Sechelles Seychelles independence Day celebration

It has been confirmed, that the new ‘monument’ on 05th June Avenue will be unveiled on Sunday immediately after the official ceremony marking Independence Day at the Lavwa Lanasyon Monument in the Peace Park.

The formal procedure marking Seychelles’ independence from Great Britain on 29th June 1976 is traditionally a solemn one marked by prayers led by the Interfaith Council of Seychelles (SIFCO), an address by the reigning Miss Seychelles, a flag raising ceremony and songs by a youth group.

Mr. Michel has single handedly decided to remove ‘Zonm Lib’ – a steel edifice representing the 05th June 1977 coup d’état – from that spot and erect a new monument in its place calling it a “new symbol of unity.” To date this monument remains a mystery and has been a well kept secret.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=723252564405720&set=a.190167844380864.48522.189753581088957&type=1&theater

President Michel inaugurates Liberty monument for Seychelles Independence Day

On the occasion of Seychelles’ 38th anniversary of Independence, President James Michel attended a flag-raising ceremony at the Lavwa Lanasyon monument in Victoria this morning, together with the Vice-President, Danny Faure, religious leaders and dignitaries.

They then walked further down the 5th June Avenue, to watch the unveiling of the new national monument, called the Liberty monument, in a colourful ceremony depicting national unity and celebration of freedom attended by a large number of guests.

In his address at the inauguration, President Michel said that the statue symbolises the unity and liberty of the Seychellois people as well as patriotism, hope and the march of a nation towards a promising future.

“It represents those who dedicated their lives to freedom, those who fell for freedom. It is also a tribute to our youth. It also evokes the richness and beauty of our environment,” said the President.

The President said the spirit of the monument should lead the nation towards patriotic fervor, combined with a love for our neighbours and for our homeland.

“Let it inspire us toward a new future, toward a more fraternal world. Let it inspire our efforts to work for a New Seychelles where we have banished hatred, prejudice, recrimination. Let it inspire so that love reigns in our country. Let our sufferings of the past, the sufferings of more than two centuries of history, strengthen our resolve to create a Seychelles that is united and at peace. Let the victories and successes of our past inspire us toward other victories and successes in the future.”

President Michel unveiled the plaque for the monument, while two youths unveiled the statue from underneath its golden cloth at the same time.

The Liberty monument, a statue of a Seychellois man and woman holding together over their heads the flag of the country with their eyes looking forward towards the future, was designed and sculpted by renowned Seychellois British-born artist Tom Bowers, and the bronze was processed at the Bronze Age Foundry in Cape Town, South Africa.

In 2015, Independence Day will be celebrated as the National Day of the Seychelles.

http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/news.php?news_id=2523

Address by President James Alix Michel on the Inauguration of the Liberty Monument, on Independence Day, 29th June 2014

Sun, 29 June 2014


Dear People of Seychelles,

The Vice-President,

Your Excellencies

Invited guests

What is dearer, more precious, for a people, for an individual, than freedom? How much ink has flowed across the millennia for freedom? How much tears have flowed for freedom? How much injustice has been committed in the name of freedom? How much blood has been shed for freedom? How many men and women have perished in the struggle for freedom?

Nothing, and no-one, has ever prevented the march, the progress of men and women towards freedom. It is the first aspiration of a human being. It's in his soul, in his heart, in his mind. It always ends up triumphing over wrong, over injustice, over hatred, over repression. It is freedom that fosters all other aspirations that we may have. It constitutes the base of a democratic society, just and egalitarian. A society where the rule of law prevails.

Seychelles is a land of freedom! But let us not take our freedom for granted. During the different stages of our history, Seychellois have demanded their freedom. Often their voice was stifled. Think of the time of slavery. think of the sufferings our ancestors endured. Think of the inequalities, the injustices, the colonial period. Think of all those – our forefathers – who suffered in silence. We think of them, we bow in memory of them. In respect and admiration for their fortitude. In spite of all they had been through they never lost hope that one day they would be free. Whatever they could not realize on their own, we, who came after them, made it possible.

