Time to Deliver and End Divisions

East Belfast erupts into more night time rioting as youths take to the streets and get their wish of being on TV as they act the tough guy by attacking police Land Rovers and throwing Molotov cocktails. Innocent people are terrorized in their own homes and are forced to erect makeshift barriers to protect their doors and windows in the hope that they will absorb the missiles flying over the so-called "peace walls" from either side. Paramilitary goons who fancy themselves as warlords take delight in having an army of bored teenagers to do their bidding.

It is as if nobody was listening to an impressive speech made by UK Prime Minister David Cameron when he addressed the Stormont assembly in June and laid out the British government's expectations of the devolved administration. Among his key points were that there could be no more costly and open-ended inquires into the past, that nobody should count on the flow of money maintaining its generous course, that there could be no more running to Westminster in search of more money as the solution to every problem, and that the north's politicians had to deliver on bread-and-butter political issues. Most strikingly, he noted that he was disappointed in the increase in the number of so-called "peace walls" from 37 to 48 since the 2006 St Andrews Agreement, stating that the cost of providing duplicated services to two separate communities was approximately £1.5 billion.

On the issue of inquiries into the past, he maintained that his government had met its responsibilities. A criticism of the Saville Inquiry was the extraordinarily long duration and high cost of the investigation. While much of this criticism came from the usual quarters who would have preferred to have the tragedy blamed on the victims and then forgotten about, it is a fair point that the same findings could undoubtedly have been reached without spending the £400 million that it is said to have cost. By all means examine the past and get to the truth, but it should be done quickly and efficiently.

On the issue of rattling the begging bowl in Westminster for every worthy scheme, this is a message that should resonate with Irish republicans. The republican movement of the early 20th century was based on asserting independence from Britain and getting by without support from the institutions of the British establishment. Running back to the British with demands for more cash does not follow in that tradition.

On the subject of polarization and division, Cameron was on very solid ground. Some people are fond of demanding that the British government "live up to its responsibilities" and solve many of the north's problems, but there are some problems that can only be solved by local leadership such as the problems currently manifesting themselves on the streets of East Belfast. The only effective solutions to these problems can be found on the ground among community groups and leaders.

The north remains as polarized as ever despite over a decade of relative peace.

Schools remain partitioned along sectarian lines. While the southern government works with the Catholic church to hand patronage of primary schools to the state where it belongs, the Catholic education system in the north remains entrenched and resistant to the tide pushing towards greater integration of the north's children. Baroness May Blood, campaign chair of the Integrated Education Fund, recently reported frustration at being blocked at every turn by the Catholic hierarchy in her attempts to meet with them. Others report parish priests discouraging people from sending their children to integrated schools, and there are reports of priests refusing invitations to visit such schools. Polls indicate that 80 percent of parents in Northern Ireland would be willing to send their children to integrated schools, yet the integrated sector still only accounts for 6 percent of the system.

Between 1991 and 2001 there was no change in the sectarian segregation of residential areas despite polls showing 80 percent of people willing to live in mixed areas. Most people still do not apply for jobs in areas which they perceive to be dominated by the other community.

So the people of the north continue to be educated separately, live separately, and work separately with few opportunities to mingle. It is in this partitioned environment that civil unrest is going to thrive. It is up to local leaders to work together to step out of the comfort zones of their own communities and find common ground that can lessen division.

One area of common ground is the current debate over corporation tax. Currently the north is at a disadvantage to the south which has a lower rate of 12.5 percent compared to the UK-wide rate of 28 percent, making the south a much more attractive location for foreign investment. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister are agreed that the power to set the rate should be devolved to Stormont.

This seems to be one important policy area in which there is a consensus across the sectarian divide that the private sector needs to be strengthened and dependence on the bloated public sector needs to be reduced. All the indications coming from the British government are that they are listening and there is speculation that a change in policy may be on the cards. There could be hope for cross-community cooperation yet.