The East Belfast MP was speaking after pressing Prime Minister David Cameron in the House of Commons on land issues in the wake of this week’s G8 meeting in Fermanagh. Mrs Long told Mr Cameron of hearing first-hand accounts from Bangladeshi aid workers about the impact land grabs had in the country, as they displaced the poorest farmers and destroyed agricultural land for generations to come.
She said thanks to pressure from several quarters interested in global equality, the issue of land was raised at the G8 for the first time.
Naomi Long MP said: “I wanted the Prime Minister to know how welcome it was to see this issue placed on the agenda of the G8 for the first time. I also recognise the good work done by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development in helping create land registries that protect farmers against displacement, and I am hoping the government develop this internationally.
“However, the Prime Minister did not confirm specific details on how he intends to deliver on the promises made during the summit. I would encourage him to make the most of the rest of his G8 Presidency by addressing companies who are involved in aggressive acquisition in the developing world. While I welcome his commitment to doing this, more scrutiny is now required to ensure the momentum gathered by the likes of the IF campaign is not lost.
“It was important that land issues were on the G8 agenda along with tax and trade matters. Progress being made in these areas as a result of the Lough Erne Declaration would be a significant step towards ending global hunger and would represent a fantastic legacy for Northern Ireland.”
ENDS