Sir, - We read the article of March 12th, under the heading of Adams blames the lack of investment for decline of West Belfast", with some surprise. Would Mr Adams not agree that the main reason for this lack of investment is the ongoing IRA campaign and the economic uncertainty and insecurity which that campaign brings with it?
We too believe that the people of West Belfast "have a right to equality, have a right to decent jobs (and) have a right to a future,". Can Mr Adams see any way in which these rights can be secured through a violent campaign that destroys people and the economy?
We concur with him in that west Belfast has been hit by a series of "economic body blows". They were struck in Canary Wharf, Manchester and in Lisburn. Does Mr Adams know of one foreign company which would choose to start operations in an advance factory in West Belfast in such a climate of violence? Perhaps he would agree that such calls would probably be less necessary if the budget that pays for infrastructure, healthcare and education was not stretched by the cost of paramilitary activity. - Yours, etc.,
SDLP Youth,
Social Democratic &
Labour Party,
Cranmore House,
611C Lisburn Road,
Belfast BT9 7GT.