Reflections on St Andrews

I have to be honest I did not expect any deal emerging from St Andrews. On Friday I was shocked when the news emerged about a possible agreement. Bitter memories of growing up in North Belfast and pain and grief of communities came into sharp focus. We should all ask the question is that the kind of future that we want? Or do we want a future free from political conflict?

I want political progress. While many are totally disillusioned with the constant stalemate of the political process we all still yearn to see the DUP share power with all other political parties.

On the back of the St Andrews proposals, communities must seek to inform and shape our road map towards a shared future. There is no longer any hiding place to shy away from addressing the hard issues of community polarization, shared space, housing, education and employment. These issues are particularly important in North Belfast if our quality of life is to be improved.

St Andrews is the last chance to create an enabling context in which we can collectively build trust and relationships.

I am of the firm view that we need a functioning assembly and a resolution of the issues of policing and justice, if we are to further navigate ourselves out of conflict.

The creation of a locally functioning executive will not only give us all hope but present challenges that when addressed will take us further down the road to creating a vibrant society at peace with itself. Local communities must continue to take ownership of this process if it is to deliver a new culture of co-operation across interfaces so that we may be collectively empowered to address the growing social and economic marginalization of many within our community.


John Loughran is Programme Director for Intercomm’s North Belfast Developing Leadership Initiative.