250 years of settlement in Seychelles Country gears up to celebrate milestone event |28 August 2018

President Danny Faure has appointed a National Committee comprising nine (9) members to coordinate and organise celebrations in commemoration of 250 years of settlement in Seychelles to be celebrated on August 27, 2020.

The National Committee was revealed to the media yesterday at State House where the president met members to discuss what he has termed as a golden opportunity for the country.

Yesterday marked 248years since the first settlers arrived in Seychelles.

As historian Tony Mathiot, also a member of the committee, recounts, a group of 28 settlers arrived in Seychelles on August 27, 1770. The first settlers who were of Asian, African and French descent settled on St. Anne island initially since the island of Mahé was covered in thick foliage and forests.

He noted that they moved to Mahé in 1771.

The committee consists of officials from different sectors and organisations who will work together to plan and execute activities to mark the historic celebration.

President Faure appointed Sherin Francis, the chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, as the chairperson of the committee.

Other members include Mayor of Victoria David André, chief executive of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) Alvin Laurence, chairperson of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) Sybille Cardon and chief executive of the Seychelles Investment Board (SIB) Cindy Vidot.

Also sitting on the committee are the chairperson of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) Oliver Bastienne, special advisor in the department of Culture Emmanuel D’Offay as well as chairperson of the National Council for the Elderly Jeanine Chung-Faye.

Mrs Francis said she is excited to be a member of the organising committee as it will mark a historic and symbolic era in our history.

“We want all Seychellois and visitors to look forward to the celebration as it is a milestone in our history. It marks a quarter of a millennium,” she said.

Mrs Francis added that the committee will start planning the event as soon as possible and that they will involve all sectors in the activities to ensure that the celebrations are memorable.

Once the committee has decided on the activities, the plan will have to be approved by the government.

Mrs Francis noted that the marketing campaign for the celebrations will be launched as soon as approval has been given.

Mr Mathiot said locals and tourists alike can expect a monument to be erected on St. Anne island where the settlers first disembarked.

“It will be a grand celebration since we are celebrating the birth of our nation and our civilisation. It will be an opportunity to learn more about our history and our origins. We should all have some national pride as Seychellois to celebrate this unique and historical celebration,” he said.