SVG Consul retains Northern Ireland’s Fairtrade status for the Caribbean

The Capital of Northern Ireland is celebrating the renewal of its dual status as a “Fairtrade City” for a further two years, to January 2016.{{more}}

The achievement came through the leadership and direction of Dr Christopher Stange – Hon. Consul of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to Northern Ireland and chair of Fairtrade Belfast.

Dr Stange received the certificate at the Consulate for St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Belfast was the first place to attain dual Fairtrade accreditation. The city gained Fairtrade City status in 2005 from the UK Fairtrade Foundation and in 2006 from Fairtrade Ireland.

The Fairtrade Belfast Committee is a voluntary organization, comprised of representatives from local and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, charities, ethnic minority sector, supermarkets, retailers, businesses and individuals.

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, alleviating poverty and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. It enables them to improve their position and have greater control over their own lives.

Dr Stange commented: “Belfast should be immensely proud as we near a decade of maintaining the Fairtrade status for the capital of Northern Ireland. Fairtrade is providing a vital market for our Caribbean producers, especially our St Vincent banana farmers, growing commodities we do not produce in Northern Ireland. Fairtrade guarantees a fair price for their efforts. Look for the Fairtrade mark and choose it with confidence when out shopping. You are making a real difference.”

The Fairtrade campaign for Fairtrade Fortnight 2014 (February 24 – March 9) is highly relevant to the Caribbean as the theme is “Making Bananas Fair”.