Lough Erne Declaration Welcomed

Alliance Deputy Leader Naomi Long MP has welcomed the Lough Erne Declaration, which aims to help developing countries collect the taxes owed to them.

The East Belfast MP was speaking after the leaders of the G8 countries agreed new guidelines that intend to strengthen rules on tax evasion and corporate tax avoiders.

Naomi Long MP said: "The Lough Erne Declaration could help reduce world hunger. Too many companies use international laws and tax havens to avoid paying billions of pounds in taxes in developing countries.

"However, tax transparency and government transparency are not mutually exclusive. They need to go hand-in-hand. Tax being paid where it is due and the proper amount being handed over needs to be followed by full scrutiny of governments to ensure it is properly spent.

"If we could ensure that developing countries have all the taxes that they are entitled to, then perhaps we could avoid more humanitarian disasters. The declaration to reduce protectionism and open up trade could also play a part in stimulating economic growth in areas at risk from wide-scale hunger."

Maze Rally To Be Held Tonight

The Ulster Unionist Party, TUV and UKIP have said that the public have an opportunity to give a clear voice to their opposition against the planned 'Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre' at the Maze by attending a public rally tonight, Thursday, at 8pm in Lisburn Orange Hall.

In a joint statement Tom Elliott, Jim Allister and David McNarry said: "The rally tomorrow night will be an opportunity for ordinary people to demonstrate their opposition to the DUP/Sinn Fein plans for the Maze.

"On 18th February 2004 DUP MP for Lagan Valley Jeffrey Donaldson told the Guardian, 'The victims of these terrorists will not visit this site. It would be an absolute abomination to them'. Now he is chief salesman for a so-called 'Peace Centre' which has been rejected by innocent victims the length and breadth of the Province.

"The DUP claim to be “mystified” by the position the Orange Order has taken on this issue. If they really are then they must be greatly confused by the position taken by the 12 groups representing innocent victims who launched the Charter for Innocent Victims, FAIR and the RUC George Cross Association as well. Just who do the DUP think they are speaking for on this issue?

"Thousands of people have already signed the petition calling for a halt to the building of a 'peace centre' on the site of the Maze prison and the immediate demolition of the prison buildings."

East Belfast Residents Hold Meeting Fllowing A Number Of Incidents

Sinn Féin Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile has welcomed the meeting between residents from Bryson Street in the Short Strand and Thistle Court in inner-east Belfast.

The meeting comes after a number of incidents of violence at the interface over recent days.

Commenting after the meeting, which was facilitated by the Belfast Interface Project, Councillor Ó Donnghaile said: "I want to commend the courage and leadership shown by the residents on both sides of the interface for coming together in this way. For so long now I have been stating publicly those residents at interfaces want and deserve to live in peace. Today’s meeting is further evidence of that and I commend them for asserting it in this way.

"This initiative will be built upon in the coming period and it I look forward to continuing to work with all sectors in helping to resolve this issue."

(CD)