SIF rewards winners of National Day games |14 October 2010

 

Some of the winners receiving their prizes

The winners and guests gathered for the prizegiving ceremony recently in a light-hearted atmosphere at the Level Three bar, Docklands.

Guests present included Minister for Social Development and Culture Bernard Shamlaye, president of the Unesco Commision in Seychelles Marie-Reine Hoareau, principal secretary for foreign affairs Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, for culture Raymonde Onezime and for environment Didier Dogley, secretary of state Barry Faure and members of the diplomatic corps.

One of the National Day contests was to guess the number of endemic palm seeds in three jars, which was won by Estelle Barreau, Lea Ketterer and Ronia Dugasse.

Another was a competition to guess the weight of a coco de mer, and Stephanie Volcy was awarded one of the nuts as her prize.

With this year’s World Tourism Day theme being Tourism and Biodiversity, emphasis was put on Aldabra as one of Seychelles’ most precious treasures, being a World Heritage Site and a biodiversity hotspot.

As in previous years, students who come out winners of the eco-school competition get the chance of a lifetime to go to Aldabra.

A lottery was held and drawn in March this year to fund the students’ trip, and the ultimate prize – a trip for two to accompany the eco-school winners to Aldabra – was won by Denis Labrosse. He was presented with his award by Mr Loustau-Lalanne, who is also chairman of the SIF’s board of trustees.

Two consolation prizes of a coco de mer nut were given out, to Stephane Dupong and Davis Uzice.
The event also served to launch a film by Claude Pavard entitled L’Océan Indien.

Addressing the audience, Mr Pavard said his film is filled with positiveness and optimism, despite the negative environment-related issues of today such as climate change and greenhouse gases affecting the ozone layer.

After the prizegiving, everyone had a chance to watch the film in the Deepam Docklands cinema.