The following platform piece by TUV vice-chairman Keith Harbinson appeared in this morning’s News Letter. 

I read Jeffrey Donaldson’s comments on the Maze site with a sense of déjà vu. Yet again we saw an issue which is causing much consternation within the Unionist community, just as we did with Policing and Justice, and as before whenever another Unionist dares to speak out, Mr Donaldson immediately lambasts them for failing to see the bigger picture and failing to get with the programme of progress. Unionism as a broad house should be more than capable of accommodating differing opinions – some of which were articulated by Mr Donaldson’s party colleagues not so long ago. Nigel Dodds, for example, warned: “However it is dressed up, whatever spin is deployed, the preservation of a section of the H-Blocks – including the hospital wing – would become a shrine to the terrorists”.

This site has the potential to become a jewel in the crown for our economy, but sadly the true regeneration potential can never be realised whilst the retained buildings remain to blight on the landscape. I would suggest that it is the current proposals for regeneration that are short-sighted, not the attempts to restrict them. The simple fact is that the potential inward investment to the site, with its unrivalled access to the motorway infrastructure make it a prime location, however no investors will view this as home with a Mecca to Republican violence on their doorstep. This could have been resolved should successive DUP DOE Ministers heeded calls to de-list the H-Blocks.

Under the current proposals we will see a purpose built Peace Building where other countries with conflicts can negotiate accords. I think Jeffrey’s grand sentiments of the centre’s world renowned status could be premature in the extreme as this glorified conference facility will prove to be a massive white elephant. Furthermore, with a purpose built facility on offer, why retain the H-Blocks and thus preserve the shrine to IRA terrorism we were promised would never happen?

This is not mere scaremongering. The consultants report makes clear that both H-Blocks were listed because of their connection with IRA violence. Mr Donaldson has stated that the make-up of the advisory council of the site will ensure that such plans cannot be progressed, however with such a body encompassing ex Republican prisoners on an equal standing to ex members of the security forces such claims are clearly not within the gift of Mr Donaldson.