World Population Day-Be tough and excel in what you do, youths urged |11 July 2006

“In the face of challenges, be strong and be tough, do not be vulnerable. In the face of confusing messages, be even stronger and tougher, do not be gullible. Know yourselves and be yourselves and continue to build this nation with all your potential and vitality, ” says Minister Meriton in his message on the occasion of World Population Day today.

Minister Meriton’s message reads:
“This year World Population Day focuses on the enormous vitality and potential of our young people. Let me, therefore, address my message directly to the young men and women of Seychelles.
“Youth of Seychelles, despite your vulnerability and sometimes your sense of powerlessness, you truly are and you should remain the glittering gold of our future.  In our country, more than in any other in the world, we have banked fully on you - not just for our future but also for our place in the world.  For the last three decades we have spared no effort to ensure your comprehensive development in all spheres of life, from health and well being to education and social protection to housing. Today, I am extremely happy to say that most of you have really lived up to our expectations. You have shown your vitality and potential to excel everywhere - in education, in sports, in the economy and in the arts. Whenever and wherever we have shaped the environment for you to shine, you have outdone yourselves.  Congratulations! You have made us proud! To the thousands of you who are still steadfastly taking every opportunity given by our society to do even better, I say to you, that is the spirit, keep it up and continue to make us proud.

“Being young is tough. Every day, you are faced with many hard and difficult choices. Choices and traps await you everywhere.  But being young is also having the toughness and resilience to resist temptations and to make your own decisions about what’s good and what’s bad for you despite all the strong pressures coming from outside.  Drugs, substance abuse and sexually transmitted diseases are just some of the problems that you must ward off on a daily basis. There are others, all as powerful as the other. 

“In the face of challenges, be strong and be tough, do not be vulnerable. In the face of confusing messages, be even stronger and tougher, do not be gullible. Know yourselves and be yourselves and continue to build this nation with all your potential and vitality. Count on the country as the country counts on you to make informed choices and decisions – clearly – positively.  In other words, celebrate your country! Celebrate your freedom! Celebrate your independence!”