Celebrating Seychelles’ National Day on June 29

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Celebrating Seychelles’ National Day on June 29

27-June-2015



A National Day is the most important occasion for a country as it is linked to a defining moment in its history.

Thirty nine years since the country became independent, Seychelles will for the first time commemorate its National Day on June 29, joining a number of countries whose national day is linked to the day of independence.

The grand National Day parade will take place on Monday June 29 at the Stad Linite when President James Michel will address the nation and this will be followed by a majorette display, motor bike show and cultural performance.

After June 5 during the one party state, the country’s National Day was celebrated on June 18 for 20 years. This date marked the start of the Third Republic when the Constitution of the country was adopted.

The Seychelles ruling party Parti Lepep congress voted a resolution on May 31, 2014 to ask the government to make June 29 the Seychelles National Day as from 2015, which is the anniversary of the country’s independence from Britain in 1976. June 18 is now known as Constitution Day and it was celebrated for the first time this year with a number of activities.

Addressing the throng of people at Stad Linite on June 18 last year, President Michel described the decision to change the date of the National Day to June 29 as an effort to create greater national unity.

“We need national unity in order to undertake the long march toward the New Frontier. We need to unite the whole nation for a common cause – Seychelles. We have to go forward in peace and harmony. If our origins and our diversity are not an obstacle for us to live together in peace, then why should our political affiliations divide us? Why do we allow our ideological differences to disrupt our harmony? The only solution, I am convinced, is national unity. For all Seychellois, the link between national unity and independence is inseparable,” said Mr Michel.

He stressed that choosing the day Seychelles gained its Independence on June 29 as the new National Day “is dictated by historic reasons”.

“This date symbolises the birth of a people, hope for the future, the achievement of victory, the crowning of a struggle. It also represents the unity of a people in a great manifestation of patriotic fervour. The 29th of June is an incontestable date in our history. It is a date that is unanimously accepted among Seychellois. It is a unifying date. A date that rallies us around the symbols that represent our wealth, happiness and well-being of the people that we are. It is about national unity, patriotism, solidarity, fraternity, love and respect for our fellow Seychellois,” said President Michel.

He added: “It is quite right that we commemorate this indisputable date in our history with the importance that it deserves. That we accord it greater political, social, moral, institutional and cultural recognition. No one will ever contest this decision. It is the people themselves who have decided. We are doing it for all Seychellois. For our children. For posterity. For national unity.”

Religious leaders and opposition political parties had in the past asked for Independence Day to be named the National Day.

On June 29, Seychellois and visitors to Seychelles will be treated to impressive displays of national pride and patriotism during the National Day celebrations and will as usual be seen waving the colourful blue, yellow, red, white and green Seychelles flags as fireworks displays light up the evening skies.

It’s a time for all of us to renew our commitment towards building the Seychelles we all want to live in – a Seychelles that is more prosperous, more united and more compassionate.

Remember, when Seychelles gained its independence from the United Kingdom on June 29, 1976, the country took the decision to build a new Seychellois society and independence also gave us Seychellois our national identity.

We are proud to be Seychellois and let’s all join together to sing our national anthem Koste Seselwa!

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=245859