Madam, - Now that the dust has settled it is time for all of us to come to terms with the recent Northern Ireland Assembly election results. In writing this letter I hope to communicate how my PUP colleagues and I view the post-election landscape.
The most important thing for all of us to do is not to waste time on recriminations. We are where we are, and, to move forward, everyone from governments to parties must look to creating a better environment.
Not to do so will not only constitute further failure it is dangerous. The important question is "Where are the facts?" From the PUP position the following are true:
1. The Good Friday Agreement is now valueless. The failure has been in the exclusive manner of its implementation.
2. The governments need to return to the concept of inclusivity if an agreement of values is to be reached.
3. The policy of appeasing republicans and criminalising all loyalists has alienated what was the most pro-Agreement political constituency within unionism. Criminals and dissidents exist across society not just within loyalism.
4. The British Government has allowed itself to become a puppet of the Trimble wing of the Ulster Unionist Party. It needs to be an advocate and facilitator of democracy.
5. If the emphasis is only to get a deal that gets the DUP to sit with Sinn Féin it will fail. Northern Ireland needs to become an inclusive and tolerant society. All the above would deliver is a tense "cease-fire" society.
Others will naturally have their own ideas about where we are. If the next stage is to be better all must look forward with a renewed sense of why we are here. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID ROSE, Deputy Leader, Progressive Unionist Party, Shankill Road, Belfast.