28th annual congress of Parti Lepep |02 June 2014

June 29 proposed new National Day

The ruling Parti Lepep has adopted a resolution asking for June 29 to be declared Seychelles’ new National Day as from next year.
June 18, the current National Day, is being proposed as Constitution Day.

The resolution was adopted at the end of the party’s 28th annual congress held on Saturday at its headquarters at Maison du Peuple.
“If there is a date that really unites all of us Seychellois as a people, a date that symbolises the birth of a people, the birth of a nation, a date that cannot be contested in our history, is the date when Seychelles became an independent and sovereign state,” the party’s President James Michel said at the end of the congress.

“We have reflected lengthily on the significance of independence for the people of Seychelles; we have reflected lengthily on the role that SPUP (the predecessor of Parti Lepep) played to bring freedom to Seychelles. It was our party which struggled for independence. It is because of our struggle, our sacrifice that the people of Seychelles gained its independence,” said Mr Michel.
President Michel also said that another important resolution the congress  adopted was the amendment to the Parti Lepep’s Constitution.

“These amendments will enable us to remain more relevant to the modern realities and the changes that we need to face. They will help us to remain modern and ‘smart’.  They will put in place structures which will ensure that we remain connected to the people. More importantly those amendments will consolidate us as a party of change; an inclusive party; a party that works for national unity; a party that has a mission to help our people towards new frontiers; a party that has the development, progress and prosperity and the welfare of the New Seychelles at heart,” he said.

He added that the other resolutions that the congress has adopted have established the party’s vision for the next ten years. Based on them the party will now formulate new policies and the vision will form the basis of a new document ‘The Way Forward’, its roadmap for the next ten years.

“The new resolutions that the party has adopted will continue to inspire us, guide us in our actions and that by our attitude, our work, our behaviour we remain the examples in our community and that we remain connected with the people,” Mr Michel said.

The president of Parti Lepep then asked the members to continue dedicating themselves to national unity, to solidarity, love and harmony between all Seychellois.
“Let us continue building our New Seychelles. Together let us march towards this new frontier,” concluded the president.
Earlier while launching the congress, Mr Michel had said:

“It is a congress about changes. Changes in the functioning of the party. Changes for Seychelles.”
Also present were representatives of sister parties from Mauritius and Rodrigues, specifically from the Mauritius Labour Party, the Mouvement Militant Mauricien, the Mauritus Social Democrats Party, Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais; the European Parliament Socialist and Democratic Group Progressive Alliance of Socialist and Democrat of the European Parliament and the Socialist Party of Germany.

In his opening speech President Michel traced the party’s history, which he said was the beginning of a struggle – a struggle based on fundamental principles like justice, freedom, equality, fraternity and harmony for Seychelles.

He said these principles have inspired the party all along and guided it in its actions for a better future for the people of Seychelles and have brought success, progress and development.
He stressed on the importance of being realistic in our ambition and objectives; the need to remain relevant with the current climate we are living in, with the new circumstances, new expectations, new realities and new challenges.

He mentioned the need to progress as a dynamic political force without abandoning our principles but in accepting and making changes for the progress and continuous benefit of the people of Seychelles.

Apart from the amendment’s to the party’s constitution there were also new resolutions adopted. They were:
• Recognising the work done by the founding Father of the party
• Recognising the ten years of President James Michel in office
• Thanking members and supporters of Parti Lepep
• Declaration of support by the Parti Lepep’s Women’s Organisation
• Declaration of support by the Veteran Organisation of Parti Lepep
• Economic Development
• Human Development
• Social cohesion, unity and inclusion
• Democracy and ownership
• Saving our planet
• Seychelles and the world
• Document on the principles of the party
• Thanking parties for their messages of solidarity.