Politics has to do with most everything that affects our
lives.
In the early life of our devolved government we are expectantly
most concerned with how it is doing and we have mixed feelings.
We want it to be an administration which makes for all of
us the good society we want and need.
We like the more personal and intimate relations of the people
with the politicians (something alien to Direct Rule) and
the distance separation of knowledge, experience and decision
making between them and us.
The localised political situation was always more likely
to make decisions and to obtain results, and already there
is evidence that the new regime is having some success with
necessary changes to the workings of government here. There
are positives in what is being attempted and we welcome them.
But there are negatives, too, for we anticipated that between
the parties sharing government there would be disagreements
on policies when two philosophies, unionist and republican
thought and worked together.
They are present most obviously in the attitudes to education
when a S.F. minister has a less than orderly continuing debate
with the Chairman of the Education Committee and other MLAs.
But the controversy over the future of education is of primary
concern to very many people and for reasons that need no detailing
for they have to do with present problems and future prospects
for life and living in a society determined to educate everybody
in ways best for them and it.
Policing and justice and the Assembly's acceptance of its
taking that over from the U.K. Government is a question on
which D.U.P. and S.F. have conflicting answers.
These, and other less media concentrated issues, are a cause
for unease about the future of the administration in the longer
term.
The resignation of the First Minister, effective in May will
bring new leadership attitudes and relationships.
As we make no pretention to being prophets, foretellers,
we shall defer from any comment on what might be the changes
occasioned by that momentous decision.
The targeting, by word and picture, on the man and his resignation
made for such an impacting on us that other subjects had little
time and space except that we were amazed by the verbal and
pictorial descriptions of the magnificent Victoria Square
complex in Belfast. Its appearance "a major tourist attraction
and magnet for shoppers" is further evidence that there
is economic growth and a welcoming environment in Northern
Ireland whatever the business of the investor.
An assembly ministerial decision to build more affordable
homes has been welcomed by all of us, and the promise of essential
re-housing in "the Village" of West Belfast, Donegall
Road must be kept without delay to bring the plan to fruition.
The neglect of this area has been a festering sore on the
body Belfast for far too long.
The mention of Donegall Road with Sandy Row at an end of
it means for us No. 5 Belfast District Lodge and the Institution's
recent loss at the passing of W. Bro. George Watson, M.B.E.,
J.P., W.D.M. for several years and an Orangeman who epitomised
all that is good in Orangeism.
It would be most remiss if we, who have known him for so
long and esteemed him so greatly and who served with him in
our offices in Lodges and Grand Lodge did not use this opportunity
to pay compliment to him and to offer our condolences to his
widow and the family circle in their sad bereavement and our
shared loss.
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