not just to the political slight, ‘the North’, but to the description of our cultural history as a ‘blight of tribal culturalism.’
Is this how OFMDFM, and more particularly you, now see our cultural history and heritage? If not, then, how was a joint statement permitted to contain such offensive terminology?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
J H Allister QC MLA
Over 3 months later – which itself typifies how OFMDFM conducts itself – Mr Allister received this “reply”:-
22 December 2011
Dear Mr Allister
We note your letter of 12 September to express your concern at a press release for the Mela Event that took place on the 28 August in Belfast.
Yours Sincerely
RT Hon Peter Robinson MLA / Martin McGuinness MP MLA
In response the TUV Leader has written further to Mr Robinson, as follows:-
4th January 2012
Dear First Minister,
I wrote to you on 12 September 2011 concerning an official OFMDFM press release referring to Northern Ireland's cultural history and heritage as a 'blight of tribal culturalism'.
In what purports to be a reply your office wrote after over 3 months to say you 'note' my letter. You may note it, but what is your response? I asked, in particular, if this is how you now see our cultural history and heritage and, if not, how a joint statement by the OFMDFM Junior Ministers contained such offensive terminology.
I still require and expect a proper response.
Yours sincerely,
J H Allister QC MLA
Commenting Jim Allister said:-
“Despite the scale of the DUP’s abandonment of its past, I am still amazed that the First Minister has not a word of rebuke to issue over such a calculated slight on Northern Ireland’s proud cultural history and heritage. To stand back and let Anderson pour forth her republican bile is bad enough, but then to have nothing to say in response is appalling. As my letter asked, are we now to conclude that in the eyes of the DUP First Minister Northern Ireland’s heritage can be described as “tribal culturalism”? Is this where Nua DUP now stands?”
