Eye on the Hill

You’re all a bunch of bullies

THE problem of bullying in schools and in the workplace is widely known about – and now it emerges that the Assembly has its fair share of bullies.

The Basil McCrea, John McCallister axis that is now to be called NI21 have been told they are to be pushed down the pecking order when it comes to speaking rights in the Assembly.

Basil said the other parties had been ganging up on their new party, like a crowd of over-sized school kids rounding on the new kids.

The response by Basil very much indicated where the NI21 are targeting their ire, now and in the future: The alliance party.

The alliance, in the past, were the party regularly bullied by the big boys. Now through accident they have the two seats at the executive table and Basil and John think they’re picking on them.

With alliance and the UUP in their sites for specific issues and the real big boys on strategic issues, the problem NI21 face is that the bullies really are bigger than them.

Thus the fight back on the floor of the assembly will be prove increasingly difficult as they’re pushed aside by the big boys (and girls).

But fear not, while Basil and John’s voices may be silenced on the hill, you can be sure we’ll be hearing lots more from them on the View – well for the meantime anyway.

Thank you G8 – it’s been greatWHAT a palaver! The great and powerful are to descend upon us mortals next week.

Leaders from the economic powerhouses of the world are to arrive in Norn Iron and be treated like a new version of worldwide Royalty, with carefully posed photo calls with tame locals.

No doubt some bright officials from the department of finance and personnel will be able to calculate the benefit.

However, come Monday that official will be stuck in traffic like the rest of us, as roads minister Danny Kennedy has warned of traffic gridlock as the likes of the US president and Japanese prime minister descend on Belfast.

He claimed there will be extra buses and trains on the rails and roads. But we’ve got Danny’s agenda! After Translink was so heavily criticised in the assembly, the promise of road closures may boost the cash flow of the troubled  company; enabling Danny to claim that there are more people using public transport.

Finding your way through the Maze...

NO matter what maze you find your way into there is a simple solution, keep your right hand, or your left hand on a wall and follow that wall and eventually you will find your way out.

Using this method it may take a little longer, because you will find that you end up in some blind alleys. But eventually you will find your way out of the maze.

If only the development of the Maze/Long Kesh site was as easy.

First the proposal for a football and multi-sport stadium was vetoed by someone, somewhere.

Then we had the whole ‘Conflict Resolution Centre’ debacle, which was recently approved by the suits at the top table through the use of creative language...

With that settled and the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society running its annual farmers’ get together there, all seemed as well as could be, despite some grumbling.

Then this week the Orange Order has said that it opposes the plans and called on unionist politicians to stop the £300m development.

Is this another blind alley through the development maze?

Whatever political views and opinions one has, or has not, it seems that the development of the former prison site will go forward in some shape or form – and there is a way to allay the fears and give succour to the hopes for the site.

Clowns.

Yes clowns! Given that most people regard a proportion of our political masters as clowns, MLAs should be allocated on a rota basis to give tours round the peace and conflict resolution centre to an agreed script that blames everyone for everything.

That way, without taking away from the suffering of all victims of the conflict/troubles, visitors can at least be reassured that our political overlords deserve to be thought of us as both the tragedian clown stuck behind a mask, the comedic figure of fun when the political charade is stripped from his or her armour.

If we have to remember the suffering on a road to continued peace, then we have to also remember that in a peaceful future, politicians can only take decisions about us, if they acknowledge that they are flawed and not one has the balance of truth weighing solely on their side. Both tragic and comedic they bear a heavy burden as decision-makers, but we need to see the humanity behind the political suit.

Keep one hand on a wall, don the bright red nose and balloon trousers and lead the way....