SF criticism of US trip stinks of hypocrisy

I WAS surprised at the criticism from Sinn Fein of a US investment trip by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council on the basis that we should, instead, be “serving the needs of our ratepayers by providing services they expect” (News, November 26).

This relates to a recent visit to the council’s sister city in Arizona, which I didn’t attend but which appears to have resulted in significant investment opportunities for local businesses.

The surprise is more that the Sinn Fein representative advancing this criticism, councillor Anne Marie Logue, has herself recently availed of a council-sponsored trip to Arizona, with her travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses entirely funded by the ratepayer.

She now suggests that we should, instead, be using technology, such as Skype, “to talk to our friends in the USA”.

One could understand another member of this party offering such a critique, but it sounds somewhat hollow that someone who has previously enjoyed such a privilege should feel entitled to lambast subsequent council visitors to the same location for allegedly neglecting the interests of ratepayers by wasting public money on travel.

Skype has been a feature of modern technology for some years.

The suggestion that we use Skype was not offered before Ms Logue accepted her tickets to Arizona, and it is astonishing that she feels that she is able to offer such withering criticism of others.

ALD TOM CAMPBELL (ALLIANCE)

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council