Republican News · Thursday 26 June 2003

Equality a watchword for Sinn Féin civic leaders

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP on Wednesday visited the offices of Limavady District Council and was received by the Mayor Anne Brolly. The Sinn Féin councillor is the first woman and the first republican to hold this post in Limavady and the first woman Sinn Féin mayor in this phase of the struggle. Speaking at the event the Sinn Féin President said:

" Last year Alex Maskey made history when he became the first Sinn Féin Mayor of the City of Belfast. A few short weeks ago Anne Brolly, in an equally historic move, became the first woman and the first republican to hold the Mayoralty in this borough.

"But as Alex Maskey demonstrated, achieving these positions, historic as they are, is not enough. It is about what you do when in office. It is about the contribution you can make."

"Anne in a few short weeks has already demonstrated by her actions that she is prepared to take risks for peace. That she is prepared to reach out to political opponents and enemies and to show by deeds as well as words that she genuinely and sincerely wants to be a Mayor for all the people of this borough.

"Equality will be the pivot upon which the offices of Sinn Féin Mayors and Chairs rotate. No one here in Limavady or anywhere else should fear equality. Nationalists and republicans were excluded from civic positions here for years. Everyone is a winner as far as equality is concerned.

"Recently I announced that Alex Maskey would head up our ongoing engagement with the unionist community. The Sinn Féin Mayors, Chairs and Vice-Chairs across the north will play a crucial role in this. We are serious about this project. We are individually and together going through a period of change in our society. It is important that unionism joins with the rest of us in managing that process."