By Editor Alhagie Mbye, London Bureau Chief
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Harriet Harman, the new Deputy Leader of Labour has once again acknowledged the importance of the contribution of immigrants within the British economy and as a result maintained that ''the hard work and great generosity of the Diaspora cannot be overlooked''.
The Deputy Leader who is also the Member of Parliament for Peckham and Camberwell said that she is aware of such important contribution and positive involvement by such immigrants. She indicated also that by sending money back home, this is also helping to tackle poverty in their country of origin.
In a statement addressed to our London Bureau Chief, Harriet said: ‘‘I know that as well as working extremely hard in providing for themselves and their immediate family here in the UK, they also make a major contribution to tackling poverty in their country of origin by sending money home in the form of remittances’’.
Despite being one of the poorest boroughs in the country, she believes that Southwark is probably the borough that makes the biggest contribution to tackling poverty and supporting development in
Africa.
Harriet Harman revealed that the Government has put international development and tackling poverty at the top of our international agenda by highlighting the issue during the G8 summit. She added that such agenda would also be highlighted during the Presidency of the European Union as well as increasing UK aid and writing off debt to the UK.
Regarding figures of people who sends money, how much they send, to whom the money is going to, and how is it used, she said that this is a ‘sensitive issue’ as it involves personal finances – so the confidentiality of that information will be respected and will be used for compiling statistics and for background only.
The report she will compile from such information in the questionnaire will be a unique insight into the great efforts of hard-working families of African origin living in the UK. It will also include tax payers, through the treasury; who make a big contribution to international development.
Many people of African origin who live in the constituency of Camberwell and Peckham come from about 14 African countries including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Somalia, The Gambia and Senegal.
Gordon Brown, the current Prime Minister who was the Chancellor also referred to remittances in his previous Pre-Budget Report. He said that remittances have a ''significant positive economic impact'' in developing countries, although they should be seen as a complement to aid, not a replacement.
The former Chancellor said: ‘‘People from developing countries who are living and working in the UK are an important source of remittances, with flows to developing countries totaling around £2.3 billion annually’’. He also revealed that ‘‘the Government is active in a number of areas to facilitate the flow of remittances, including working with recipient countries on financial sector development, engaging with the private sector to improve remittance services, and working to increase domestic financial inclusion’’.
African workers in London send home on average £130 per month to support family members in their country of origin, with some individuals sending more than a quarter of their income. And many of these workers are taking on two or three low-pay jobs to make ends meet.
Ousman Njie, a Gambian national told Freedom Newspaper that many Africans living in Harriet Harman's constituency are very grateful of her efforts and positive statement about the immigrants. ''The Deputy Leader is very proud of us and we are definately proud of her as well''.
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