Speaker Herminie calls on African parliamentarians to spearhead difficult task of liberating Africa economically |07 October 2015
National Assembly Speaker, Hon. Dr Patrick Herminie on Monday addressed the first ordinary session of the fourth legislature of the Pan-African Parliament at the invitation of its president Dr Roger Nkodo Dang.
In his goodwill message, Speaker Herminie reminded the parliamentarians not to relent in their strive to eliminate poverty, empower women, provide affordable healthcare and quality education to African children, and to promote and implement the people-centred development in line with the new set of sustainable development goals that were adopted in New York, USA, last week by the world community and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
Recognising that the task will be mammoth, the Speaker warned African parliamentarians that achieving economic freedom for Africa will require even more sacrifices than in the fight against colonialism.
“But we will succeed,” he said “as long as we are on the right side of history and remain the master of our fate”.
Alluding to the vast resources of Africa, the Speaker said “Africa is too rich to be poor”. He said parliamentarians should revitalise the passion of Pan-Africanism and commit themselves to the judicious use of the continent resources for a peaceful and flourishing Africa; an Africa driven by Africans, for Africans.
He further reminded the parliamentarians that they are the representatives of one billion people and, therefore, they should continue to augur for the political, economic and cultural developments of Africans so that Africa could imbibe peace, security, stability and progress. Special emphasis should be placed on the empowerment of African youth to optimise opportunities that are available to them.
Speaker Herminie expressed gratitude for this special privilege to deliver the goodwill message to the Pan-African Parliament and said it shows the respect commanded by the National Assembly of Seychelles on the African continent.