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A Senior Orangeman has criticised the Government for "cold
shouldering" Orange Order initiatives to build confidence
in Protestant communities.
Speaking this evening (Friday, 30 September) at the re-opening
of West Belfast Orange Hall on the Shankill Road following
recent refurbishment work, Drew Nelson, Grand Secretary of
the Orange Order, accused some funding bodies and government
departments of hindering efforts to encourage community development
activities.
"Over the past few years, the Orange Community Network
has been operating quietly behind the scenes creating more
than 150 community groups based in Orange Halls throughout
Northern Ireland and the border counties", said Mr Nelson.
"These community groups have been working really hard
to provide leadership in their local communities and, yet,
in many cases, they are receiving no support from the NIO
and funders."
Mr Nelson, said the Orange Order was particularly disappointed
at the decision by Angela Smith MP to reject a funding application
aimed at helping to get young people from working class Protestant
areas involved in Invest NI programmes. A funding application
made by the Order in November 2004 was turned down by Angela
Smith in July this year.
"This spring, the Orange Order drew up a proposal for
the Department for Social Development for a community development
scheme operating out of Orange Halls situated in working class
Protestant areas of Belfast, and designed to encourage local
people to become involved in community activity and thus provide
them with a greater stake in society.
"We were very disappointed at the barriers raised against
this scheme by the DSD which actively discouraged the Orange
Order from proceeding with the programme." Mr Nelson
added: "If the Northern Ireland Office is serious about
addressing the problems of working class Protestant communities,
I am bound to ask why so many constructive suggestions from
the Orange Order over the past few years have been rejected."
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