Our aspirations, our thirst, and struggle for freedom culminated in the independence of Seychelles. Today we celebrate 38 years since Seychelles became a free, independent and sovereign country. It is 38 years since we claimed our right to shape our own destiny. The 29th June 1976 is a date that belongs to all Seychellois. It is a unifying date. A date that brought hope. A date that symbolized the birth of the Seychellois nation. A free people.

The importance of independence day in our history, and its significance for the Seychellois people, should never be minimized or trivialized. It is a date that should be commemorated with the greatest respect, solemnity and reverence possible. And with joy.

Next year – as I have already announced – Independence Day will be celebrated as our National Day.

Dear compatriots,

We have a duty and obligation to preserve and build on our achievements of the last 38 years. The freedom which the Seychellois nation earned after a very hard struggle would have been in vain if we do not overcome divisions created needlessly by political polarization. Independence Day – I repeat – belongs to all Seychellois, without exception. On this day we put aside all our differences. It is on this day that we rededicate ourselves to the cause of the Seychellois nation, to the construction of the New Seychelles. It is on this day that the flame of national unity, patriotism, spreads it light on all Seychellois. It is the day that we stand proudly, and proclaim solemnly these words from the preamble of our Constitution: “Aware and proud that as descendants of different races we have learnt to live together as one Nation under God …”

The commemoration of independence embodies all of this and more. It represents liberty. It is a powerful symbol of national unity. We celebrate, in unity and fraternity, the strength of the links that bind us together and make us a great people. It is our national unity and our cohesion that are our strength and greatness. They support and inspire us in our efforts to build a nation that is united, democratic, prosperous and forever free.

Dear people of Seychelles,

A people needs certain symbols to help keep alive the memories of their past, to illuminate the present, and to serve as a beacon for their future. A nation must always look at its history in order to build its future. The future is built with freedom.

Today, on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence, we will have our own monument which evokes, in an eloquent way, our freedom. It also symbolizes the unity of our people, patriotism, hope, the march of a nation toward a future full of promises … It represents those who dedicated their lives to freedom, those who fell for freedom. It is also a tribute to our youth. It also evokes the richness and beauty of our environment, without forgetting our national symbols. But I shall let you discover and appreciate for yourselves the splendour, significance and symbolism of the monument which I shall unveil in just a few moments.

It is a fitting moment for me to express, on behalf of the Seychellois people and on my own behalf, our deep gratitude to all the individuals and organizations that have worked with devotion, patience and love to realize this project. I would like to thank firstly Mr Tom Bowers for the conceptualization, design, and moulding of the Freedom Monument. Thank you Tom and your family!

I wish to thank Bronze Age Foundry of Cape Town for the manufacturing of this magnificent monument.

My thanks go equally to the Minister of Land Use and Housing, Mr Christian Lionnet, and his highly committed team, for the conceptualization and preparation of the site on which the new monument stands.

I also thank the Green Island Construction Company, under the direction of Mr Glenny Savy, for the execution of the works for this project.

Dear compatriots

Let the spirit of this monument guide our thoughts and our actions towards a patriotic fervor, invigorated by our love for each other, and our love for our motherland. Let it inspire us toward a new future, toward a more fraternal world. Let it inspire our efforts to work for a New Seychelles where we have banished hatred, prejudice, recrimination. Let it inspire so that love reigns in our country. Let our sufferings of the past, the sufferings of more than two centuries of history, strengthen our resolve to create a Seychelles that is united and at peace. Let the victories and successes of our past inspire us toward other victories and successes in the future.

Seychelles always exhorts us toward peace and unity. These are indivisible. They are inseparable from prosperity and freedom. They shape our future. Let us walk together, united, with hope and confidence toward the future, toward the New Seychelles.

May this Liberty Monument become the star that illuminates the path of all Seychellois of goodwill and that guides us in our endeavour. That forever and ever it represents freedom for all Seychellois, the unity of our nation.

I wish all Seychellois here and everywhere in the world a very happy Independence Day.

May God continue to protect us and shower our country with His blessings.

