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K.D Pillay statue unveiled |28 July 2015

Those who wish to pay their respects to the late K.D Pillay (aka Mr Deenu), can do so at his statue at the Chez Deenu Supermarket.

The statue was unveiled by Vice-President Danny Faure to mark Mr Deenu’s first year remembrance anniversary at the International Conference Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by several high government officials, members of the family, friends and other distinguished guests.

Addressing everyone present at the event, Dr Murthy Pillay, the son of Mr Deenu, said the unveiling ceremony was held as a mark of respect and gratitude to this great man and to make sure that he is remembered.

“Great people have to be recognised in this world… today we are not here to mourn the death of my dad, instead we are here to celebrate an achiever’s life,” he said.

He pointed that Mr Deenu came to Seychelles 1947 by ship, a voyage which took him more than a month, and through self confidence and hard work he climbed up the ladder, step by step, slowly and steadily to reach where he was in his career as a businessman.

“His passion was only work, nothing else,” he added. “He was not interested in living a luxurious life though he had the chance to. He was not only involved in business but in many social activities too.”

During the unveiling ceremony, a heartfelt and sentimental film (documentary) was shown to showcase the life that Mr Deenu led, as well as how the late Mr Deenu contributed to the society.

In honour of the day there was also a presentation of mementoes to VP Faure, the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Vincent Meriton, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan, the Minister for Employment & Human Resource Development Idith Alexander, acting Chief Justice Durai Karunakaran, President of the Court of Appeal Justice Francis MacGregor, Justice of the Supreme Court Bernardin Renaud, Indian high commissioner Sanjay Panda, Police Commissioner Ernest Quatre, principal secretary for culture Benjamine Rose on behalf of Minister Alain St Ange.

This was then followed by testimonials and speeches on Mr Deenu by several dignitaries, family and friends.

Minister Meriton saluted Mr Pillay for his fight for a diabetes free Seychelles, and said that through the various positions which Mr Pillay has occupied he has been able to demonstrate that Seychelles needs to be strong as a family to ensure that we stay afloat in a fiercely divided and very competitive world.

“Despite the fact that he built an empire, he was a humble man and he touched the lives of many people,” Minister Meriton said.

“Let us stay united for the Seychelles, let us stay united for the values that we share between India and the Seychelles and for our future and for prosperity” he added.

To mark the occasion there was an exchange of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the newly formed K.D Pillay Foundation. The MoU is for the SCCI to award the best entrepreneur each year and there will also be a signing of an MoU with the Ministry of Education to award the best three students in O’ level and A’ level each year and to grant scholarships to deserving students going for higher studies in business who cannot afford the high fees.

The K.D Pillay Foundation’s main benefactors are health, education and social sectors. The foundation also provided lunch on Saturday to the elderly home and orphanage at the St Elizabeth Convent.

 

 

 

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