'We need to heal division' - SDLP's Diver is new mayor
Much work remains to be done to bring about "true reconciliation" between Derry's divided communities, the city's new Mayor Gerard Diver has declared.
Mayor Diver, of the SDLP, made his remarks during his inaugural address as the city's new First Citizen at the Annual General Meeting of Derry City Council in the Guildhall last night. DUP Alderman Maurice Devenney was elected as Deputy Mayor.
Councillor Diver said it was a "huge honour " to be chosen by his colleagues to be Mayor of Derry.
The Mayor's comments on reconciliation follow a weekend of sectarian disturbances at the Fountain-Bishop Street interface during which stones and bottles were thrown from both sides of the 'peace wall.'
Colr. Diver, paying tribute to those working towards reconciliation in the city, insisted more needed to be done.
"We need Derry to be a city where people both want to stay and want to come to," he said. "We need it to be a welcoming place for all. On a local level there is still work to be done to bring about true reconciliation between all sections of our community. I hope to use the role of Mayor to contribute to that aim in a true spirit of co-operation and friendship," he said.
Derry's new First Citizen also said young people were crucial to achieving reconciliation and he pledged to work with all young people in the city.
"No one has more to contribute to the future of our city than our young people," he remarked. "As a father, and having worked with young people directly for a number of years, I know that they have so much to offer in terms of creativity, energy and commitment. I believe that Derry City Council and the wider community must find ways of engaging further with them. We want our young people to be confident that this is a good place to live and somewhere where they want to be involved in building their own future," he explained.
DUP Alderman Maurice Devenney said he was "humbled and honoured" to be chosen as the city's deputy mayor for the year ahead. Alderman Devenney said he was looking forward to the challenges his new role would bring.
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Weather for Derry
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 3 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: South
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Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 7 C
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Wind direction: South west
