War is over, McGuinness tells US
The “new” Northern Ireland was showcased in the United States today by Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness and one of his one-time leading critics, Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Peter Robinson.
The Deputy First Minister in the new power-sharing government at Stormont and its Finance Minister took centre stage at the opening of the prestigious annual Smithsonian Festival in Washington.
The North's involvement in the festival was the culmination of a months-long drive – Rediscover Northern Ireland – which began on St Patrick’s Day and is aimed at selling the province as a place in which to do business and to visit for pleasure.
Mr McGuinness declared to his American audience: “The war is well and truly over”.
He said he had visited the US on many previous occasions, but this time it was different.
“I am here not just as the representative of one part of the community, today I am proud, honoured and humbled to speak to you as the joint leader of an administration which represents our entire society.
“A society not just in transition but in transformation; a society moving from division to one united in our celebration of diversity.”
The business of building a better future had begun, he said, adding: “For decades, indeed centuries, our history was one of conflict, division and war. That part of our history is at an end. The war is well and truly over.”
On display at the festival in the National Mall are musicians, dancers, sports coaches, mural artists, cooks, biomass technicians, historians and drum makers - more than 160 people from all over Northern Ireland.
Mr McGuinness told the Smithsonian opening: “When you meet our performers and participants you will see at first hand the vibrancy, diversity and creativity of our cultural life and its influence here in the United States and I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.”
Mr Robinson, standing in for First Minister and DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley, urged Americans to visit the North – telling them they would be in no doubt about the astounding progress that was being made.
“Our two traditions are serving together in a new government. It is a government that is about change, about building, about progress, about promoting a confident and capable Northern Ireland and I believe there is no limit to what we can achieve together,” he said.
Over the two weeks of the festival people would see innovation was central to development and would be the springboard for the North’s future prosperity, he said.
He added: “As we look to the future with hope, expectation and realism, we need only reflect on our common heritage to realise the potential for future relationships between our two countries.”
In all, six ministers from the power-sharing Executive have gone to the US in a bid to promote business, employment and culture.
The high number of ministers on the trip – almost half the entire government team in Belfast – has led to some criticism.
David Ford, leader of the Alliance Party, the only substantial party with no ministerial portfolio, said it was ridiculous so many were away from their posts.
“They should be here in the Assembly focussing on their work before the summer recess.
“It is time the Executive got serious and got down to real work instead of most of them taking a trip to the US,” said Mr Ford.
