Seychelles and Mauritius to consolidate cultural cooperation |05 April 2012

Mr Choone made this pledge during a meeting with Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange at his office in Mauritian capital Port Louis recently.

Mr Choone welcomed Mr St Ange as his new counterpart and as he outlined to the gathered press, “the identity of a nation is derived from its culture”.

Mr St Ange said the Seychelles brand for tourism states that the Seychelles islands’ tourism industry cannot be consolidated without the islands’ culture and there can be no Seychelles islands culture without the Seychellois people.
The two ministers said both islands nations ''should use their cultural assets to further promote their diversities to the world and in the Indian Ocean region''.

Mr St Ange reiterated President James Michel’s call for Seychelles and Mauritius to consolidate their cultural ties through regional integration and cultural exchanges.

President Michel made this call during his state visit in Mauritius as a guest of honor at the celebrations marking the 44th anniversary of the independence of Mauritius.

The Seychelles minister said Seychelles and Mauritius have common cultural assets which should be put forward.

"Seychelles annually hosts the Creole Festival which showcases a melting pot of Creole-speaking cultures, whereas Mauritius has its own Creole Festival. We should decide how to now work together on these two festivals. It is important that both island nations come together as a solid block to promote these Creole events and in doing so bring more visibility to the region.''

Mr Choone complimented the Seychelles minister's initiatives for cultural exchanges between the two Islands and said ''Mauritius and Seychelles are two islands nations, two people with one common destiny.''

Mr St Ange said he was working to unlock Seychelles’ full cultural potential.
Mr Choone has agreed to work with his colleague, the Mauritius Minister responsible for Tourism, to see how their country’s culture and people can be showcased at the Carnaval International de Victoria that is held in Seychelles annually.

Contributed