Botanical Garden gets added attraction |07 October 2017

Vice-President Meriton and HC Sayeed during the tree planting activity

Tourists and locals will know have a greater variety of plants to view at the Botanical Gardens, following

the opening yesterday of an Indian Diversity Garden (IDG) there.

The opening of the IDG, which forms part of activities to mark this year’s Seychelles-India Day, was organised by the National Botanical Gardens Foundation (NBGF) in collaboration with the Indian Association of Seychelles (IAS).

The ceremony was graced by Vice-President Vincent Meriton, the Indian high commissioner Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Mitcy Larue, Minister for Health Jean-Paul Adam, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, the chairman of the IAS  Ramu Pillay, among other invited guest.

The new varieties of plants that can be found in the IDG include Colea Sechellarum, Azadrecia Indica among others.

Welcoming the guests, Mr Pillay stated that Seychelles and India has had an excellent relationship.

“The inauguration of the IDG within the botanical gardens marks another milestone for the Seychelles India Day. We want to stand out as a testimony of the good relations between India and Seychelles and also as a pledge that the Seychelles-India Day will keep growing,” he said.

He added that the garden will one day be the pride of the Seychelles Botanical Gardens.

“This garden will one day be the pride of the Seychelles Botanical Gardens. With the approval of the local authorities, we hope to introduce many medicinal and ornamental plants from India and turn it into a real attraction for visitors, both foreigners and locals,” he said.

The chief executive of the NBGF, Raymond Brioche, also highlighted the great relationship between India and Seychelles.

“I am sure that a lot of us are testament of the beautiful and true friendship which exists between our two countries. India has had a positive influence on the Seychellois people, and has supported the country’s economic development and growth, be it culturally, in trade or in other fields such as in education and in health,” he said.

He added that the garden will benefit locals and foreigners.                                                 

“What better place to have such garden than here at the Botanical Gardens. A garden which will add diversity to our already rich environment,” he said.

High Commissioner Sayeed pointed out that such garden will help in terms of biodiversity and will bring enormous potential for Seychelles.

Also during the ceremony guests present had the chance to plant trees.