A number of initiatives are currently in place to promote and support the aims of fairtrade and one of these is the ‘Fairtrade Town Initiative’ which makes a commitment to support fairtrade with products widely available, bought and used by that community.

Speaking at the launch, Mayor Ó hOisín said: “Limavady Borough Council must lead by example. I am very proud that we are supporting the promotion of fairtrade goods.”

Fairtrade gives consumers a chance to buy products on the basis of a fair trade and producers registered with the fairtrade label receive a minimum price for their products and this covers the cost of production plus an extra premium that is invested in their local community.

Limavady Borough Council wants to make the borough of Limavady a ‘Fairtrade Borough’ but certain goals must be met to achieve this. The council aims to achieve this adopting a resolution expressing its support for fairtrade, serving fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in its offices, promoting awareness of fairtrade through a range of mediums, setting up the Roe Valley Fairtrade Committee to take forward the Fairtrade Borough project and sponsoring an exhibition of products bearing the fairtrade mark to bring together suppliers of these products and local businesses.

Liam Flanigan, Chief Executive of Limavady Borough Council echoed this support saying: “It would be a major accomplishment for the Limavady borough to be granted fairtrade status so we must all rally behind this cause and help Limavady take the lead in the North West. We can’t do this without the full support of the residents of Limavady.”

The Fairtrade Fortnight continues until November 20 at Council offices on Connell Street.