SPDF to get new barracks and clinic |10 September 2013

The Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) will shortly be equipped with new barracks and a modern army clinic which will be housed in the same building at the Coast Guards headquarters on Ile du Port. Entirely financed by the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the new barracks will offer comfortable accommodation to Seychelles Defence Academy recruits, sailors, officers as well as interns who attend courses at the training centre situated on the same grounds, while the medical and dental clinic will also be opened to other security agencies.

It will also be used by SPDF service personnel including the Academy staff and other SPDF  personnel while on training at the Academy.

The building’s foundation stone was laid by Brigadier Abdullah Al Shihhi of the UAE armed forces and the head of the SPDF Brigadier Leopold Payet during a short ceremony which started at exactly 9 minutes and 9 seconds after 9am yesterday, the 9th day of the 9th month of the year.

UAE army Colonel Saeed Alzaadi, also present at the stone laying, explained that the timing will be a source of luck and will make the occasion easy to remember.

The selection of such dates is a tradition in the UAE as we will recall that the foundation stone for the Coast Guards headquarters, also financed by the gulf emirates’ government, was laid on October 10, 2010 and the building was officially opened on November 11, 2011. As for the new facilities, the opening is planned for 14. 04. 2014 at 1400hrs.

Deputy Chief of Staff Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rosette of the Seychelles People Defence Forces has thanked the UAE government for offering the new infrastructure, which he believes will be a boost to the troops’ morale.

He said that the project is in line with the development plan of the SPDF, adding that the new medical facilities will be manned by personnel running the SPDF’s existing medical unit as well as those currently studying abroad.

Yesterday’s ceremony was also attended by Lieutenant Colonel Harib Almas of the UAE Defence Forces, the SPDF Chief of Staff Colonel Clifford Roseline, as well as Muaded Al-Kaabi and Omar Al Maola who were representing the architects and builders, Abu Dhabi based Trojan General Consulting Company.