50th anniversary of Archbishop Makarios’ exile in Seychelles-Two new sets of stamps launched |30 June 2006

The sets of stamp were launched by the Minister for Finance of Cyprus, Michalis Sarris, during the official opening of an exhibition depicting the life of Archbishop Makarios while in exile in Seychelles.

The exhibition, entitled “Archbishop Makarios Exhibition”, was officially opened by the Minister for Local Government, Sports & Culture, Sylvette Pool.

The ceremony, held at the Natural History Museum, was also highlighted by the presentation of books on the life of Archbishop Makarios by Mr Sarris to Minister Pool.

There was also the presentation to the Archbishop Makarios Fund of two cheques amounting to R60,000 donated by the Honorary Consul of Cyprus and Greece to Seychelles, Panos Papanokinos, who is also the chief executive of Skychef. The cheques were presented on behalf of Mr Papanokinos by Henry Payet of Skychef and was received by the Minister for Education and Youth, Danny Faure.

The Archbishop Makarios Fund was a social fund set up by the archbishop to help the less privileged Seychellois students to pursue their education.

Among the guests present at Wednesday’s ceremony were President James Michel, Vice- President Joseph Belmont, other government ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, and staff of the Culture department.

The first set of stamps launched on Wednesday comprised 7 stamps in portrait format based on 7 key points – our past and present, our economic development, our social and cultural development, the beauty of Seychelles, our children an youths, the elderly and the workers – of President Michel’s statement on declaring the national theme for this year, “Celebrate Seychelles”. 

The second set depict the Archbishop’s life in exile here; he can be seen with members of his domestic staff at his residence of exile at Sans Soucis, dressed in his priestly attire, Peter, the gardener, offering him a bouquet of flowers on the day of his departure, a short biography of himself…

Mr Sarris, who is here as Guest of Honour for the 30th Independence anniversary celebrations, said he was delighted to be among “such good friends on this double special occasion”, adding that the two nations enjoy excellent relationships.

He said he hopes that the good relationship can be extended to other areas such as education. 
After Mr Sarris had officially launched the stamps, the director general of Postal Services, Flavien Morin, presented the two sets of stamps to President Michel, Vice-President Belmont, Minister Faure, Minister Pool, Mr Sarris and the High Commissioner of Cyprus to Seychelles, H.E. Mr Constantinos Eliades.

In her speech to officially declare open the exhibition, Minister Pool retraced Archbishop Makarios’ story from the day he landed on our shores on March 14, 1956.

She said that the exhibition was the beginning of a special historical bond, which would link in friendship and respect, not only the Archbishop and the Seychellois acquaintances who came into his life, but also between two nations.

Minister Pool said that the Seychellois people are thankful to the late Archbishop for giving such a meaningful and humane significance to relations between Cyprus and Seychelles and that “as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our independence we are all the more grateful for the support and encouragement of our friends and partners across the world such as the government and people of Cyprus”.

On behalf of the government and people of Seychelles, Minister Pool thanked Mr Sarris for bearing testimony to the special relationship that binds Seychelles and Cyprus through his presence in our country.

The exhibition and the sets of stamps, she said, remind us of a prominent figure in the history of the two countries, adding that they are also in remembrance of a man who through simple humane values, such as gratitude, compassion and generosity helped to lay the special character of the relationship between the two nations.

She also thanked all those who have contributed to the preparation and presentation of the exhibition.

Members of the public have until July 5 to view the exhibition.