Historic: SDLP leader announces Lilian Seenoi-Barr as first black Derry mayor

Derry and Strabane is set to make history by having the North's first black mayor.

The SDLP has selected Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr to serve as the next Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Cllr Seenoi-Barr will follow in the footsteps of Rotimi Adebari, who was elected in 2007 as Portlaoise’s mayor, the first black person to become mayor in Ireland.

Originally from Kenya, Cllr Seenoi-Barr previously worked to promote gender rights issues for Maasai women, focusing on forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

The move is not Cllr Seenoi-Barr’s first historic moment - just last year she made history as the first black elected representative in Northern Ireland.

She currently works as the North West Migrants Forum's Director of Programmes.

Cllr Seenoi-Barr will not take up the post until Derry and Strabane District Council’s AGM in June. She will replace current Sinn Féin's Patricia Logue in the role.

“I cannot express how much the honour of serving as Mayor of Derry and Strabane means to me. The people of this city have taken me into their hearts and everywhere I go I never fail to be amazed at the warmth, kindness and generosity of the people who live here.

“Having initially come to Derry as a refugee facing an uncertain future, I can now truly say that my family have found their home. I am proud to be a Maasai woman and a Derry girl,” Cllr Seenoi-Barr said.

She added: “The significance of my appointment as Mayor is not lost on me, and I will work for every single person in this city regardless of their religion, ethnicity or background.

“These are the values I have carried with me since getting involved in politics and are reflected in the ethos of my party.

“I’m looking forward to working with my party, my SDLP council colleagues and everyone on the council in my upcoming year as Mayor. I’m incredibly excited to get started and to get out meeting people and visiting the many fantastic organisations throughout our city.

“I will use this year to celebrate our successes and shine a spotlight on the issues impacting far too many families here. I hope that I will also be able to inspire others and show what’s possible in a great city like ours.”

SDLP leader and Foyle MP, Colum Eastwood said: “Nominating Lilian as our Mayor is significant not only for our city and party, but for all those who struggle to see themselves represented in public life.

“It is particularly important in this moment when others are trying to reassert a narrow, nativist politics that we step up and step in to show what our city and our island is really about.

“Lilian’s story shows that talent and hard work can make a difference and I think it’s fitting that she will make history as the Mayor of Derry and Strabane, a city and region known the world over for standing up against oppression.”

Cllr Seenoi-Barr's selection as the SDLP's choice to become mayor has proven controversial.

Over the weekend, it emerged that a selection convention that was due to be held this evening (Monday) had been cancelled by the party's management committee who opted to nominate Cllr Seenoi-Barr for mayor instead of taking it to a vote among the party's 300 members.

Two other candidates were in the running to become the SDLP's pick for mayor, they were councillors Shauna Cusack and Jason Barr.

In a joint statement to party members, councillors Cusack and Barr expressed their concerns over the party's selection process of who was to become the new mayor.

The councillors stated that the result of a "retrospective, informal, online interview held on Monday (last), which we were told was a matter of procedure for constitutional purposes.

“At no stage were we advised that this would determine our candidacy".

They also stated that the decision by the party's management committee was "misleading and evasive".

“Both myself and Jason are incredibly disappointed and frustrated that you, as members, will not be given the opportunity to vote for your candidate of choice to be the next SDLP first citizen.”

Both councillors said they have lodged objections to decision and appealed to the management committee and Cllr Seenoi-Barr to go ahead with the selection convention.

They said: “We have, like others, lodged our objections to this highly irregular, unfair and unprecedented process and appealed to the committee to immediately review their decision on the basis of fairness and transparency.”

They added: “Our requests have been met with silence from all concerned. This means that with the tight deadline for action expiring today, there can now be no change in events.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for any engagement and support you have given us, not only during our mandate but especially during this highly flawed process.

“We are sorry for any disappointment you may feel. We feel it acutely ourselves. Please be assured that this is not a case of ‘sour grapes’ but a genuine concern about the lack of democracy in the process.

“To be clear no blame can be assigned to our friends on the council group and local elected reps who have been equally dismayed and disappointed. Wishing the best of luck to the future Mayor for the year ahead.”