I now have the great pleasure and honour to inaugurate the Liberty Monument.

http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/speeches.php?news_id=2522

Discours du Président James Alix Michel à l’occasion de l'Inauguration du Monument de La Liberté le 29 juin, 2014

Sun, 29 June 2014


Chers Frères et Sœurs Seychellois

Monsieur le Vice-Président

Excellences

Distingués Invités

Que peut-il y avoir de plus cher et de plus précieux pour un peuple, comme pour un individu, que la liberté? Que d’encre coulée durant des millénaires pour la liberté! Combien de larmes ont-elles été versées pour elle ? Combien d’injustices commises en son nom ? Combien de sang a-t-elle fait couler ? Et combien d’hommes et de femmes ont-ils péri pour elle?

Rien, et personne ne peut empêcher la marche et la progression inexorable de l’humanité vers la liberté. Car elle est l’aspiration première de l’homme. Elle est en effet dans son âme, dans son cœur et dans son esprit.

La liberté finit toujours par triompher du mal, de l’injustice, de la haine et de la répression. Et c’est elle qui engendre les autres aspirations que l’on pourrait éprouver. Elle forme le socle d’une société démocratique, d’égalité et de justice. Une société où règne l’Etat de droit.

Les Seychelles sont une terre de liberté. Une liberté qui n’a pas toujours été un phénomène acquis. A chaque étape de son histoire, le peuple a dû se battre pour sa conquête. Sa voix fut parfois étouffée. A l’exemple de l’époque esclavagiste. Imaginez les souffrances que nos ancêtres ont dû y subir! Imaginez l’inégalité et les injustices de l’époque coloniale ! Imaginez la souffrance endurée en silence par tous ceux-là, nos descendants notamment! En y pensant, force est de s’incliner devant leur mémoire, non sans admiration et respect pour leur stoïcisme. Parce qu’en dépit de tout ce qu’ils pouvaient subir, ils n’ont jamais perdu l’espoir d’être libres un jour. Et ce qu’ils n’ont pu réaliser en leur temps, nous qui les avons succédé, l’avons rendu possible.

Notre aspiration à la liberté, notre soif de liberté et notre lutte pour la liberté, ont conduit à l’indépendance des Seychelles. Aujourd’hui, nous célébrons les 38 ans depuis que les Seychelles sont devenues un Etat libre, indépendant et souverain. En effet, il y a de cela 38 ans depuis que nous avons revendiqué notre droit à forger notre propre destin faisant du 29 Juin une date qui appartient à tous les Seychellois. C’est une date rassembleuse. Une date porteuse d’espoir. Une date qui symbolise la naissance de la nation seychelloise en tant que peuple libre.

L’importance capitale de la journée de l’Indépendance dans notre histoire, sa signification pour le peuple seychellois, ne peut et ne doit être ni minimisée, ni banalisée. C’est une date qui exige quelle soit commémorée solennellement et avec le plus grand respect et déférence possibles. Et bien entendu dans la joie.

L’année prochaine, comme je l’avais déjà annoncé, la Journée de l’Indépendance sera célébrée en tant que Journée Nationale.

Chers compatriotes,

Nous avons le devoir et l’obligation de protéger et de promouvoir les acquis de nos 38 ans d’indépendance. La liberté acquise par notre peuple suite à une lutte pénible pourrait s’avérer vaine si nous ne dépassons pas les divisions inutilement créées par la polarisation politique. Le jour de l’indépendance, permettez-moi de me répéter, appartient à tous les Seychellois sans exception. C’est le jour où nous devons nous départir de toute différence oppositionnelle. C’est le jour où on se dévoue encore plus à la cause de la nation seychelloise, à la cause de la construction des Nouvelles Seychelles. C’est ce jour où le flambeau de l’unité nationale et le patriotisme illuminent tous les Seychellois de leur splendeur. C’est ce jour où, debout fièrement ensemble, nous prononçons solennellement les paroles vénérées de notre Constitution : « Conscient et fier, étant de différentes races, d'avoir appris à vivre ensemble en une seule nation sous la divine Providence…. »

La commémoration de l’indépendance incarne tout cela, et encore ! Elle est représente la liberté. C’est un symbole puissant d’unité nationale. Nous célébrons dans l’unité et la fraternité la force des liens qui nous unissent et font de nous un grand peuple. C’est l’unité et la cohésion nationale qui sont notre force et qui font notre grandeur. Ce sont elles qui nous soutiennent et nous inspirent dans nos efforts de construction d’une nation unie, démocratique, prospère et toujours libre.

