THE Apprentice Boys organisation in south Belfast has been accused of "posturing" after it made a qualified offer to meet residents from the nationalist Lower Ormeau Road.
Mr Sandy Geddis, a DUP councillor and representative of the Apprentice Boys, said on Monday the loyalist body would, be willing to meet Lower Ormeau residents on the same basis that the Apprentice Boys met Bogside residents in Derry.
In the Belfast situation, this would mean the Apprentice Boys would meet a group of Lower Ormeau residents, including the former republican prisoner, Mr Gerard Rice, provided he was not acting as the area's community spokesman.
The organisation in Derry met Bogside residents last week with the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, in his capacity as local MP, chairing the meeting. Under this arrangement, the Apprentice Boys did not object to the presence of former republican prisoner and spokesman for the Bogside Residents' Group, Mr Donncha Mac Niallais.
Both sides are due to meet in Derry again today in an effort to break the deadlock surrounding the Apprentice Boys march along Derry's wall scheduled for Saturday, August 10th. The Apprentice Boys are due to march through the Lower Ormeau on the same date, arousing similar controversy.
Mr John Gormley, a spokesman for the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community (LOCC), accused Mr Geddis of "posturing" which boded ill for the prospects of the impasse being broken. If the Apprentice Boys in south Belfast were truly interested in an accommodation then they should reply to a letter from the LOCC requesting a meeting, he added.
"Councillor Geddis should also note that our letter invited him to name a time and venue for talks - it did not invite him to name our delegation nor do we accept that he has any right to do so," said Mr Gormley.
