Yahoo News Owner of Belfast supermarket destroyed in racist attacks bemoans 'empty promises' from politicians and authorities
The owner of a South Belfast supermarket that was destroyed following racist attacks after an anti-immigration protest has said that he has heard "nothing but empty promises" from politicians and local authorities as he hits out at a lack of support.
He says that the only help that he has received following the attack on Sham Supermarket on Donegall Road in August has been from members of the public who generously donated to an appeal to help it and other businesses that were targeted by racists.
However, all of the money that they received, around £30,000, was instantly used to pay off suppliers for the stock that had been destroyed in the arson attack.
Read more: Belfast Council to look at financial help for businesses racially attacked during weekend riots
Speaking to Belfast Live, Bashir said that following the attack on his business he met with numerous politicians and officials who made a series of promises to him and that they would provide him with a range of support to get his business going again, but in the following months none of this has materialised.
He said that he had been engaging with Belfast City Council who had assured him they would help him secure a location for a new premises and financial support, although nothing has come from this yet, and he feels like he is being strung along months after his business was destroyed.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Bashir said: "After Sham Supermarket was destroyed in the racist attacks we had people falling over themselves in the days after saying they would always be here to help us with anything that we needed, but since then it feels like we have been abandoned.
"While I am extremely grateful for the donations that we received from kind members of the public after the attacks, this all had to go towards paying off our suppliers for the stock that had been destroyed and we are still struggling to recover from it.
"I am thankful that I am in a position where I am able to get by myself, the staff that were working there are in a difficult position.
"We have been assured for months that we would get the help that we need to reopen Sham again at a different location, but so far nothing has materialised from this and it feels like everything that was said to us from politicians and officials following the attacks has been nothing but empty promises.
"All we want to do is reopen our business again and can't understand what the issues and delays are to do this. If they could just give us the financial support that they promised us we could open up a shop very soon."
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “Council has been actively engaged with businesses impacted by the riots on the 3 August both as a group and on a one-to-one basis. This support has included looking at new opportunities and ways of working so businesses can build back on the most sustainable footing. For businesses forced to close, this has included support to access the council’s Vacant to Vibrant scheme. Council continues to work in conjunction with other statutory bodies to explore opportunities for additional support and will continue to engage with businesses in relation to this.”
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