Constitution Day celebrated officially on three main islands |20 June 2022

The official flag raising ceremony to mark Constitution Day on June 18 took place on the three main islands of Seychelles – Mahé, Praslin and La Digue – albeit at different intervals.

The first time the ceremony was held on all three islands simultaneously was in 2019.

All events this year, held under the theme ‘Fundamental Rights and Responsibilities’, were attended by a host of distinguished guests headed by President Wavel Ramkalawan.

The first ceremony was held at the ‘Lavwa Lanasyon’ monument at the Peace Park in Victoria (Mahé) at 8.30am under the bright sun.

After the Guard of Honour had taken position at the monument, the whole nation could witness the ceremonial hoisting of the Seychelles’ national flag by Seychellois women and men in uniform. They were accompanied by the National Brass Band.

The flag was first carried by six youths from the Young Citizens Movement, the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme and the Seychelles’ Scouts Association.

In an intense and solemn atmosphere, the flag was hoisted while the National Anthem was being played.

Besides President Ramkalawan, other guests present were First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, Vice-President Ahmed Afif and his wife Stella Afif, Speaker of the National Assembly Roger Mancienne, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Rony Govinden, Designated Minister Jean-Francois Ferrari, other ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, Commissioner of Police Ted Barbe, Chief of the Defence Forces Brigadier Michael Rosette and members of the public.

After the official programme, the President addressed the Nation with these words: “We want the world to know that Seychelles is a democratic state and respects every citizen and every foreigner on our land. At the same time through the democratic processes, and in the way that we make laws and in the way that the Judiciary acts and above all in the way that the Executive performs its functions, it will always respect the right of every single citizen.”

President Ramkalawan further stated that our Constitution remains the foundation of our society. “We want to keep working to have peace and harmony in the country and we are friends with all democratic countries. Our heart will keep beating for this country. Let us all continue to celebrate this Constitution!”

The programme was mainly led by the youth of Seychelles. The youth from the Connect Programme under the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) performed a song entitled ‘Blessing’ followed by a poem written and performed by Abigail Joubert entitled ‘Gratitid.’

Farella Charlie, a young counsellor at SNYC, read a section of the Charter of our Constitution – Chapter 3, part 1 followed by another reading regarding the Institutions by Julio Pool, while Daryl Barbe shared some of our fundamental rights and responsibilities.

The first programme ended with a song ‘Fer Sesel Pli Zoli’ by a group of youth.

The Presidential delegation left Mahé for La Digue around 9.45am.

La Digue/Praslin

The ceremonial flag hoisting ceremony on La Digue took place at 11.30am at Anse Calice, followed by a similar ceremony at the Baie Ste Anne district on Praslin.

Both ceremonies started with a short parade of men and women in uniform followed by the hoisting of the flag by flag bearers from various platoons and the interpretation of the national anthem by the National Brass Band.

As on Mahé, the ceremonies on La Digue and Praslin were attended by President Wavel Ramkalawan, Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Designated Minister Jean-François Ferrari, some cabinet ministers, members of the National Day Committee, MNAs, among other invitees.

On La Digue the parade started at the jetty and the participants marched towards Anse Calice while school children lined the road raising their small Seychelles flags.

After the flag was hoisted, patriotic songs and poems were performed by Diguois. Billy Radegonde, Nadine Maillet, Eliaja Jay and Cinderella Adrienne read the ‘Seychellois Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms’ from the Constitution.

Though there was a sudden burst of rain towards the end of the ceremony this did not stop the performers and invitees from enjoying the very colourful event.

The day’s events ended on Praslin where a similar programme was held. The reading of the ‘Seychellois Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms’ from the Constitution was done by Lely Antat, Paul Killindo, Jerry Sinon and Beverly Rose.

The Praslin crowd was blessed with perfect weather.

After both ceremonies the invitees and participants took the opportunity to take photos with the president.

Vidya Gappy (Mahé)/Romano Laurence (Praslin/La Digue)