The Roma people in Belfast

[damon]

I've been here for a good part of 2010 and see some Roma people every day.
There are currently five men and one woman in high visibility vests working the traffic lights near where I live, selling the Big Issue. Outside the Forestside shopping centre at the end of Ormeau road.

I don't have a problem with them particularly, any more than any of the other hundreds and even thousnads of local Belfast people who they try to engage every day.
They are asking for £2 at your car window at the traffic lights.

I see they live in the Holylands area: they are not homeless, and there are lots of kids and teenagers too. How are they getting on here, and are they a stable community that will settle?

P.ie doesn't have a great track record of having discussions about this issue that don'nt go straight down the toilet, but there are some people here whose opinion I'd like to hear.

Picador, Cruimh, Ricky McCall, and a few others.

[oboe]

Fair play to them. Life must have been dreadful if moving to the Holylands and selling the Tele in the freezing cold is an improvement.

[bettybotox]

I don't really have an issue with them selling the big issue.
I do however, have an issue with them begging with young children on their knees which seems to go on incessantly from morning till night and regardless of weather conditions.
Having a young child perched on ones knee in the freezing cold from 10(ish) in the AM until at least 6pm to help boost your begging donations is beyond cruel. I don't care who they are or where they come from. That is just wrong.

[Catalpa]

I've been here for a good part of 2010 and see some Roma people every day.
There are currently five men and one woman in high visibility vests working the traffic lights near where I live, selling the Big Issue. Outside the Forestside shopping centre at the end of Ormeau road.

I don't have a problem with them particularly, any more than any of the other hundreds and even thousnads of local Belfast people who they try to engage every day.
They are asking for £2 at your car window at the traffic lights.

I see they live in the Holylands area: they are not homeless, and there are lots of kids and teenagers too. How are they getting on here, and are they a stable community that will settle?

P.ie doesn't have a great track record of having discussions about this issue that don'nt go straight down the toilet, but there are some people here whose opinion I'd like to hear.

Picador, Cruimh, Ricky McCall, and a few others.

Correct me if I am wrong but was not the idea of the Big Issue that it would provide a degree of dignity and income to people who were alone and homeless in this World?

As you said these people are not homeless nor are they alone.

Also as they are neither Irish Citizens or British subjects then they are only supposed to be in these islands if they can support themsleves by their own efforts

- eg pay their own way legally.

Are they - I doubt it.

Finally - have you or do you have any of them for neighbours?

[centauro]

Also as they are neither Irish Citizens or British subjects then they are only supposed to be in these islands if they can support themsleves by their own efforts

Since most of them arrived after 1983 I doubt if they are British subjects, Citizens more likely. I suspect you know that and just enjoy displaying your child like stupidity. Sigh.

British citizenship is one of the six different forms of British nationality. Some of these were defined in the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. The laws defining how citizenship can be obtained changed on that date,

UK Border Agency | What is British citizenship?

I've only ever seen the guys at traffic lights selling the Tele. No probs with that. If I want one I normally give them a £ and get a smile and a cheery wave in return. The UK is a wonderful place, I'm more than happy to see them here, providing a service and keeping our local paper easily available.

[Wee Buns]

"Finally - have you or do you have any of them for neighbours?"

Ethnicity has bugger all to with whether one makes a good neighour or not.

[centauro]

"Finally - have you or do you have any of them for neighbours?"

Ethnicity has bugger all to with whether one makes a good neighour or not.

I'm not so sure, I'd love to live in a street of Sikhs, or possibly Gurkahs. You wouldn't have to put up with this sort of carry on...



http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/b...lands-students

[Ricky McCall]

The beggars are all across the city - even in areas suffering from poverty and high unemployment.

I've also seen - on numerous occasions - the Telegraph sellers being aggressive and intimidating towards young girls in cars alone waiting at traffic lights.

Apart from that I've no problem with anyone coming to NI to contribute to the economy. Would make a change from those spongers born and raised here the rest of us have to support.

UTV News - One in five claim DLA in west Belfast

Belfast Media | News | 40 per cent in West now signing on Dole

There does seem to be a problem in South Belfast with Nationalists attacking the Roma though - I can't see any reason for it other than racist bigotry.

BBC NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | Church attack suspect is QC's son

[Catalpa]

Since most of them arrived after 1983 I doubt if they are British subjects, Citizens more likely. I suspect you know that and just enjoy displaying your child like stupidity. Sigh.



UK Border Agency | What is British citizenship?

I've only ever seen the guys at traffic lights selling the Tele. No probs with that. If I want one I normally give them a £ and get a smile and a cheery wave in return. The UK is a wonderful place, I'm more than happy to see them here, providing a service and keeping our local paper easily available.

er - are you sure they are actually Roma and not Indians or Pakistanis?

[Catalpa]

"Finally - have you or do you have any of them for neighbours?"

Ethnicity has bugger all to with whether one makes a good neighour or not.

Don't be so sure

- anyway please answer the question!