Responding to a Statement in the Senedd yesterday on Wales’s fifteenth Anniversary as a Fair Trade Nation, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood thanked and celebrated the work that was carried out by TCC - Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru; Together Creating Communities - based in Wrexham, who campaigned for Wrexham to become the first Fair Trade County in the World in 2003.
In the Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: ‘Fairtrade Nation - 15-year Anniversary’, she referred to Ammanford becoming Wales's first Fair Trade town in 2002, and Cardiff becoming the first Fair Trade capital city in 2004, but failed to make reference to the instrumental role that Wrexham played in Wales securing Fair Trade Nation status.
He said:
“Well, you mention Ammanford becoming Wales's first Fair Trade town in 2002, and Cardiff becoming the first Fair Trade Capital City in 2004, but, of course, Wrexham became the First Fair Trade County in the World in 2003. So, will you join me in thanking, and celebrating the work that was carried out by, TCC - Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru; Together Creating Communities - based in Wrexham, but working throughout north-east Wales, who campaigned for that first Wrexham Fair Trade County status, who brought together the Fair Trade Coalition, who brought together the different parts of the community to sign the Fair Trade Charter there, and who then established Fair Trade Coalitions in other Counties across North Wales and beyond and got the Charters together and brought together the various agencies to sign them?
“ I signed many of those with great pleasure and commitment myself also, and I think their work was a huge, core, central contributory factor to Wales becoming the first Fair Trade Nation in 2008. So, I'm sure it's not an intentional omission, but I'd be grateful if you could incorporate them in your thanks and congratulations.”
Responding, the Minister, Jane Hutt, thanked Wrexham “for being right at the forefront of Wales becoming a Fair Trade Nation back in 2003, and the organisations that engaged with that”.