National Archives celebrates 40th anniversary-Bel Eau, Mont Fleuri schools win Captain Webb awards |06 November 2004

A day of activities to celebrate this auspicious occasion was held Friday November 5 at the National Archives where there were various presentations, including prize giving for essay and drawing contests for schools, awards for longest serving staff, for winners of logo and motto competitions, the opening of an exhibition on "Treasures and Pirates in Seychelles," and presentation of the National Archives calendars for 2005.
The day ended with an open day for members of the public to visit all units at the Archives. Normally only the research unit is open to the public.

Bel Eau primary won the overall prize for drawing competition, whereas Mont Fleuri won for the essay contest.

The first prize for drawing competition in the P1 to P3 category went to Naron Payet from Bel Ombre, while Richard Hoareau clinched first prize in the P4 to P6 category. The first prize in the School for the Exceptional Child category was awarded to Joenise Pool.

For essay contest the first prize in the S1 to S3 category was shared among three winners from Mont Fleuri namely Meggy Gertrude, Fiona Payet and Joseph Jean. In the S4 to S5 category Melene Spireau from Plaisance was the winner.

The winners received cash prizes, dictionaries, books and certificates from various sponsors.

The event also saw the unveiling of the National Archives' logo and motto by the principal secretary for Sports & Culture, Mr Patrick Nanty.

The logo done by artists Joe Lawrence and Roy Stravens, who were also presented with prizes, shows a key at the end of a feather in a circle. According to the artists the feather, which was used in ancient times to write with, represents the making of history, the times of old manuscripts that have been preserved (within the circle) but which hold the key to the future. The logo is in fact in tune with its motto "A Nation's Memory: the People's Today," done by young Winston Thomas from La Rosière primary school.
  
Two longest serving staff namely Mrs Marie-Frisiane Madeleine who has been with the Archives for 27 years and Mrs Fabienne Sinon, who has 25 years of service, received their awards, which included a shield sponsored by Gondwana Granite, from Minister Sylvette Pool of Local Government, Sports and Culture.

The event was also marked by the presentation of a catalogue on births and deaths in Seychelles from 1790 up to 1904, by a researcher, Mrs Heulwen Pool, to Mr Peter Lalande, the director of Archives. Mrs Heulwen said it had taken her and another colleague, Mrs Daniella Johnstone, three years to carry out research work and compile the information, the record of which has now been computerised, making the National Archives the only institution in the region to hold such a database.

The two researchers are at the moment compiling information about marriages for the same period.

They are also in the process of starting a new project to launch a “Friends of the Archives” association, that will help to bolster efforts being made by the Outreach unit to invite greater public participation in the Archives' work and activities. 

At Friday’s ceremony, local artist Justin Reddy donated two of his paintings to the National Archives.