India gifts Seychelles saluting ceremonial guns, ammunitions |14 May 2022
Unveiling and handing over of the saluting ceremonial gun (Photo: Thomas Meriton)
The Indian Defence Forces has gifted three saluting ceremonial guns with 500 rounds of ammunitions to the Seychelles Defence forces.
It was under the fire of a ceremonial salute gunshot that the Indian high commissioner of India to Seychelles, General Dalbir Singh Suhag, presented the guns and ammunition to the Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier Michael Rosette.
The reception was organised by the Indian high commission on board Indian navy ship INS Ghariyal, yesterday evening at Ile Du Port.
Present were National Assembly Speaker Roger Mancienne; Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde; Minister for Internal Affairs Errol Fonseka, the Minister for Local Government and Community Affairs, Rose Marie Hoaureau; the commissioner of police Ted Barbe; members of the diplomatic corps; Commander Sunil Patil and crew of INS Ghariyal; officers of the Seychelles Defence forces and distinguished guests.
During the ceremony, High Commissioner Suhag also handed over a wave rider boat, transshipped to Port Victoria onboard the Indian vessel. The boat had been purchased by the government of Seychelles in Sri Lanka, and was lying over there for over a year.
The gifts of the ceremonial guns and ammunitions and the transshipment of the wave rider boat for the Seychelles Cost Guard (SCG) displays the special bilateral relationship shared by the Republic of India and the Republic of Seychelles. These guns were requested by the Seychelles government to be used for ceremonial and high-level state events.
General Suhag highlighted the long standing defence partnership between India and Seychelles. He referred to the recently concluded military exercises MILAN and LANMITYE in which both countries participated together.
He also talked about the delivery of SCG patrol ship ZOROASTER after its guaranteed refit and dry docking in India as well as the medical evacuation and treatment of a Seychellois sailor by INS Sharda last month.
The Indian high commissioner conveyed his gratitude to President Wavel Ramkalawan for reposing faith in India as a trusted friend standing beside our country for help and support.
He added that both countries continue to deepen cooperation and explore further avenues of collaboration across diverse domains towards upholding the India-Seychelles bilateral friendship.
On accepting the saluting guns and ammunition and the boat, Brigadier Rosette extended greetings to captain Patil and crew for bringing to Seychelles the gift and the boat.
He said the mutual understanding and deep cooperation between India and Seychelles is a matter of pride and well known to both countries.
He added that the ceremony was testimony to further building bridges of friendship and increasing the bilateral cooperation between the two countries and the two maritime forces in particular, in enhancing defence cooperation which continues to grow from strength to strength.
Brigadier Rosette said the saluting guns will be a valuable asset to the country in providing a nice welcome to the many dignitaries who grace our shores and will also provide a sense of gravitas and pride to our national celebrations.
He stated that the necessity of protection and preservation of maritime resources and environment have highlighted the importance of undertaking maritime patrolling and policing activities in our waters, in a planned manner and the need of constant patrolling. Thus the Wave-Rider boat is a valuable asset to the SCG which would enhance its capability for undertaking coastal surveillance and safeguarding of maritime areas and also boosting its fight against maritime crimes.
He added that with India’s consistent support, the country is one of the most important contributors to the SDF in terms of training and expert support.
Brigadier Rosette thanked High Commissioner Suhag for his contributions towards the support SDF is getting from India and to the Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, President Ramkalawan, for his involvement, vision and dedication towards extending the professional capability of the SDF.
The INS Ghariyal has recently been participating in MILLAN 22 at Visakhapatnam, along with 38 plus countries, hosted by the Indian navy and also the IONs maritime exercise (IMEX-22) at Goa followed by operational visits to Sri Lanka and Maldives before arriving in Port Victoria.
Patrick Joubert