Chers Frères et Sœurs Seychellois

Un peuple a besoin de symboles pour l’aider à vivre la mémoire de son passé, pour illuminer son présent et baliser son avenir. Une nation doit toujours s’inspirer de son histoire pour bâtir l’avenir. Et l’avenir se construit dans et avec la liberté.

Aujourd’hui, à l’occasion du trente-huitième anniversaire de l’indépendance, nous aurons notre propre monument qui évoque de façon éloquente la liberté. C’est un monument qui symbolise l’unité de notre peuple, le patriotisme, l’espoir et la marche d’une nation vers un avenir plein de promesses. Il rend hommage à notre jeunesse. Comme il évoque la richesse et la beauté de notre environnement, sans oublier notre symbole national.

Je vous laisserai découvrir et apprécier vous-même sa splendeur, sa signification et son symbolisme, quand je le dévoilerai. En attendant, c’est le lieu pour moi d’exprimer, au nom du peuple seychellois et en mon nom personnel, ma profonde gratitude à tous les individus et à toutes les organisations qui se sont investis avec dévouement, passion et amour à la réalisation de ce projet.

Dans ce contexte, je voudrais, à prime abord, remercier Monsieur Tom Bowers, pour la conceptualisation, le design et le moulage de ce Monument de la Liberté. Merci Tom, merci à ta famille !

Je voudrais aussi adresser mes remerciements à la fonderie ‘’Bronze Age’’, de Cape Town, pour la fabrication de ce magnifique monument.

Mes remerciements vont également au Ministre de l’Aménagement du territoire et de l’Habitat, M. Christian Lionnet et ses collaborateurs, pour leur engagement par rapport à la conceptualisation et l’aménagement du site qui accueille le nouveau monument.

Merci aussi à Green Island Construction Company, sous la direction et la supervision de M. Glenny Savy, pour l’exécution de tous les travaux.

Chers Compatriotes,

Faisons en sorte que l’esprit de ce monument guide notre pensée et nos actions vers un élan patriotique animé par l’amour de notre prochain et de notre patrie. Puisse-t-il nous inspirer vers des lendemains et un monde plus fraternels. Laissons-le inspirer nos efforts pour œuvrer en faveur d’une Nouvelle Seychelles dans laquelle seront bannis la haine, le préjudice et les récriminations. Laissons-le nous inspirer afin que l’amour règne dans notre pays. Laissons la douleur de notre passé, la douleur de plus de deux siècles d’histoire, renforcer notre conviction de créer une Seychelles unie et en paix. Laissons la victoire et le succès de notre passé nous inspirer de nouveaux succès et victoires.

Les Seychelles nous exhortent toujours vers la paix et l’unité, qui sont indivisibles. Elles sont indissociables de la prospérité et la liberté. Elles construisent l’avenir. Marchons ensemble, unis dans l’espoir et la confiance en l’avenir, et en notre Nouvelle Seychelles !

Je souhaite que ce Monument de la Liberté devienne cette étoile qui illumine la route de tous les Seychellois de bonne volonté, et qu’il nous guide dans nos entreprises ! Qu’il représente toujours et pour toujours la liberté de tous les Seychellois, l’unité de notre nation, et l’unité de notre Nouvelle Seychelles!

Je souhaite à tous les Seychellois qui sont ici et partout dans le monde une très bonne Fête d’indépendance !

Que Dieu nous protège et étende sa bénédiction sur notre pays !

J’ai à présent l’honneur et le grand plaisir de dévoiler le Monument de la Liberté.

http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/speeches.php?news_id=2521

New Liberty monument marks celebrations of 38 years of Seychelles Independence

Victoria, Seychelles | June 29, 2014, Sunday @ 22:27 in National » GENERAL | Views: 114
New Liberty monument marks celebrations of 38 years of Seychelles Independence
The Liberty monument, with the mountains of Trois Frères overlooking the statue (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency)

(Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles islands celebrated the anniversary of 38 years since their independence from Britain in a joyful ceremony today in the capital Victoria with the unveiling of a new national monument called Liberty.
The statue of a man and woman holding the national flag of the Indian Ocean islands was unveiled by the country’s President James Michel this morning.

