Parade preparations going according to plan |27 June 2017

President Danny Faure will not deliver his first National Day speech during the traditional parade ceremony, but will instead deliver it live on the national television during the morning of June 29, it has been announced.

Gerard Lafortune, a member of the National Day celebrations committee, made the announcement yesterday at Stad Linite during a rehearsal for the 41st national day parade to be held this year on Independence Day, June 29.

“For the parade this year, the most remarkable change will be that the president will not deliver his speech during the parade, instead his speech will be broadcast live on national television ‒ Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation,” he said

Mr Lafortune said there will be a total of 21 platoons which will include foreign military platoons of naval officers from India, France and Mauritius who are expected to march during the parade alongside our local forces and civilians.

Before the parade, early in the morning from10am, there will be a fancy fair until 4pm when everything will stop so that members of the public could take their seats for the parade.

“Like every year, preparations started three months ago,” Mr Lafortune pointed out.

He said before the parade there will be a fly-past by 11 aircraft from Air Seychelles, Zil Air, Seychelles Air Force among others. Also there will be four parachutists from Reunion island who will showcase their skills,” he said.

After the parade there will be reflections by the Seychelles Interfaith Council (Sifco), songs by two local artists, youth display about the different republics Seychelles has experienced, light and sound shows, followed by an eight-minute fireworks show.

Mr Lafortune also pointed out that buses will be available all throughout the day to carry passengers to and from Stad Linite.

“We have made arrangement so that buses will be available all throughout the day on June 29 to and from the districts. After the parade there will also be buses to transport people from Stad Linite to their respective district. So we are calling on the public to come in large numbers to celebrate our 41st National Day,” he said.