Yes, we are Seychellois in diaspora and proud to be |28 December 2023

Yes, we are Seychellois in diaspora and proud to be, even if our country is a small one…it has all the makings of a big one… !!

Since November 19, 2023, the board of directors of the SESELWA Association in France has proceeded on the election of its new office:

President: Frank Underwood.

First vice-president and secretary: Patricia Carolus.

Second vice-president and treasurer: Rita Romain-Richez.

We have also set up commissions:

Mary ISAAC named at the communication commission.

May-Cecile Lajoie-Frejou named at the cultural commission.

Dominique Dugasse named at the social and health commission (pending her acceptation). Dr Michel Fayon will support the commission.

This association was created three years ago by Virginie Mathieu, Honorary Consul of Seychelles in Lyon. She wished to put an end to her mandate at the meeting of the board of directors which took place on November 19, 2023.

We are currently organising this new entity with a headquarters in the region of Paris (it was before in Lyon). All this is done in conjunction with our Ambassador in Paris, SEM Georges Tirant and his attaché Jacques Belle.

The purpose of the association is (We have modifications which will require the approval of the board of directors and the extraordinary general assembly):

1)        Create links between Seychellois in diaspora, particularly those residing in France.

2)        Engage ourselves within the framework of Franco/Seychellois friendship.

3)        Assist our fellow compatriots residing temporary in France, particularly our young people during their studies.

4)        Participate in cultural organisations so as to promote our culinary, tourist and musical specificities.

5)        Make ourselves available to our embassy for possible participation in events.

A ‘Cabaret’ lunch is already planned at the ‘Coco de Mer’ restaurant, an establishment located in Paris and managed by Pierre Frichot, in APRIL 2024.

I would like to be more optimistic and believe that every person of goodwill accepts to join us, and in particular, sponsors who would agree to support us financially…! As we do not yet have a permanent headquarter in Paris, you can contact me at my email address or contact Patricia Carolus, our secretary: pat.carolus.daniel@free.fr

We are aware that our country is going through a difficult time, particularly following the explosion on December 7, 2023 with its share of suffering and we are sensitive to the call from our President Wavel Ramkalawan. We are unable to remain indifferent to this call and especially to the enormous need of our country which must also face the phenomena of El Niño…floods, landslides…, we have decided to make our contribution.

Virginie Mathieu will do what is necessary to proceed to a bank transfer on the account opened by President Ramkalawan.

Our thoughts are with those of our compatriots as well as their families, who are suffering or who have suffered from the consequences of these disasters. We are wholeheartedly with them and we carry them in our hearts.

It seemed important to me to bring this information to our compatriots in Seychelles.

We intend to continue the work already engaged by Virginie Mathieu to whom we have already expressed our thanks and gratitude for her commitment to our country.

We take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a very happy New Year 2024:

« C'est Noël chaque fois qu'on essuie une larme dans les yeux d'un enfant,

C'est Noël chaque fois qu'on dépose les armes, chaque fois qu'on s'entend,

C'est Noël chaque fois qu'on arrête une guerre et qu'on ouvre les mains,

C'est Noël chaque fois qu'on force la misère à reculer plus loin. »(John Littleton)

We count on the goodwill of all our compatriots who are committed to the influence of our country in France and in the world …The Republic of SEYCHELLES…