CHAMBER MAKES IMPASSIONED PLEA TO US PRESIDENT
Chamber makes impassioned plea to US President
THE PRESIDENT of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Michael Gaine, has made a written passionate plea to the World's most powerful man to give serious consideration to Omagh as a location for a manufacturing plant.
In a letter delivered to President Clinton during his visit to the town last Thursday, Mr Gaine asked that American business leaders be informed of Omagh's determination to rebuild its economic base in the face of a significant unemployment problem.
The letter, on behalf of the Chamber, also welcomed the President to Omagh and said it recognised his kinship and understood the real compassion which had brought him to Omagh - to share the grief of an entire town.
The three page manuscript also acknowledged the President's "honest endeavours in promoting a fair and just political solution to the longstanding problems of this county".
"In recent weeks you have lost some of your own citizens through hatred and terrorism. We feel for the relatives of your dead and ask that you convey the sympathy of our community to similar communities throughout the United States who, like us, are wondering why."
The letter continues, "We have tried to return to our places of business but our grief remains boundless. We have lost relatives and friends as well as our fellow workers. Our minds are not on commerce and trade but on those we have lost, the injured and those who may not work again. But, we cannot stand will?
So, as we take the first steps to rebuild Omagh and its economy we are comforted by the good wishes of tens of thousands of your fellow countrymen and women and well wishers from around the world. We know their thoughts are with us as we begin our long journey of renewal."
In asking for help, the Chamber said the request was one without shame.
"Ireland has always welcomed American investment and US companies, with the faith to invest in Northern Ireland and its people, have prospered".
Mr Gaine informed the President of a forthcoming visit to America by their Industrial Development Board and he requested the President to tell his business leaders of the attractions of Northern Ireland as a European investment location.
"You can tell them of our determination to rebuild our economic base, about the good community relations which exist and the abundance of skilled people available. This would be of great practical and long-term benefit to us," wrote Mr Gaine. Concluding on behalf the Chamber and the local business community, he thanked the President for remembering a small town like Omagh and its problems when faced with the turmoil world politics and global economics.
THE PRESIDENT of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Michael Gaine, has made a written passionate plea to the World's most powerful man to give serious consideration to Omagh as a location for a manufacturing plant.
In a letter delivered to President Clinton during his visit to the town last Thursday, Mr Gaine asked that American business leaders be informed of Omagh's determination to rebuild its economic base in the face of a significant unemployment problem.
The letter, on behalf of the Chamber, also welcomed the President to Omagh and said it recognised his kinship and understood the real compassion which had brought him to Omagh - to share the grief of an entire town.
The three page manuscript also acknowledged the President's "honest endeavours in promoting a fair and just political solution to the longstanding problems of this county".
"In recent weeks you have lost some of your own citizens through hatred and terrorism. We feel for the relatives of your dead and ask that you convey the sympathy of our community to similar communities throughout the United States who, like us, are wondering why."
The letter continues, "We have tried to return to our places of business but our grief remains boundless. We have lost relatives and friends as well as our fellow workers. Our minds are not on commerce and trade but on those we have lost, the injured and those who may not work again. But, we cannot stand will?
So, as we take the first steps to rebuild Omagh and its economy we are comforted by the good wishes of tens of thousands of your fellow countrymen and women and well wishers from around the world. We know their thoughts are with us as we begin our long journey of renewal."
In asking for help, the Chamber said the request was one without shame.
"Ireland has always welcomed American investment and US companies, with the faith to invest in Northern Ireland and its people, have prospered".
Mr Gaine informed the President of a forthcoming visit to America by their Industrial Development Board and he requested the President to tell his business leaders of the attractions of Northern Ireland as a European investment location.
"You can tell them of our determination to rebuild our economic base, about the good community relations which exist and the abundance of skilled people available. This would be of great practical and long-term benefit to us," wrote Mr Gaine. Concluding on behalf the Chamber and the local business community, he thanked the President for remembering a small town like Omagh and its problems when faced with the turmoil world politics and global economics.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0393
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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