News

‘Wales should be proud of housing refugees’

Published

9 years ago

March 14, 2016

WALES is a country of migrants and should be proud of its record in welcoming refugees, the Archbishop says in a St Davids’ Day address.

Dr Barry Morgan praises Welsh local authorities for housing refugees in the current crisis, despite facing budget cutbacks, and for recognising our common humanity.

The Archbishop is speaking at the Lord Mayor’s National Civic St Davids Day service at St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff city centre, attended by council leaders from across Wales. The service starts at 10.45am.

He said, “Local authorities in Wales and elsewhere are facing tremendous cutbacks but what you ought to be proud of is, that many of you have decided that in spite of all your problems you have set aside some housing for refugees and their children. You have done so because you realise that we belong to one common humanity. It would have been all too easy to say that you had so many problems of your own to deal with that you could not cope with any demands from the outside.

“By so doing, knowingly or not, you have recognised that all of us are migrants of one kind or another – even we Celts the original inhabitants of this island came from Northern Europe. Not one of us is ethnically monochrome. We are all basically migrants and this Country has a proud record of absorbing people from every nation upon earth and offering help to those fleeing from persecution of any kind. We are all beneficiaries of the generosity of others in this Country for many of our ancestors were in desperate need of shelter, safety or simply wanting a better life. You have not forgotten that in offering hospitality and refuge to those fleeing persecution. Wales on its own cannot solve the refugee crisis but you have tried to do something.”

Doing something to help, however small, was important, says the Archbishop, quoting St David, the patron saint of Wales, who said: “Do the little things you have heard from me and I have shown you.”

That appeal to do the “little things” applied to Welsh voters too, says the Archbishop and he urges everyone to cast their vote in the May elections for the National Assembly.

He said, “There will be many who won’t vote because they feel their one vote won’t make a difference. Yet the right of all of us to vote has been hard won and it enables us to have a say in how our society is organised. Each vote counts and we have a responsibility to each other to cast ours.”

Dr Morgan also acknowledges the desire of councillors to hold onto their Christian heritage, despite recent debates about saying prayers before council meetings.

He said, “You have come today to St John’s, the chairs and mayors of practically every local authority in Wales, just as your predecessors came to offer worship to the God St David worshipped in the 6th Century. Nor is this a mere one off attendance, because every mayor in Wales has a chaplain and every local authority holds at least one civic service in a church or chapel every year.

The fact that you have come this morning means that you are asking for God’s grace to enable you to fulfil the tasks ahead of you. Christians believe that human beings cannot do things in their own strength. We need God’s help and grace to build a better society.”

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

1 hour ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

2 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

2 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”