{"id":11356,"date":"2016-12-17T19:52:26","date_gmt":"2016-12-17T19:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/?p=11356"},"modified":"2021-02-17T16:44:52","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T16:44:52","slug":"stormont-executive-backrolls-loyalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/2016\/12\/17\/stormont-executive-backrolls-loyalism\/","title":{"rendered":"REACTIONARY UNIONISM SHOWS ITS TRUE COLOURS"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are posting two more articles from the Socialist Democracy (Ireland) highlighting entrenched corrupt and sectarian\u00a0nature of the Stormont set-up.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. \u00a0THE STORMONT RHI SCANDAL AND THE CALLS FOR RESIGNATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

WHY STOP AT ARLENE?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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At a cost to the public purse of almost\u00a0 \u00a3500 million there is no doubting the level of corruption and maladministration surrounding the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. The scheme was devolved to Stormont even though the British already had a functioning system. The criteria were altered so that a scheme meant to save energy became one where the more fuel you burnt the greater the subsidies and where costs could expand without limit.
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Warnings were ignored. The closure of the scheme was delayed while hundreds of groups in the know signed up. The eventual bill, sitting at the door of an administration committed to harsh austerity, dwarfs all the other scams and cons run by the local kleptocracy.<\/p>\n

Nor is there the slightest doubt that Arlene Foster’s fingerprints are all over it, first as Enterprise Minister and then as First Minister.<\/p>\n

In a normal\u00a0 democracy Arlene would be toast, especially with one of her ministers, Jonathan Bell, breaking ranks and claiming that his attempts to close the scheme were blocked and with the other party in the administration, Sinn Fein, gently muttering that she might consider temporarily standing aside.<\/p>\n

The DUP lost no time in trashing Bell or in telling Sinn Fein where to stuff their suggestion.\u00a0 Stormont is not a normal democracy. It is a sectarian alliance. Arlene’s role is not to oversee the proper use of funds but to supervise the share-out of the spoils of sectarian division. Other than its size, RHI is no different from many other Stormont scams – in terms of political corruption the use of public funds to subsidise an alliance between the DUP and UDA is a far stronger indication of the true nature of the administration.<\/p>\n

Why stop at calls for Arlene’s resignation? Is there a single one of the mini Trumps in the DUP who would behave differently? Why stop at the DUP? Is there anyone unaware of Sinn Fein’s role in guarding the DUP’s back?<\/p>\n

And it is Sinn Fein, not the DUP, who are at risk. The DUP stand secure in their defence of sectarian privilege and many of them would be happy to bring the forced marriage with Sinn Fein to an end. Adams and his supporters promised a gradual movement towards a democratic society, rather than the sectarian reality which is becoming more deeply entrenched.<\/p>\n

The anger of their supporters at their silence in the face of yet another dirty deal has forced them to step back from Arlene. If the DUP do not offer them a face saving device in the form of an enquiry the executive may fall.<\/p>\n

The experiment has failed. Stormont must go. Its time to call for its dissolution and to confront those in Sinn Fein and the trade union leadership who claim that the sectarian lash-up is gradually leading us to a better tomorrow and that the working class should foot the bill.<\/p>\n

Socialist Democracy Statement. 16.12.16<\/strong><\/p>\n

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2. STORMONT EXECUTIVE BANKROLLS LOYALISM<\/strong><\/p>\n

DUP\/UDA ALLIANCE ACCEPTED BY SINN\u00a0<\/strong>FEIN<\/b><\/p>\n

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The recent controversy over nearly \u00a32 million in public funds being allocated to a \u201ccommunity\u201d organisation with links to the UDA has once again highlighted the level of institutional support for loyalism.\u00a0\u00a0 More broadly it reveals a system of pay offs and patronage that continues to underpin the political settlement in the north.
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Charter NI<\/strong><\/p>\n

In early October it was announced that the UDA linked Charter NI group had been awarded \u00a31.7m by the Executive backed Social Investment Fund (SIF) to run an employability project in east Belfast.\u00a0\u00a0 An accompanying press release contained quotes from First Minster Arlene Foster praising the work of Charter NI as well as a photograph of her alongside its chief executive – self-confessed UDA leader Dee Stitt.\u00a0 This chief executive position \u2013 which comes with an annual salary of \u00a335,000 – is just one of a number of leadership posts within that organisation occupied by people with paramilitary links.\u00a0\u00a0 Other senior employees of Charter NI include east Belfast UDA leader Jimmy Birch and his wife Caroline as well as former UDA prisoner and failed DUP election candidate Sam ‘Chalky’ White.\u00a0\u00a0 Stitt and White also sit on a number of the SIF district steering panels – whose members are appointed by the Stormont Executive \u2013 which are responsible for allocating funding.\u00a0 The east Belfast panel \u2013 whose members include White as well DUP political representatives Robin Newton and Sharon Skillen \u2013 was responsible for making the award to Charter NI.<\/p>\n

Other projects<\/strong><\/p>\n

It should be emphasised that this is just the latest award.\u00a0 Since the SIF went into operation in 2011 UDA linked organisations in Belfast, Lisburn and North Down have so far received \u00a35m in funding.\u00a0\u00a0 The other projects in receipt of funding – alongside Charter NI – include:<\/p>\n