26 August 2004 Edition

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Floods, Leaks and Water Charges

DERRY in the past week experienced the worst floods in living memory. The cost to homeowners and businesses is yet to be quantified but it must obviously be millions of pounds.

In this era of technology, which enables the tracking of weather patterns and long-term forecasts, it would be fair to expect some warning of the type of rainfall experienced here last week. That didn't happen but the lack of warning is not totally to blame for the extent of the damage caused. Inadequate drainage and sewage systems which could not cope with the amount of rain that fell in such a short period of time points the finger of responsibility squarely where it belongs.

The responsibility for such an antiquated infrastructure lies with successive Direct Rule administrations. They failed to invest in and upgrade the infrastructure in the North West to cope with the additional pressures that new Housing Developments create. The Minister for the Environment needs to explain to the ratepayers of the North West what happened to the portion of the rates that was specifically introduced some years ago to finance the modernisation of our water services.

The British Secretary of State makes public pronouncements denying plans to privatise Water while simultaneously corresponding with his Treasury Department explaining how he intends doing just that.

So not only have successive Direct Rule Ministers misappropriated the portion of our rates that was supposed to be ringfenced to upgrade our Water System but also Paul Murphy intends to dramatically increase our rates. This so that his government can bring the system up to a standard that will make it attractive to private investors that will run the system in the best interest of profit.

Water taxes and increased rates are inextricably linked to the privatisation agenda of the British Labour Party. Regrettably, it was bought into by Mark Durkan and David Trimble through the Reform and Reinvestment Initiative (RRI). At the time Sinn Féin warned that the RRI would lead to water charges, huge increases in rates and privatisation of public services. It appears that that analysis has been proven to be correct.

All of the political parties here should put political differences aside and demand that the British Government pay restitution to the citizens of the Six Counties through a capital injection sufficient to bring our public services infrastructure, including water services up to standard and scrap any plans for Water Taxes. It is unacceptable to force people here to pay for the failure of the British government to invest in infrastructure and services.

Sinn Féin will make sure that these and other financial issues are dealt with in the September talks. The NIO and British Treasury should be warned that they will face concerted pressure to rethink their position on water charges, privatisation and the entire issue of the public services. While the SDLP and UUP settled for the RRI, Sinn Féin will settle for nothing less than a real and substantial Peace Dividend.

Meanwhile, as we all have good reason to be aware of the duplicity of British governments and their Ministers, it is nevertheless ironic that Paul Murphy's doublespeak emerged via the well trodden route of a leaked document from within the NIO to an anti-Agreement unionist, namely the DUP's Peter Robinson.

Does this mean that we will hear no more talk of spying operations at the heart of Government, I wonder?

But I wouldn't hold my breath!


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland