Seychelles People’s Defence Forces-Celebrating 30 years of progress |20 November 2007
The exhibition, being hosted at the Seychelles Coastguard base on Bois de Rose Avenue, comprises pictorial displays of various events that the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) and its predecessor, the Seychelles People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), have been involved in over the past three decades.
Besides the exhibition, guests at the official opening of the exhibition yesterday were treated to various live demonstrations by some units of the SPDF such as the dog unit, the Seychelles Defence Academy and the Seychelles Coastguard. These demonstrations were aimed at enlightening the guests on some activities that go on within these units and the kinds of work they are involved in.
Guests present at yesterday’s ceremony included President James Michel, who is also the Commander in Chief of the SPDF; the Leader of the Opposition Wavel Ramkalawan; some members of the National Assembly from both the ruling and opposition parties; some members of the diplomatic corps based in Victoria; religious leaders; top officials from both the SPDF and the Police, among others.
In his speech before he officially opened the exhibition, the Chief of Defence Forces, 
“It is to a great extent their contributions and sacrifices that have brought the force to where it is today,” Brigadier Payet said.
He also had special words of thanks to foreign partners who have helped and are continuing to help the SPDF both directly and indirectly through training and other forms of assistance.
“I am proud to say today that the SPDF is one of the smallest forces in the region that is an example to others,” Brigadier Payet said, noting that all this is the result of working together “as a family”.
Noting the various periods of change (both locally and internationally) that the SPDF has lived through over the years, he said that the force’s survival is thanks to its will to adapt to the realities of the world that we are living in.
Referring to new threats such as terrorism that are emerging in this ever evolving world, Brigadier Payet said that as a small country, we should be gearing ourselves to face up to these new challenges, hence the SPDF’s important role in this endeavour.
Brigadier Payet noted that besides its military role, the SPDF also has an important mission to work in close collaboration with civil institutions, citing the force’s assistance in cases of disaster and providing humanitarian aid as examples of this military-civil partnership at work.
He also spoke of the SPDF’s role in the country’s development, citing the coastguard’s involvement in patrolling our maritime zone and participation in safety and rescue operations at sea as examples of this role.
Describing the future of the SPDF as bright, Brigadier Payet noted that the young people in the force are abreast of the rapid developments taking place in the field of technology and that they are bringing a new dimension to the force.
Noting that a lot of opportunities exist in the SPDF, Brigadier Payet called on more youths to join their peers in the force so that they too could contribute to ensuring and sustaining our country’s development in peace and security.
He reassured the Commander in Chief that the SPDF will continue to be a loyal, dedicated and professional force in the discharge of its responsibilities.
The exhibition will remain open to the general public between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. until Thursday this week.
Other activities to mark this year’s Defence Forces Day will be a commemorative parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday November 24 at the Stad Popiler, a religious service at 10.30 a.m. on the same day at the St Paul’s Cathedral and a boxing tournament and fun fair at 7 p.m. at the Beau Vallon regatta site.
On Sunday November 25, which is Defence Forces Day, there will be a wreath laying ceremony starting at 7 a.m. at the Victory Monument at the International Airport. This will be followed at 11 a.m. by a variety of sports and fun fair at the Beau Vallon regatta site.