BY MICHELE CANNING SMITH
A MAJOR rally organised to pledge opposition to the 'tap tax' will go ahead in Strabane this weekend despite a promise of deferment by the new assembly.
Communities Against Water Tax (CAWT) and a local councillor have warned that the charges, whilst postponed for a year, have not gone away.
Organisers have urged the community to support Saturday's rally, which will be addressed by veteran campaigner and Vice Chairman of Derry Trades Council, Eamon McCann.
He will be accompanied by local trades council representatives and CAWT.
Paul Gallagher, of CAWT, said "We have held 12 community meetings in the town, and have met with communities in Sion Mills, Glebe and Clady and feedback has been very positive.
"We are at present in talks with Strabane & District Community Network to look at co-hosting meetings in the rural communities, including Newtownstewart, Plumbridge, Castlederg, Ballymagorry and Donemana.
NON POLITICAL
"CAWT is very much non-party political and all about ensuring people have the correct information. We are also advocating that communities participate fully in the democratic process which is also about being an active citizen.
"This applies at local level whether you are in a village, town or city. Communities must have a say in how we are governed and what basic services we have."
ABOLITION
Séamas Devine of CAWT, addded "People should not, under any circumstances give their banking details to the Water Service regardless of the suspension that was announced this week.
"CAWT welcome the suspension but are adamant that the campaign will continue, and our emphasis will now switch to the Stormont Executive in waiting to abolish the water charges altogether.
"Our campaign will strategically monitor the process going forward and would expect the political parties to take on board what the electorate were telling them in the run up to the election.
"We believe we can defeat this double taxation by standing together telling the powers that be that we are not going to be sucked into this grand plan to privatise our public services.
"The bill for under investment lies with the British government not the people who have already paid. Our message is simple " WE ARE NOT PAYING TWICE."
