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Liverpool remembers the Holocaust
SURVIVORS of the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide will share their memories as Liverpool unites to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. More than 500 people are coming together at St George's Hall on Sunday 30 January 2005, for a special memorial event with the theme of
"Survivors, Liberation and Rebuilding Lives". Members of the Jewish community, faith leaders, the Lord Mayors of Merseyside, schoolchildren and civic guests will hear first-hand accounts from the survivors of genocide, before uniting in prayer and observing a one-minute silence. And the guests will be invited to share their thoughts and feelings about the Holocaust by pinning messages to a giant
"Wall of Remembrance".
The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Frank Roderick, said:- "It is vital that we never forget this dark time in world history. Liverpool people of all faiths and communities are uniting as one at this special ceremony, to remember the victims of the Holocaust.
We are pledging our continuing commitment to fight the evils of genocide, ethnic cleansing and intolerance throughout the world."
The event marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi extermination camp, Auschwitz. It is part of the city's commitment to ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten, and that we learn the lessons of history.
A Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, Professor Gerald Gert Jayson of John Moores University, will recount his experiences, and Philomene Uwamaliya, who is now a student nurse in Liverpool, will share her memories of the genocide in her home country, Rwanda.
There will be a performance entitled "Genocide" by students from the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre, and pupils from King David School in Childwall will read poems about the Holocaust.
And the Notre Dame College choir will lead in the singing of "A Hymn for the New Millennium", written and composed by the Headteacher
and Director of Performing Arts at the college.
Liverpool City Council Leader Mike
Storey, said:- "This Memorial service is an important part of Liverpool's promise to promote understanding and awareness about the Holocaust.
It gives us all the chance to remember those who suffered and died at the hands of this terrible atrocity, and to reaffirm our shared support of a tolerant, diverse society, where prejudice is always opposed."
Speakers at the event also include Susanne Green, of the Jewish Refugees Support group, City Council Executive Member, Councillor Peter Millea, and Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Joe Anderson.
Prayers for peace will be led by The Rector of Liverpool, Reverend Steven Brookes and the Emeritus Minister, of Allerton Hebrew Congregation, Rabbi Dr Malcolm Malits,
MBE.
Before the main Memorial event, which begins at 2.30pm, there will be a short ceremony in St John's Garden. Around 200 people will lay white roses at the memorial stone and join in prayer, before proceeding to St George's Hall.
Liverpool people can still log-on to a special website to post their thoughts and feelings about the Holocaust and they can also sign a Book of Commitment in the foyer at Liverpool Town Hall. A lit candle is being kept next to the book as a symbol of hope.
Hundreds of people have already logged-on to show their commitment. To access the online site, go to
www.liverpool.gov.uk/holocaustmemorial. The site will remain live until 7 February 2005.
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Rate relief boost for small businesses
SMALL businesses in Warrington are being urged to apply for a relief scheme that could see their business rates payments reduce dramatically, many by as much as 50%. Payable from 1 April 2005, the rate relief has been introduced in a bid to ease the pinch of business rates to small firms across the borough.
Initiated by central government, Warrington Borough Council will administer the relief programme and ease business rate pressures for hundreds of smalls businesses that have a
"ratable value" of less than £10,000 on 1 April this year.
Many small businesses in the borough will be able to gain rate relief of up to 50%, depending on the individual ratable value of their property.
Eligible small business properties with a ratable value of less than £5,000 will receive 50% rate relief. And those with a ratable value of more than £5,000 but less than £10,000 will receive rate relief based on a sliding scale.
The scheme will be funded by a supplement on the rates bills of larger businesses. There will however, be a "buffer zone"
in which small business with a ratable value from £10,000 to £15,000 will not be expected to pay the supplement.
The Council has already sent a mail shot to all eligible small businesses in the borough (using the 2005 valuation list). However, if any local small business, which falls within these categories, has not received this form, they can contact the Council for an application form.
Cllr John Morris, Executive Member for Resources and Performance, said:-
"Small businesses play a very important role in our economy and we are committed to helping ensure they continue to flourish. We would urge small businesses to contact us if they need to apply or need guidance and advice."
There are around 3,300 small businesses in the Warrington area that could benefit from this new relief scheme.
For more details or to get hold of a Small Business Rate Relief Application Form contact 01925 443210 or apply to Warrington Borough Council, Revenues and Benefits Service, 21 Rylands Street, PO Box 13, Warrington, WA1 1BN.
CANCER CENTRE GETS GREEN LIGHT
IN their bid to become a Foundation Trust, the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology has been given the go ahead.
Tony Halsall, chief executive for the centre, said he was delighted:- "If our application is successful, one of the key changes that NHS Foundation status will bring is the closer involvement of our patients, staff and the public in influencing future developments. We would gain more independence as well as more financial flexibility enabling us to deliver national standards in a way that best suits our local circumstances.
As a new Foundation Trust we will remain part of the NHS providing services to NHS patients according to NHS principle, free healthcare based on need rather than the ability to pay. But for the first time we will have local control rather than being run by politicians in central government. Staff, patients and the local population will all be invited to take ownership of the Trust by becoming members. These members will then decide who should be elected to the Board of Governors and how they wish the Trust to develop, giving them greater involvement in the planning and delivery of cancer services in the future."
During the summer the next stage will be a 3 month public consultation exercise, on issues surrounding the future as a Foundation Trust, new governance and service development strategy. Also local people will be encouraged to register if they are interested in becoming members of the new Trust.
Tony Halsall continues:- "We aim to provide the best possible standard of care and continuous improvement in cancer treatment. We also believe we have an essential role in supporting vital research. Gaining foundation status can help us deliver our aims by allowing better involvement of the local community. We look forward to discussing and planning for the long-term future of
CCO."
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