The widow of Martin McGuinness, Bernie, joined Sinn Fein parfty members at unveiling of billboard in Free Derry Corner on Tuesday
SINN Fein Foyle MP Elisha McCallion has told supporters her party would remain faithful to Martin McGuinness’ pledge.
Mrs McCallion was speaking at a rally at Free Derry corner today which was attended by Mr McGuinness’s widow Bernie.
A year ago today, a frail looking Mr McGuinness formally resigned as deputy first minister and said there would be ‘no return to the status quo’ at Stormont.
Sinn Fein erected a billboard with the former IRA leader’s pledge which has become part of the party mantra that it will not consider any return to Stormont and the Executive until there is “respect” shown to it by the DUP.
The former Mayor of Derry was joined by other members of Mr. McGuinness’ family and local political representatives including Raymond McCartney MLA along with party activists at the billboard unveiling.
Two months after his resignation, Mr McGuiness died following a short illness.
Mrs McCallion said: “This day last year, everything changed
“Martin McGuinness’ dramatic resignation exactly a year ago was the day that everything changed in the struggle for equality.
“I don’t think anyone could forget the footage of Martin that day, It was as heart-breaking as it was inspiring.
“Here was a man who had led from the front all his life, who had given everything reaching out and trying to make the institutions work for all citizens, and even when he was clearly seriously ill, was still showing true leadership. Still doing what needed to be done in order to try and build a better future for all our people.
“After ten years of doing everything possible to make the institutions work, Martin’s actions that day effectively changed everything in the struggle for equality and a better society.
“He called time on the disrespect, the refusal to implement agreements, the discrimination against whole sections of our society and the lack of integrity which had made Stormont unsustainable.
“He was saying in no uncertain terms that enough was enough and it was a message that clearly resonated with the wider public as evidenced by the subsequent Assembly and Westminster elections.
“What Martin did was to set the bar for the kind of power-sharing institutions that are required if we are to create the kind of society which was envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement.
“None of us deserve anything less and I do not believe the public are prepared to accept anything less.
“We have lost Martin since then and it is an incalculable loss but the measure he set that day remains the same.
2There can be no return to the status quo.
“Any new Executive must be based on equality, rights and respect.
“That is what Martin made clear in his letter of resignation and I would urge anyone who has not read that document to do so, because it is a powerful testimony of where this process has come from and where it needs to go to.
“So as we face into possible new negotiations to restore the Executive, that remains the challenge – to build new institutions that cherish all citizens and defend all rights.
“That is the only way the institutions can possibly be sustainable and capable of confronting the challenges that face them including the pressures on our public services and the disastrous implications of Brexit.
“As Martin himself said when he first took up office with Ian Paisley in 2007: ‘We have to govern by treating every single citizen equally’.”
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