Donaldson addresses Crossmore Branch AGM
On Wednesday night last Party Officer responsible for Youth Development and Memebership and Recruitment Kenny Donaldson was guest speaker at Crossmore Branch’s AGM. In a wide ranging and interactive address Kenny spoke about issues pertaining to the two portfolios and he also gave an insight into his thoughts around recent events at St Andrew’s.
Extracts of Kenny’s speech:
“You gathered here tonight will be as incensed as I with the downright hypocrisy displayed by Dr Paisley and his supporting cast in recent times. That Party to which he commands has engaged in somersault after somersault of the position which they once contended was a ‘principled stance against the purveyors and associates of terrorism and criminality.’
“Of course we, as Ulster Unionists should not be surprised by what Dr Paisley and his colleagues have done or are proposing to do because we know that his motivation remains in 2006 what it was in 1969, pursuit of exclusive power. We all know that our Party has borne the brunt of Paisley’s incessant, egotistically driven campaign to be top dog within unionism.
“Throughout Ulster Unionism’s history, we have sought to place the good of Northern Ireland and its’ people above all else, it is because of this fundamental position and belief that we have faced virtual electoral oblivion! Unionists across Northern Ireland were lured and duped by the prophetic ramblings of someone who promised them the frankly; downright impossible.
“Throughout his political career, Ian Paisley has existed as an obstructionist force; his never, never defensive wailings and doomsday prophecies have sucked the lifeblood out of the unionist community, he has achieved and delivered nothing of benefit to unionism or indeed Northern Ireland in its’ fullest terms.
Mr Donaldson added: “What have the last 35 years really been all about? Thousands of people have been murdered, families left distraught, communities left in turmoil, our economy decimated and for what? Neither Paisley nor his new partners, the Republican Movement can evade responsibility for what their ideologies caused happen in this Province of ours!
“Unionists across Northern Ireland need to finally sit down and individually reflect upon what has occurred here in this past 35 years, people need to stand up and tell it like it is! Unionists need to say with one unified voice; ‘Paisleyism has achieved nothing other than tear our community apart, it has not contributed one jot to building the prosperous and peaceful Northern Ireland more of us crave.
“Friends, interesting times lie ahead and only time will tell whether “Paisley the hypocrite” or “Paisley the coward” will step forward.”