Steering Committee to promote National Theme |31 December 2016

The Office of the Vice-President which has the responsibility of oversight of the civil society and religious affairs through the Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (Ceps) and the Seychelles Interfaith Council (Sifco) has set up a steering committee to conduct the promotion of the National Theme for 2017.

The National Theme chosen for this year is ‘Seychellois: One Destiny’.

After a first session during which it agreed on the theme, the steering committee held its second meeting yesterday morning.

According to the committee’s chairperson Jules Hoareau, the difference this time round is that rather than the President choosing the theme and declaring it, it has been proposed by the members and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

He adds that ‘Seychellois: One Destiny’ has been found appropriate to promote national unity at a time of intense political debate.

“What we wish is to promote national unity at a time when people are voicing out different political opinions,” he said.

The aim of yesterday’s meeting was to define the committee’s Terms of Reference, start elaborating a programme which will also include the theme’s launch and plan its media campaign. On this last note, Mr Hoareau remarked that the press as well as the public are already talking about the National Theme for 2017.

He however remarked that while the launch ceremony will be held by the end of February and will bring together political and church leaders around the general population, the steering committee wants people to understand and adopt the theme before relevant activities are organised.

“It is one thing to have a theme, but to understand and put it into practice is another. There is a need at this juncture to appreciate the beauty of our diversity. It is this which will unite us. This is why the committee has stressed on the need to bring people together, especially at this point in our history,” Mr Hoareau added.

The National Theme steering committee consists of representatives of the three organs of the State – the executive, legislature and judiciary – as well as that of the private sector, the civil society and churches.