Alliance Party Enniskillen by-election candidate Dr Kumar Kamble has stated that the DUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP and Ulster Unionists have failed local older people because they have not implemented free personal care, even though they promised to do so in their manifestos. He said that Alliance has been the only consistent campaigner for the provision of free personal care.
Dr Kumar Kamble said: “The DUP, Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists have let older people down because they haven’t implemented free personal care. They all pledged to introduce it during last year’s election campaign – they have failed so far to live up to their promise.
“On the day that the free nursing care bill was being debated in the Assembly in 2002, Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy put in an amendment calling for free personal care to be included in the bill. The Ulster Unionists, SDLP, DUP and Sinn Fein all voted against it. Alliance was the only party to vote for it. The other parties then jumped on our bandwagon to support free personal care at the last election, yet they have done nothing in government to create such an initiative.
“Alliance has been the only consistent and strong campaigners for free personal care for older people.
“Its time that the tribal Executive parties delivered for local people – everyone is sick of missed opportunities and broken promises. We need less talk and more action on this important issue. The Executive parties have failed older people, but Alliance will deliver for them.”
ENDS