The new monument replaces the Liberation monument which was removed from the 5th June Avenue in April this year in the midst of mixed public reaction after Michel announced the gesture as a step towards national unity.
This morning he called on the Seychellois people to see the Liberty monument as a new source of inspiration for patriotism and healing from past suffering in the more than 200-year history of the islands.

“Let it inspire our efforts to work for a New Seychelles where we have banished hatred, prejudice, recrimination. Let it inspire so that love reigns in our country. Let our sufferings of the past, the sufferings of more than two centuries of history, strengthen our resolve to create a Seychelles that is united and at peace. Let the victories and successes of our past inspire us toward other victories and successes in the future,” said Michel in his Independence Day address to the large crowd.
The bronze statue was sculpted and designed by British-born Seychellois sculptor Tom Bowers and then processed at the Bronze Age Foundry in Cape Town, South Africa.
- See more at: http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/868/New+Liberty+monument+marks+celebrations+of++years+of+Seychelles+Independence.#sthash.4WNl4gN7.dpuf

President Fonseca welcomed by Minister Adam on Seychelles stopover

22-July-2014

He could have stopped over in the Maldives, but Cabo Verde President Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca opted for Seychelles on his way to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

President Fonseca’s plane touched down at the Seychelles International Airport at 3.35am yesterday and he was greeted on arrival by Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam and his principal secretary Maurice Loustau-Lalanne.

While in the VIP lounge, Mr Fonseca briefed Minister Adam on his mission in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste before being chauffeured to the Savoy Resort & Spa at Beau Vallon.

After leaving Cabo Verde, President Fonseca and his delegation stopped over in Luanda, Angola, before flying to Seychelles. He left last night for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste where he will be attending the 10th conference of the heads of state and government of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) at the Noble Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in Dili.

The conference will take place tomorrow and President Fonseca will fly back to Seychelles on his way home. He is expected to arrive on Thursday July 24 at 7pm at will leave the following day (Friday July 25) at 11am.

Preceding the 10th conference of the heads of state and government of the CPLP, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste organised the meeting of the cooperation focal points (July 17-18), meeting of the technical preparatory group of the 175th CCP (July 19), 175th meeting of the permanent agreement committee (July 21), 19th meeting of the council of ministers (July 22).

President Fonseca was in Seychelles last month on a state visit and was the guest of honour at the Seychelles National Day celebrations on
June 18.


http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=242416

Consultative forum discusses national reconciliation and unity in Seychelles

14-August-2015

The National Consultative Forum has suggested that this year’s national theme ‘I Love Seychelles’ is used again next year as a rallying point to bring the nation togetherNational reconciliation and unity were the issues discussed by the National Consultative Forum which met yesterday at State House.
President James Michel chaired the meeting and it was in full, open and frank discussions that members considered whether there was a need at this stage for focusing on greater national reconciliation, or whether the process of living together as a nation was sufficient evidence of national unity.
According to a communiqué from State House, it was agreed that events in the past had polarised the people of Seychelles, and that political diversity was at the core of the problem. It should be recognised that some citizens had still not reconciled themselves to past political history.
The forum felt that the lack of political maturity in political leaders and lack of dialogue between them had delayed the process of national reconciliation.
The forum, adds the communiqué, called for more dialogue between all political leaders.
As for the appropriate action to be taken, if any, there was a diversity of opinion between letting things run their course so as not to reopen old wounds, and taking concrete action to focus minds on the issue. It was agreed that the time was now not right for any action in view of the impending national elections.
After much debate, it was resolved that the way forward was to repeat the national theme ‘I LOVE SEYCHELLES’ in 2016 and to use that theme as a rallying point to bring the nation together.
The forum felt that the opening of a dialogue among political leaders around that theme could go a long way towards ensuring that greater unity in the nation was achieved.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=246453