Discrimination The "Gypsy Business" Return to the Discrimination list The Gypsy Business is a form of economic activity widely practiced in Central Europe in which the Roma do not run or manage the business, they are not even effectively employees. The Gypsy Business is a vicious financial rip-off activity which variously benefits and is managed or coordinated by government, local authorities, churches, police, businessmen and individuals and in which the Roma are a form of biological energy resource or commodity. The Roma are shifted around like commodities to earn others money. An obvious example is the Special Schools scandal in which Roma children are "parked" in buildings for the whole of their school life to earn incentive funds from central government. There are many other examples. Unfortunately, a large proportion of the EU funding for the Roma has gone to consultants who earn up to 50 times more than the Roma might, if they were employed. Many consultants did not have previous interest or expertise in Roma issues but simply saw the funding opportunity as an easy money-earner. Invariably the consultancy work impinges on the lives of very few Roma; the impact is nil. So another dimension of the Gypsy Business is the very "sector" which prides itself on "helping" and "being concerned" about the Roma. This reality is in fact closely related to the the issue of "failed" project funding structures mentioned in the "Finance" section. If funding were effectively channeled into income earning investment run by Roma there would less, or no, justification for all of these paper-generating consultants. The Roma do not need paper, this is just an insult. Roma need a human contact with experienced practitioner who are hands-on and know-how-do as well as have that special extra of knowing how to pass on their experience in a practical way. This is the Roma way. But no, it is better to maintain the stereotype of the Roma as a somewhat hapless misfit, not valuing education, culturally primitive, yes of course, a "social problem"! In this way the "Gypsy Business" thrives. It is like the Special Schools, the children are not taught since this risks the children showing their potential and in that way the system would be exposed as a sham. No more Gypsy Business! The Gypsy Business is a multi-billion dollar business in Europe and yet the Roma do not benefit. The Gypsy Business harms the Roma. It sustains a cruel financial incentive benefiting many and which creates an invisible force to prevent the Roma developing towards a position of more independence and freedom. This is another topic we will develop to expose the dirty dealing in this area in specific cases in Central Europe as well as in the South East of the United Kingdom.