More on the dumping of criminals and others in Llanelli. Someone sent me cuttings from a recent issue of the weekly Llanelli Star, which I reproduce here. (Click to enlarge.) Reading these cuttings raises yet more questions.

How would people “outside the area and even abroad” know that Llanelli was being used as a dumping ground for these people, as is alleged by locals? Who exactly are Caer Las Cymru (CLC), the main agency involved? For according to the blog of their head honcho, Jim Bird-Waddington, CLC has been in existence for over 30 years but “like many third sector organisations we have undergone many incarnations and experienced a great deal of change”. So what was this outfit formerly known as, and where was it based? I ask because according to its website CLC only operates in Wales, so why include ‘Cymru’ in the name? This is almost always done by English organisations hoping to put on a Welsh veneer. For example; National Trust Cymru, RSPB Cymru, RSPCA Cymru, etc., etc.

There is clearly a problem in Llanelli that is slowly being brought into the public domain. What appears to have happened up until now is that these bodies wishing to bring in drug addicts, criminals and others, have enjoyed a rather cosy relationship with the officers of Carmarthenshire County Council – yet the people living in the affected areas, and their elected councillors, have been kept in the dark! Were members of the Labour-Independent coalition running the Authority informed? If they were, then why wasn’t this information passed on to the people in the affected areas and their councillors? If the coalition councillors were not informed then are we to assume that Carmarthenshire is being run entirely by its officers, in contempt of both democracy and those they are paid to serve?

Another possibility is that the ruling coalition knows what’s happening because it took a decision to dump these people in wards that had the temerity to elect non-coalition councillors. This sort of thing happens; and given the petty, vindictive tribalism of the Labour Party in Wales it would not surprise me one bit.

Whether or not it’s the Labour Party at fault, one thing is for sure. The evidence is mounting from all corners of the country that Wales is being used as a dumping ground by housing associations, the Probation Service (for Englandandwales) and other bodies that may be based in Wales (even registered with the Welsh Government) but are, to all intents and purposes, English organisations serving England’s needs in getting undesirables out of England and into Wales; and in the process making life hell for Welsh people and their communities. Organisations run by mysterious figures like Jim Bird-Waddington, who gives no information about himself – just check out the ‘complete profile’ on his blog.

I shall be in Llanelli on Saturday for the 100th anniversary of the Llanelli Riots, in which two men were shot dead by troops. I shall meet a number of people, and the organisation that will finally challenge these and other colonialist insults to our nationhood will come a step closer.

UPDATE 19.08.11 Last Monday I posted a question on Jim Bird-Waddington’s, Caer Las, blog. I’m still waiting for an answer.