Challenge to blatant discrimination
SINN FEIN COUNCILLOR MICHAEL FERGUSON has told An Phoblacht that
the party is determined to challenge the Ulster Unionist Party's
monopoly of power on Lisburn Council.
Ferguson's challenge came after he was defeated last Friday 6
June in his attempt to be elected deputy mayor of the council.
``We are the second largest party on the council,'' said the
Twinbrook councillor, ``and we want that fact recognised. We are
approaching this Council term in a spirit of cooperation and
flexibility. We hope the other parties take up the challenge''.
Ferguson also objected to the exclusion of two Sinn Féin
councillors from the council's planning committee, saying that
that committee normally elects all council members yet this time
two Sinn Féin representatives have been excluded.
``The biggest objection we have is that none of us have been
elected to the Dunmurry Development Partnership which is about
the regeneration of Twinbrook and Poleglass, which is over 50%
nationalist. Instead the Official Unionist Party nominated and
elected two unionists. We have one more councillor than we had
last year and we increased our vote yet we are still under
represented. It's not on,'' stressed Ferguson.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)