President thanks retirees for their long years of service |13 April 2018

A group of 68 public servants who have worked in different sectors and who recently retired were received at State House yesterday morning and thanked personally by President Danny Faure.

Susan Charles, who has spent 50 years in the education sector -- starting as a teacher at the age of 15 to slowly climb up the professional ladder to assume different positions -- received special mention and a bouquet of flowers from President Faure.

The group of retirees were primarily from the education sector with the largest group of 23 teachers and head teachers. Others came from health, the police force, customs and other departments all having clocked 25 years of dedicated long service and spending  most of their lives working as civil servants.

Mrs Charles, or more affectionately Miss Susan, started her career at the age of 15 and she admitted that she wanted to be a nurse originally but at that time it was not easy so she opted for a career in teaching.

She recounted her journey and the different training she followed to succeed and climb up the professional ladder of teaching.

She followed teacher training diploma and degree courses  in administration with the University of Quebec.

Mrs Charles has been a teacher, a studies coordinator and a head teacher, a position she has maintained for 25 years in different schools and for the past few years at Bel Eau primary.

“I really loved being a teacher and now I will spend my time doing research on different subjects and also continue to provide my services wherever it is required. As a qualified mathematics teacher, I am willing to help out whenever I get the offer,” she said.

Mrs Charles said she enjoyed the 50 years spent dedicating her time and energy to educate our young generation but stressed that there are many challenges.

Sonia Mancienne spent 49 years in education and like Mrs Charles she also climbed the professional ladder over the years after following different training courses.

“I started as a teacher and retired as a head teacher. My heart has always been in education and there it will remain. I have spent so many years in my chosen profession because of the love, the passion, the dedication and I do what I do from my heart,” she affirmed.   

Jacques Koui has spent 38 years in education. He first came here as a teacher from Guinea and he has stayed on. Now aged 69, Mr Koui, a curriculum and programme development officer, says he still has a lot to give and he will continue to give his support and lend a helping hand to the Department of Education.

He says he also still has a lot to give voluntarily through the work he does for different civil society groups.

“The 38 years have been enjoyable but challenging but the important thing is to have the necessary resources, human capacity and tools to address them,” he pointed out.

Eric Mathiot has worked for 44 years in different sectors of the public service before joining the SPTC as a bus driver and spending 18 years in that position and another 17 years as a bus driving instructor with the same company.

“I am really tired now and I feel I have contributed my share and now I am spending quality time with my wife and doing things around the house,” Mr Mathiot said.

Michel Tambara joined the police force at the age of 17 and has now retired after spending 42 years in the force at the rank of inspector.

“I really enjoyed my profession and I learned a lot from the force through the different opportunities I had to develop both locally and abroad,” Mr Tambara stated.

It was with great passion and emotion that he recounted his journey in the police force.

“I remained in the force for so long because I worked with my heart and I am happy for what I have achieved. Among the greatest souvenir which I would cherish is when Seychelles became independent on June 29, 1976. I was there to watch President Mancham assume the presidency and I was there also last year to escort him to his last resting place,” he remarked.

Addressing the retirees President Faure thanked and congratulated them for their long years of loyal service.

“Each one of you have worked hard, with loyalty and sincerity, you have devoted yourselves, made sacrifices for the people of Seychelles and for your country and it is a pleasure for me to welcome you, to congratulate and thank you all,” the President said.

Meanwhile President Faure has called on everyone still working either in government or the public sector to uphold their responsibility and as citizens to continue to work diligently to ensure that our blessed country maintains its peace, stability and harmony at all cost.

“Since I assumed the presidency, this is the path and direction I have chosen and offered the people because there is no other way and no other direction and as president I will ensure we follow the path of  peace, harmony and national reconciliation.

There have been many years of bitterness and division and I will continue to work hard to bring our people together,” he stressed.

“For you who have retired it is important that you live the rest of your life in peace and stability and we owe you this,”  the President said, noting that for long years as loyal employees the group had no doubt encountered difficult situations and faced numerous challenging issues but had worked to resolve them and did not give up.

“Now that you have retired this is what those who are still working will continue to do to ensure you have a peaceful retirement,” he reiterated.

President Faure handed each retiree a letter of appreciation and a small monetary token.

Other groups of retirees in souvenir photographs with President Faure