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Northern Ireland is far from being the dysfunctional and
undesirable place it is so often portrayed in sections of
the media.
Controversial radio programmes regularly contain references
by contributors and callers supporting the view that Northern
Ireland has more problems and negative aspects than most other
countries in Europe.
We are far from perfect as a society, and I would not seek
to deny this. Indeed, this column has often spotlighted problems
like rising crime figures, excessive drinking, vandalism and
litter and make no apology for doing so.
But there is a great need for proper balance, and we have
a lot to be thankful for in Northern Ireland.
By and large, we are still a law-abiding community, and although
our recent crime statistics are worrying, especially those
relating to attacks on senior citizens, this is still the
safest region of the United Kingdom.
Thankfully, there has been a decline in racial attacks which
brought shame to the places where these were carried out,
and such attacks were condemned by most people. The fact is
that Northern Ireland is learning to adopt to being an increasingly
multicultural society, with the special problems this brings.
But it is very important to stress the fact that more than
40,000 ethnic folk have come to live in Northern Ireland in
recent years, most of them to take up employment in the food-agricultural
industry, and other sources of employment.
The overwhelming majority of those newcomers to Northern
Ireland have settled in well in the host communities, and
are playing an increasing role in various aspects of life
here. Northern Ireland could do with more jobs, especially
in places which have been hit devastating blows by factory
closures.
Places like Hilden, Carrickfergus, Sion Mills, Fermanagh,
and Coleraine have been badly affected by the loss of manufacturing
jobs.
Everything possible must be done by the Government and its
agencies to bring new industries and investment to Northern
Ireland, and especially the towns especially hit by payoffs.
But it is also important to stress the success of the Government
and local agencies in attracting many new jobs. Northern Ireland's
industrial base has been decimated in the past two decades
by the closure of the shipyard and many famous engineering
firms, as well as the virtual disappearance of the linen industry.
But hard work and dedication has brought jobs to replace
those lost, and the result is that Northern Ireland's current
unemployment percentage of 4.5 per cent is one of the lowest
of any region in the United Kingdom.
There is a wide diversity of job opportunities in Northern
Ireland, many of them connected with the booming computer
and IT sector.
There is absolutely no room for complacency, but while rightly
deploring what has been lost, we should not overlook the overall
success story.
Thousands of Ulster 'exiles' have been returning to live
in Northern Ireland from other parts of the UK, and for the
first time in many years emigration has dried to a trickle.
There isn't a part of Belfast, or any other city, town, and
village in Northern Ireland where the sight of new housing
estates, most of it in the private sector, are springing up.
That's proof of the new-found confidence in Northern Ireland,
and this is certainly not a country in decline. Improvements
are taking place in the infrastructure and facilities.
The new Northern Ireland trains are an example, and while
there have been teething troubles due to the shortage of drivers,
the fact is that the state-of-the-art trains attract more
people.
Let's give credit where it is due, and while it is right
to spotlight problems and setbacks, it is only fair to present
the other side of the picture.
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