Flag-raising ceremony marks Constitution Day |19 June 2020
The flag-raising ceremony (Photo: Louis Toussaint)
President Danny Faure and Vice-President Vincent Meriton yesterday morning attended the annual flag-raising ceremony at the Voice of the Nation Monument, 5th June Avenue, to mark the 27th anniversary of the Third Republic of Seychelles.
The ceremony, attended by Speaker of the National Assembly Nicholas Prea, President of the Court of Appeal Anthony Fernando, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Mathilda Twomey, Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, leader of the opposition Wavel Ramkalawan, leader of government business in the National Assembly Charles De Commarmond, Chief of Defence Forces Colonel Clifford Roseline and the Commissioner of Police, Kishnan Labonte, was this year scaled back to a brief 10-minute event featuring a flag procession by members of Young Citizens, Seychelles Scouts Association (SSA) and the Duke of Edinburgh programme, organised by the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), the flag raising and national anthem sung by the Seychelles Coast Guard.
Youngster Daniel Fostel also performed a piece entitled ‘Zarden Lanmour’, a piece celebrating national unity and harmony.
Designated Minister Mondon, who is also the chairperson of the National Events Committee, noted that major events have been scaled back on account of the restrictions issued by the department of health to mitigate the risks of propagating the COVID-19 virus, in the event of an outbreak or second wave.
“As you know, this year, we are not holding large celebrations for national events as we are used to doing. We have decided today, on Constitution Day, despite the restrictions in place, it wouldn’t take much and cost much to host the event, the symbolic flag-raising to at least mark Constitutional Day, as we do each year. This year however, as you will see, there are a limited number of invitees, mainly the heads of the three arms of government – executive, legislative and the judiciary. At the same time, the ceremony was brief, as we do not want to draw in a large crowd on account of the restrictions in place,” Minister Mondon stated.
Independence and National Day celebrations on June 29 will be no different, with the cancellation of all major events and mass gatherings.
“For Independence Day celebrations, as you know it is the day when we have the major events, the parade and the show at Stad Linite. This year we would also have had the National Show which is held every two years but they have all been cancelled as they draw large crowds and there are still restrictions on mass gatherings. We have asked SBC to help us create some montages of previous programmes to mark the day and broadcast and remind our public of the importance of such events,” Minister Mondon added.
Laura Pillay