Published: 04 December 2024
From: Community
Yesterday, Mayor of º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø, Councillor Sharmila Sivarajah, welcomed the Aldermen of º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø Borough Council to sign the unity pledge. Alderman Councillor Brian Quinn and Alderman Colin Lloyd joined the Mayor to add their signatures to further signify the unity of º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø.
The unity pledge celebrates the diversity and inclusivity of º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø and was signed by community leaders, council members and other key representatives from across the local community last month at the first unity event.
The November event opened with a speech from Councillor Michael Jones (Leader of º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø Borough Council), followed by speeches from Councillor Yasmin Khan (Cabinet member for Public Protection), the Mayor of º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø, Councillor Sharmila Sivarajah, Councillor Duncan Crow (Leader of the opposition) and º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø’s MP Peter Lamb. Community leaders also spoke at the event including representatives from the Hindu faith, Christian faith and Muslim faith, as well as Marilyn Mansfield-Clark from Diverse º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø, Paul Taylor-Burr from º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø Campaign Against Racism and Youth Mayor, Elijah Norton.
Compered by Chris Oxlade from the º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø Town Centre BID, the November event also featured fantastic performances from Tamil Learning Centre º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø dance group, Ukraine soloist Sofia and DMT school musical theatre group.
It was my pleasure to welcome Alderman Councillor Brian Quinn and Alderman Colin Lloyd to the parlour today. I am delighted that their signatures have been added to the unity pledge – further demonstrating our commitment to celebrating the diversity of º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø. This unity pledge means so much to all those in our community and I look forward to it being displayed in the Town Hall so that future generations have the opportunity to understand its significance.
Councillor Sharmila Sivarajah
Mayor
º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø
I was very pleased to hear of this initiative by the council and other community leaders. One of º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø’s greatest strengths lies in its longstanding diversity and inclusivity and I’m delighted to join in signing the unity pledge.
Alderman Colin Lloyd
As former Mayor of º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø, I have always maintained that º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø has been a fine example in Britain of a multicultural society where our community have worked together to develop a prosperous culturally and compassionate society. And, of course, º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø’s most striking feature is the diversity of its residents - each ethnic group enriches the cultural life of this wonderful town as we see here today.
Alderman Councillor Brian Quinn
tags: