Constitution Day celebrated with zeal and fervour |20 June 2023
Flag-raising ceremony on Mahé
• Main islands host separate flag-raising ceremonies
It was with fervour and a genuine sense of pride and patriotism that all three main islands of the Seychelles – Mahé, Praslin and La Digue – hosted separate flag-raising ceremonies to mark Constitution Day on June 18, 2023.
Mahé
As per tradition on Mahé, the ceremony was held at the Lavwa Lanasyon monument in the Peace Park.
It was graced by the presence of President Wavel Ramkalawan and First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, Vice-President Ahmed Afif and his wife Stella Afif, and a host of other distinguished guests who included the Speaker of the National Assembly Roger Mancienne; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Rony Govinden; Designated Minister Jean-François Ferrari; other ministers; members of the diplomatic corps; Commissioner of Police Ted Barbe; Chief of Defence Forces Brigadier Michael Rosette; chairpersons of Constitutional Authority and Constitutional appointees, as well as members of the public.
The guests were greeted by a Guard of Honour composed entirely of women.
The hoisting of the Seychelles national flag by Seychellois men and women in uniform was extra special this year given the 30 years of being able to proudly live by the Constitution that governs the country.
The national anthem, which was composed by David Andre and George Payet, was played by the 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. They marched to hand over the flag to the accompaniment of the National Brass Band playing ‘Sesel Mon Pei’.
The national flag is made up of five oblique bands of blue, yellow, red, white and green, radiating from the bottom of the flag. The oblique bands symbolise a dynamic country moving into the future. Blue represents the sky and sea that surrounds us, yellow represents the sun which gives light and life, red represents the people and their determination to work for the future in unity and love, white represents social justice and harmony and green represents the land and natural environment.
The flag was conceptualised and designed by Philippe Uzice.
The ceremony was blessed on the solemn occasion by a youth group that performed an inspirational song entitled ‘Rann Glwar’ originally sung by Mahé Chamber Choir. This was followed by ‘Aspirasyon Nou Nasyon,’ a poem written and recited by Lester Augustin.
This was an especially important ceremony as 30 years ago the Constitution of the Third Republic was adopted by the Seychellois people and signalled Seychelles moving in a new direction. This was the guiding principle for Seychelles to be a sovereign and democratic country.
Gyra Derjacques, a young nurse, read an extract from the preamble of the Constitution of Seychelles in Creole, along with A-Level student Alirah Moustache who read an extract in English, and Fabien Jeanne in French.
To wrap up the ceremony, a group of youngsters performed a song titled ‘Sesel Nou Paradi’.
La Digue/Praslin
The ceremony on La Digue started at the jetty with 30 youths on bicycles wearing t-shirts depicting the 5 colours of the National Flag. They were followed by a short parade of men and women in uniform which led to Anse Calice where the flag-hoisting took place.
It was shortly after 11am that the flag was raised by four female flag bearers from the Duke of Edinburg International Award Seychelles – Trishia Fanchette, Marian Ahanouatou, Sophianne Cedras and Sybelle Pierre. This took place while the National Brass Band interpreted the national anthem.
Diguois youth animated the ceremony with blessing song ‘Testify to Love’, patriotic song, ‘Lenspirasyon nou Zil’ as well as a poem entitled ‘Les nou paviyon flote’.
Lara Cousin, Maiiza Radegonde and Louisa Ladouce read the ‘Seychellois Charter of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedom’ from the Constitution.
President Wavel Ramkalawan and First Lady Linda Ramkalawan accompanied by Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Designated Minister Jean-François Ferrari, other members of the cabinet of ministers, members of the National Day Committee, MNA, DA among other invitees were present for the occasion.
The delegation of distinguished guests, led by the President, then journeyed to Praslin where a similar flag hoisting ceremony took place in the presence of Praslinois invitees.
Praslinois proudly watched as the military platoon was led by young Praslinois Ron Jessie. After the short parade of military personnel had ended and the distinguished guests taken their spots, young flag bearers Sylvestre Dodin, Megan Pierre, Calvin Sandapin and Hazel Joubert from the Duke of Edinburg International Award Seychelles and Scouts Seychelles hoisted the national flag to the tune of the national anthem played by the National Brass Band.
The reading of the ‘Seychellois Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms’ from the Constitution was done by Marcus Chang Leng, Lara Bouchereau and Camilla Cupidon, while Joey Popounneau, Derika Joubert and the Praslin Youth Band animated the ceremony with blessing and patriotic songs and poem.
After both ceremonies on the inner islands which were broadcast live on SBC, the invitees and participants took the opportunity to have a photoshoot with the president.
Sunny Esparon (Mahé coverage)/Nadia Bedier (Inner Islands)
Photos: Louis Toussaint (Mahé)/Romano Laurence (Inner Islands)
