Brexit: in the North Irish port of Larne the resentment of the unionists is growing
A truck leaves the port of Larne, Northern Ireland, on February 2, 2021, from Scotland.
AP - Peter Morrison
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Since the beginning of the year, the border between the United Kingdom and the European Union has been located in the Irish Sea, to the dismay of the Unionist community of Northern Ireland: the Protestant, pro-British part of the province.
The town of Larne is one of its strongholds and graffiti has appeared there to threaten customs personnel who had to be removed for their safety.
RFI went to this small port to see the tensions at this new border.
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With our special correspondent in Larne,
Emeline Vin
At the entrance to Larne Harbor, graffiti faced Paul Browne's little pre-fab cafe.
“
It was written:
'border personnel, you are the target'.
I don't endorse,
he says,
but at the same time, who could think Brexit was a good idea?
It's a disaster.
"
On a snack break in his truck, Brian waits for the next ferry.
Originally from the region, he said he was disappointed: “
I wasn't expecting it, because it's still calm since the end of the unrest.
But some here have connections with the paramilitaries.
They do what they want.
It's a warning.
"
A warning taken very seriously by the Unionist mayor of the city, Peter Johnston: “
Not only were the port workers targeted by graffiti, but were also informed that they were followed when they left the port and that their plates registration numbers were known.
"
►
See also: Brexit: controls suspended in Northern Ireland after threats
The 12 employees responsible for controlling British products arriving, in fact in the European area, have been instructed not to come to work until their safety is guaranteed.
Paul Browne, in his gatehouse near the port, sees the tension rising in this very pro-British city: “
I don't know what it will give, but everyone is frustrated, we do not receive our supplies, all that. .
It doesn't help.
"
An employee of an ice cream shop, deserted on this pouring rainy day, Mollie confirms.
“
We were unable to receive some food due to delays.
The vermicelli, the chocolate sauce, we could not order them from our wholesaler because they do not have them.
Candy, like that, it's been weeks since they received anything, because of Brexit.
"
The Northern Irish protocol, this clause of the Brexit agreement which places the border and therefore the controls in the Irish Sea, must be got rid of, explains Mayor Peter Johnston.
“
For us Unionists, the priority is to protect the integrity of the UK and the connectivity between Northern Ireland and the rest of the country.
But it is not only a problem for us when the products do not arrive on the supermarket shelves, that the factories do not receive their raw material.
It concerns everyone.
And now people are at risk because of this protocol.
"
The elected asks the government of Boris Johnson to reconsider the text.
The employees of the port of Larne have no idea yet when they will be able to return to work.
► To read also: Brexit: the Northern Irish Protocol put to the test by the export of vaccines
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