World Habitat Day message by Minister Christian Lionnet |07 October 2013

‘Housing development in Seychelles is everybody’s business’

World Habitat Day is today, October 7, and the Minister for Land Use and Housing, Christian Lionnet, has sent a message for the occasion.

His message reads:
“The United Nations has designated today, October 7, 2013 as the World Habitat Day. The theme for this year is ‘Urban mobility’. This day for us in Seychelles is an opportunity for all citizens to reflect on the state of Victoria our capital and its suburbs which are continuously expanding due to our noble policies to provide adequate shelter, employment and relevant economic and social infrastructures to the people of Seychelles. Today is a day for all of us to be reminded of our collective responsibility for sustaining our habitat. A day for all Seychellois to realise that the provision and maintenance of habitat in Seychelles is not only the mandate of the government, but equally the mandate of self and that of the private business sector.

“As we reflect on the theme today, I urge every Seychellois without exception to become more conscious of your living conditions, your immediate environment or habitat, as well as to focus on potential solutions to your community problems and challenges. I want you all to take time to reflect on the progress our country has made to improve the housing conditions of our people.
 
The reality of our achievements is here for us to see. Let us also be equally conscious of the new challenges we face, challenges not only meeting the national housing demand, but also challenges to sustain our successes, challenges to contain our evolving lifestyles, challenges that climate change further poses on our successes, challenges we face in terms of security issues in relation to urbanisation.

“Development of the housing sector in Seychelles is everybody’s business. The government will continue to facilitate the process and provide the right conditions for the private sector to invest in housing development. Let today be the day that all of us take the issue of housing as a serious part of our future investment. If you are a youth planning your family you need to consider planning for your house as your personal target. If you are on the waiting list for a house it is your single duty to start contributing for your future house now.

 If you have already been allocated with a house it is your responsibility to ensure that you respect your repayment terms and conditions and if you fail to do so you are preventing other Seychellois including your very own children from getting a house in the future.

“This year, the theme Urban Mobility is ideal for Seychelles as we embrace the expansion of Victoria welcoming the soon-to-be two residential districts on Ile Perseverance. In Seychelles urban mobility is not by default, but by choice. People from all districts in Seychelles have migrated happily to this new location, which is no doubt the model housing estate of Africa and the rest of the developing world.

“The decision to build a new settlement on Ile Perseverance island was a strategic one. It was the equation to avoid urban sprawl, to build a new urban character for Victoria. The government during the last three decades has been consistent in implementing its long-term programme for appropriate solutions to Seychelles’ housing problems.

 Thirty years down the line when the world is focusing on improving the living conditions of at least 100 million slum dwellers in cities across the entire world, we in Seychelles are thinking of the next condominium project or the construction of more affordable town houses, and projects to provide shelter for our next generations.  

“Recently, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the political declaration accepted the urgent need for adequate shelter, while the plan of implementation set targets for providing sanitation and clean water as well. In Seychelles we are proud to say that we have moved beyond this stage. Today, our challenge in this modern era is an urgent need for innovative partnerships to implement the future development goals. Currently, the private sector is increasingly an important and vital partner in the national economy, thus it makes sense to look to private partners to provide support for urban residential development.

“As our government moves toward a holistic approach to urban development through the Victoria Development Master plan, we call for new thinking on how we can advance towards the urban future, particularly in seeking for shared and holistic prosperity. All Seychellois should participate in the creation of the New Victoria, a new type of city – a city of the 21st century – a smart, people-centred city – a city which preserves it cultural and environmental heritage, a city with an island Creole identity. 
I wish you all a nice Habitat Day which will be celebrated in Seychelles throughout the month of October.”