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S. E. A. Statements

Main parties falsely pleading impotence on water charges---McCann

Cann, Socialist Environmental Alliance candidate in Foyle, speaking in the Creggan Estate, Friday evening, February 23rd.

Friday 23rd February 2007

"The four main parties are giving the impression that water charges is a done deal, and that there's nothing a new Executive can do about it. This is not true.

"A new Executive and Assembly will have the power to throw water charges out. If the parties on the Executive want, they will be able to pull the plug on water charges and privatisation.

The main parties have spent the last four years saying that they want to get back into office so that local decisions can be made by local representatives. But now that they are on the brink of being back in office, suddenly they are pleading impotence. Voters are entitled to wonder what they are up to.

The only explanation of their behaviour that I can think of is that they have decided to impose water charges on the people, but don't want to admit it. So they are blaming the Brits, while pretending that their own hands are tied.

The Northern Ireland Office Minister, Lord Rooker, spelt the position out during the debate on the water charges order at Westminster on December 11th. He said: "If we have devolved government by 26 March next year, as we sincerely hope we will, when the new Ministers will take the pledge of office, the Assembly could repeal this legislation. It will have the power to amend it as it wants. It will be within its ownership."

That's as clear as anyone could want.

Anybody who gives their first preference to the DUP, Sinn Fein, the SDLP or the Ulster Unionists on March 7th is voting to accept water charges. Anybody who is up for a fight on water charges should vote for candidates who support non-payment.





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