TOWN NOW FACES FINANCIAL COLLAPSE - CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Town now faces financial collapse' - Chamber of Commerce
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
Unless the government makes an exception for Omagh in terms of funding provision in the wake of the bomb, Omagh could face financial collapse, said President of the Chamber of Commerce, Michael Gaine.
Speaking following a special meeting facilitated by Omagh District Council on Monday of this week, Mr Gaine said that many shop-keepers whose premises were not physically damaged but who lost business as a result of the bomb blast, needed to be compensated.
He said that he personally would rather see bomb damaged stock burned than to have a 'bomb damage sale' which, he said would be "an insult to the people who died."
The meeting had heard that the government was controlled by legislation as to what it could do in terms of, for example, suspending the collection of rates for the business community.
Nevertheless, the Chamber of Commerce President called for the government to make an exception to the rules in Omagh's case.
"The people who have opened their shops today (Monday), we appealed to them to do so. They have put their shoulders to the grindstone but they are not going to make money."
He said that some businessmen who had been struggling before the bomb were now at the stage whereby they felt like handing in their keys and calling it a day, but he insisted that that the Chamber of Commerce would do all it could to prevent that happening.
"The financial side of things is going to raise its ugly head now and it is very difficult to deal with it...what do you do if you have no money? We will have the suppliers coming in this week looking for their money, where do we get money to pay those people? It is going to be very difficult for all of the shops in Omagh apart from the multinationals. All of the small traders work from week to week on the money they take in over the counter, and they pay their bills accordingly. With no money coming in they can't pay their bills. They feel they can't shout about this, the situation is so unique, that is why I would say to any of the government bodies they are going to have to change the rules a bit."
As to the emotions of the businessmen as they reopened their premises this week, Mr Gaine said that it would be impossible to measure the level of upset; "Everybody has been touched in different ways. I have talked to people who have had staff injured and everybody is trying to handle this in their own way. I suppose it is something that you have no choice but to deal with it."
Mr Gaine's remarks followed a meeting at the Council offices at which the local business community was advised as to what course it should pursue in the coming weeks and months.
The Chamber of Commerce affirmed that this week had been an emotional one for the local business community, in a statement, the Chamber said; "We have buried our dead, yet our grief remains boundless, for these were our relatives and friends as well as fellow workers. We have tried to return to our places of business yet our thoughts are with those who will never make the same journey. Our minds are not on commerce and trade but on those we have lost, the injured and those who may not work again."
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
Unless the government makes an exception for Omagh in terms of funding provision in the wake of the bomb, Omagh could face financial collapse, said President of the Chamber of Commerce, Michael Gaine.
Speaking following a special meeting facilitated by Omagh District Council on Monday of this week, Mr Gaine said that many shop-keepers whose premises were not physically damaged but who lost business as a result of the bomb blast, needed to be compensated.
He said that he personally would rather see bomb damaged stock burned than to have a 'bomb damage sale' which, he said would be "an insult to the people who died."
The meeting had heard that the government was controlled by legislation as to what it could do in terms of, for example, suspending the collection of rates for the business community.
Nevertheless, the Chamber of Commerce President called for the government to make an exception to the rules in Omagh's case.
"The people who have opened their shops today (Monday), we appealed to them to do so. They have put their shoulders to the grindstone but they are not going to make money."
He said that some businessmen who had been struggling before the bomb were now at the stage whereby they felt like handing in their keys and calling it a day, but he insisted that that the Chamber of Commerce would do all it could to prevent that happening.
"The financial side of things is going to raise its ugly head now and it is very difficult to deal with it...what do you do if you have no money? We will have the suppliers coming in this week looking for their money, where do we get money to pay those people? It is going to be very difficult for all of the shops in Omagh apart from the multinationals. All of the small traders work from week to week on the money they take in over the counter, and they pay their bills accordingly. With no money coming in they can't pay their bills. They feel they can't shout about this, the situation is so unique, that is why I would say to any of the government bodies they are going to have to change the rules a bit."
As to the emotions of the businessmen as they reopened their premises this week, Mr Gaine said that it would be impossible to measure the level of upset; "Everybody has been touched in different ways. I have talked to people who have had staff injured and everybody is trying to handle this in their own way. I suppose it is something that you have no choice but to deal with it."
Mr Gaine's remarks followed a meeting at the Council offices at which the local business community was advised as to what course it should pursue in the coming weeks and months.
The Chamber of Commerce affirmed that this week had been an emotional one for the local business community, in a statement, the Chamber said; "We have buried our dead, yet our grief remains boundless, for these were our relatives and friends as well as fellow workers. We have tried to return to our places of business yet our thoughts are with those who will never make the same journey. Our minds are not on commerce and trade but on those we have lost, the injured and those who may not work again."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0198
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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