Remembrance Sunday |13 November 2023

President Ramkalawan lays his wreath at the foot of the cenotaph

Remembering the fallen

On Sunday, November 12, the second Sunday of November nearest to the Armistice day, the customary religious service was held at the cenotaph, in the Mont Fleuri cemetery, where the names of all Seychellois soldiers and other personnel who lost their lives during the two world wars and other military conflicts are engraved.

During the ceremony, wreaths of poppies were laid at the foot of the cenotaph.

The first person to  pay his respects was President Wavel Ramkalawan, followed by Vice-President Ahmed Afif, ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries, and members of the family, to honour the memories of all those who lost their lives as well as remember those who are still alive.

Remembrance Sunday is marked in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries every second Sunday of November. Altogether some 365 Seychellois died in the two world wars and other conflicts.

Reverend Bryan Volcère and Seychelles Defence Forces Chaplain, Lt Colonel Louis Agathine led the religious service in the cemetery.

The Act of Remembrance and the Kohima Epitaph was also read during the service.

In his short historical note, the Minister for Internal Affairs, Errol Fonseka, who served for 22 years in the British Armed Forces, expressed how he struggled to find the right words to pay respect and gratitude to the men and women who gave their youth for freedom, in order to preserve and protect the values that underpinned the way of life. In regards to the ongoing conflicts happening around the world, Minister Fonseka noted that he also struggles to see the light on the horizon. “The fog of war is thick. A battlefield is by nature a very chaotic place to be in,” he expressed sorrowfully.

He noted there were a few lessons that the population should be reminded of. The first is that the present conflicts around the world today teaches us that humankind learned very little since British author H.G. Wells coined the expression, ‘The War to End all Wars’, referring to the first world war sufferings, which was expected to create a new world order that would make future conflicts impossible. “Therefore, the question is, how wrong was he? Or, how do we humans always seem to get it wrong?”

He stated that the soldier is not a politician, but when diplomacy and politics fail, a soldier is called upon and comes willingly to serve his country and in a volatile world, no one can determine as to when there might be the need for soldiers.  

Mr Fonseka pointed out that Seychellois men and women who served in both world wars understood the unpredictability and that was why there was still the gathering every year that will continue long after.

“We are all torchbearers of our forefathers, who were brave to travel in uncharted waters to reach here from India, Asia, Africa and Europe.”

For his part, the British High Commissioner, Jeffrey Glekin, stated the act of remembrance keeps alive the flame of hope that the loss the population gathers to remember, was not in vain. “And importantly, to honour those who gave so much for our freedom,” he stated.

He concurred that while traditions may vary on the way that certain ceremonies are done, the one common theme, are shared responsibility as the living, across likeminded nations, and is to keep the flame burning.

“For those of us to stand free. Free to choose. Free to speak. Free to be whom we want to be, it is imperative that we understand the gift of freedom is not to be taken for granted, nor should we be complacent in its preservation.”

He noted it was sad how there are still people in the world today that do not enjoy certain freedoms and rights that Seychelles enjoys.

“Mankind’s history is marked by conflict,” Mr Glekin stated, noting that freedom, peace and stability continue to be challenges for the world.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the ceremony.

Sunny Esparon

Photos by Louis Toussaint