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The Orange Order welcomes the promise of Government assistance
for Protestant areas of Northern Ireland, but supports the
view that the £33 million pledged over the next three
years is just the start of a long process.
Many parts of Northern Ireland have suffered badly as a result
of the 35 years of the Troubles and political turmoil in this
Province.
But Protestant districts of inner Belfast, and also parts
of Londonderry, Portadown, Lurgan, Lisburn and other large
provincial towns have also suffered to varying degrees.
And the Protestant communities along the border, especially
in South Armagh and Fermanagh, have also been very badly hit
through the loss of loved ones and the intimidation of farmers
and rural dwellers.
While the £33 million is most welcome, it is really
only the start. The very fact that 12 of the most socially
deprived 15 wards in Northern Ireland are in Protestant areas
speaks for itself.
The myth that Protestant areas were more prosperous than
Roman Catholic districts, and that Protestants had privileges
and benefits not enjoyed by their Roman Catholic neighbours
has been well and truly destroyed.
It was never true in the first place, of course, but some
politically motivated people liked to put the myth about,
and it was often swallowed by left wingers and 'liberals'
of Britain and elsewhere.
Successive British Governments bent over backwards to be
generous to the Roman Catholic minority. Legislation has guaranteed
them jobs, and also a 50 per cent recruitment to the Police
Force which is not justified by the size of their population.
The housing authorities pulled out all the stops to ensure
that Roman Catholic areas affected by redevelopment has excellent
housing provided to allow families to move back into these
areas.
By contrast, Protestant areas like the Shankill, Sandy Row,
lower Newtownards Road, and Donegall Road were decimated by
redevelopment and the exodus of families due to republican
violence.
Since the 1970s, the population of the Greater Shankill has
declined from 78,000 to 28,000, and that of Sandy Row from
12,500 to 2,500.
Families promised new houses in their own areas were scattered
to Carrickfergus, Antrim, Newtownabbey, Newtownards, Bangor
and Craigavon.
Large swathes of the Protestant areas were left derelict
and wastelands. It was a miserable story, and for the people
left in the rundown and decimated areas the difficulties were
compounded by the lack of job opportunities, and the inadequate
education facilities.
It was not just Belfast which suffered from the neglect by
authorities. In places like the Fountain in Londonderry, and
Portadown West, the neglect in many aspects is all too obvious.
Now, it seems, the Government is prepared to redress the
balance. But communities deprived for so long, will judge
by results.
New housing has to be a priority in the declining Protestant
areas of Belfast and other places. But jobs are also needed,
and also a determined effort to provide better facilities
in schools, and more assistance for educational facilities.
It goes without saying that the £33 million must be
pumped into the areas in a well planned and well organised
manner. It must reach the communities which need the new housing,
jobs and schools, and the onus will be on all right-thinking
people to throw their weight behind this, and for political,
churchmen and responsible leaders of public opinion to play
their full part.
This can only be the start of a long process to bring back
pride, purpose, and prosperity to once great districts which
have been at the receiving end of violence, terror, and Government
neglect for over three decades.
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