Derry Chamber of Commerce is “increasingly concerned” at the potential impact that the “negative image” of North’s current political climate could have on trade, economy and the creation of inward investment jobs here.
Philip Gilliland, Chamber president,
As a result, Chamber president, Philip Gilliland, has called on the Executive to “make very clear” its commitment to ensuring Northern Ireland was a “welcoming society” for people of diverse backgrounds and that intolerance was a “thing of the past.”
Mr Gilliland said: “It is essential that we are seen to be a society that treats people with respect and equality irrespective of their race or background.
“This is not the perception that Northern Ireland is presenting at the moment to the world: we are making headlines for the wrong reasons and this has the potential to damage the international trade of our exporting companies as well as making the job of attracting inward investment more difficult.
He concluded: “As an immediate priority the Executive must make very clear its commitment to ensuring that Northern Ireland is a welcoming society for people of diverse backgrounds and that intolerance is a thing of the past.”
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