Letter: NI's economic reputation on international stage is being tarnished by its politicians

In a strongly-worded address to the Belfast Chamber of Commerce recently, the guest speaker Warren Stephens, the American Ambassador to the UK, recently singled out the goldmining proposal in the Sperrins as an example of international investors being short-changed when investing here.

Mr Stevens said that “unnecessary delays” are “harming” Northern Ireland’s economic reputation.

Mr Stevens is right – for the wrong reasons.

NI's economic reputation on the international stage is being tarnished by its politicians.

The Stormont executive is found guilty in the courts of abusing its powers to the detriment of its citizens quality of life.

If MLAs can’t guarantee basic essentials like clean drinking water or the treatment of human waste without dumping it in the rivers, loughs and seas, it should come as no surprise to the US Ambassador that investors buying into NI will be similarly polluted.

Ciaran McClean, Omagh