The fifth Annual Conference of the Progressive Unionist Party provided a platform for some fifty three speakers who contributed to a broad range of social and economic issues as well as to the predictable references to the Patton Commission and the Review of the Good Friday Agreement.

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Outside of the Mitchell Review, the Patton Report is probably the most topical in political circles. The party has initiated a consultative process that will include both intra-party and public discussions together with a series of meetings with those who will be most directly affected by the recommendations contained in the Report. A paper based on the consultations will be submitted by the Party to the Secretary of State in November. The party�s strategy for consultation and response was unanimously endorsed by delegates to the Conference.

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Following a debate on the Parades issue, delegates overwhelmingly endorsed a motion supporting the decision of the Apprentice Boys to enter into dialogue with LOCC and the Bogside Residents. Delegates also endorsed a call from the South Belfast Branch to �fully support the Apprentice Boys publicly on the issue of future dialogue with nationalist residents groups�.

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A motion on �Sectarianism� introduced by the Victoria Branch called on the Party to become pro-actively anti-sectarian as opposed to being passively non-sectarian. A substantial majority of delegates voted in favour of the motion that the Party should take a positive anti-sectarian stance and that the term �non-sectarian� on party stationery and literature be replaced by the term �anti-sectarian�.

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�Dawn Purvis (Pottinger Branch) and Eileen Ward (Shankill Branch) provoked a lively debate on the right of women and young people to �have access to information and counselling on contraception, relationships and pregnancy, free from intimidation and harassment�. Both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice delegates contributed to the debate which, while deeply passionate and closely argued, was conducted with the utmost respect for each other�s beliefs and personal integrity.

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A series of motions dealing with a broad range of social and economic issues drew responses from some twenty-three contributors. Agriculture, GM Foods, Health, Housing, Planning, Education, Training, Poverty and Senior Citizens were among the motions that provided the basis for discussion and debate on �live issues� being encountered by party activists at constituency level. Bob Gourley (Monkstown Branch) earned a standing ovation for his passionate and witty, but deadly serious contribution to my own motion on Poverty. Speaking without notes and drawing upon his years of experience as a trade unionist, Gourley closely analysed, dissected and denounced the government�s miserable budget allocation for Senior Citizens.

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Conference unanimously endorsed my motion commending the work of the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network and calling for party members, �especially those who are involved in community and economic development initiatives� to join NIAPN in combating poverty. I have often said in these columns that poverty is the great leveller. As such it must be tackled on an inter-community and cross-political basis. Loyalist, Nationalist and Non Aligned community activists must unite to fight this common enemy and I believe that NIAPN provides an excellent and credible vehicle for doing that. As I explained to delegates, �there is no point in loyalists re-inventing the wheel and creating another anti-poverty organisation � thus dividing human endeavour and practical resources � we must all unite in a common cause to deal with a common problem�.

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As Party Spokesperson on Victims Issues I gave a brief overview of my interaction with people who have suffered as a consequence of the conflict. Conference unanimously applauded the sterling work of those community-based groups that have been working with individuals and families who have suffered injury, loss or bereavement as a consequence of the conflict. My motion calling upon the Party to lobby effectively to ensure that government and other agencies provide mainstream funding to ensure the long-term sustainable development of such groups and their services, was endorsed unanimously.

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Delegates also endorsed my plea that all victims/survivors of the conflict be treated with dignity, sensitivity and equity. They also joined with me in condemning the politicisation of the victims/survivors issue, the playing off of victims/survivors against prisoners, and the cruel habit of some politicians to categorise victims/survivors as being innocent, precipitative and provocative.

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Richard Rogers (Ballymoney Branch) tabled a motion calling on the Party to lobby for a five-year ban on genetically modified foods. Basing his address on both scientific and political arguments, Rogers won the support of all delegates for his motion. After analysing the scientific evidence for and against GM food production Rogers insisted that there was insufficient evidence to support the contention of the manufacturers that GM foods did not pose a threat to human health.

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He strongly refuted the so-called political argument that GM foods were required to help combat food shortages in third world countries and was scathing in his rejection of claims by organisations like Monsanto who claim to be developing GM foods as a duty of care to the starving millions of the world. He suggested that their concern was more about developing and controlling copyrighted formulas and patented production rights to increase their already exorbitant profits.

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Tabling a motion on the plight of the Agricultural Industry, Peter Mc Auley of Progressive Youth, provided delegates with a carefully drafted analysis of the Northern Ireland Agricultural Industry. Mc Auley�s address to Conference came as a pleasant surprise to most delegates. Those from the farming community were quick to applaud and confirm the young students grasp of the situation.

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One of the delegates from Moyle Branch, laid back as only a North Antrim farmer can be, put Mc Auley�s analysis into lay people�s terms and reinforced the young man�s plea for urgent action to be taken to save the industry. Expressing his anger at the French ban on Northern Ireland beef the Moyle Delegate called on Party members to boycott French goods. He had earlier put his money where his mouth was by refusing to taste the French wine offered by the hotel at the delegates� lunch. Delegates from rural branches urged Party members and the people of Northern Ireland generally, to support the agricultural industry by buying Northern Ireland produce. �If your supermarket doesn�t stock local produce, ask why�, demanded one delegate.

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The Party's Women's Commission launched their Policy Document which covered a broad range of issues relevant to the role of women in the social, political and cultural development of the Province. The policy document which is firmly based on the five core principles of the Party - Empowerment, Participative Democracy, Community Ownership, Equality & Social Justice and Mutuality - and was unanimously endorsed by Conference.

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Of the fifty-three contributors to the� motions, forty six spoke on social, cultural and economic issues. The major concern of delegates was the empowerment of ordinary people in their endeavours to reach their full potential as human beings. This can only be achieved within the context of an equitable, anti-sectarian and pluralist society where all citizens, irrespective of their religious persuasion or political aspiration, are valued for their worth as human beings. Such a society must also be fully committed to the most equitable distribution of wealth and other resources essential to full and wholesome living.

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I decided to join the Progressive Unionist Party to help broker a cease-fire and to help develop a vehicle which could be used as a channel for peace, reconciliation, stability and social change. The outcome of Saturday's Conference reaffirmed my belief in the correctness of that decision.

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