President Faure grants Seychellois citizenship to six distinguished persons |12 May 2017
President Danny Faure has granted Seychellois citizenship to six distinguished persons - five priests and one nun.
They are Bishop James Richard Wong Yin Song, Sister Marie Alice Vivien, Father Landry Mukoko Maketa, Father Pierre Madiela, Father Louison Emerick Bissila Mbila and Pere Guy Inkumene.
They were presented with their Naturalisation Instruments at the Salon d’Accueil at State House yesterday. These were five priests and one nun.
The grant of citizenship is in accordance with Article 5 (1) of the Amended Citizenship Act 1994 where it gives the president the authority to cause a person to be registered as a citizen for distinguished service or under special circumstances where the President is of the opinion that a person has done singular honour or rendered distinguished service to Seychelles, or the person is otherwise meritorious.
Also present at the ceremony were Vice-President Vincent Meriton; secretaries of state, principal secretaries, bishops and other guests.
Bishop James Richard Wong Yin Song, a Mauritian who first arrived in Seychelles on October 10, 2000, has been at the head of the Anglican Diocese of Seychelles for eight years.
Sister Marie Alice Vivien of St Joseph de Cluny, known to the community as Sister Alice, is the only nun who was granted Seychellois citizenship yesterday. She has French and Mauritian nationalities and arrived in Seychelles on July 17, 2008. She has since devoted nine years doing missionary work and pastoral duties.
Father Landry Mukoko Maketa comes from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. For the last three years, he has been based at the St John Bosco’s parish in the Pointe Larue district.
Father Pierre Madiela, known as Per Pierre, is the parish priest for Ste Thérèse, Plaisance. He was born in Brazzaville, Congo and arrived on our shores seven years ago on December 2. Per Pierre is now reputed for his praise and worship services, which attracts a large congregation at the Ste Thérèse church.
Father Louison Emerick Bissila Mbila is a fellow countryman of Per Pierre – both being born in Brazzaville, Congo and were together at the seminary. Per Louison also arrived in Seychelles in December 2010 where he began his pastoral duties in the parish of Ste Thérèse, Plaisance. He is now the priest of the new parish of St Esprit at Ile Perseverance.
Pere Guy Inkumene first arrived in Seychelles on November 21, 2010. He is based in the parish of St Jean-Baptiste at Glacis.
“I consider it a great honour as I was not expecting it. I consider it a dream. I was very emotional when I was told the news. It is nine years since I have been in Seychelles. I came here on July 17, 2008,” said Sister Marie Alice.
Even if she is a Mauritian, Sister Alice said she never served in her country.
“I served in Reunion island, Papuasie New Guinea; French Guyanna, France, Ireland. Then I was asked to come to Seychelles in 2008 and I really love the mission I have undertaken here,” she said.
Sister Alice said she works with drug and alcohol users, the homeless as she forms part of the group Paster Lannwit.
“It is a work I love doing because I can give these people hope and help them get back their dignity. When we are helping them to get out of that ‘dark hole’ I am very happy about it,” the sister said.
Sister Alice said Seychellois has the spirituality in them and practice them as they always speak of God. But, she said, they need a more profound push towards that.
Bishop Wong said the Seychellois citizenship represents an identity for him.
“When I came to Seychelles nine years ago, I came as a Mauritian who was working with believers of God in Seychelles. One advice that Cardinal (Maurice Evenor) Piatt gave me during our meeting in Mauritius was to identify myself with the people I am going to serve. Today’s identification is that I am no longer a Mauritian identifying himself with the Seychellois people. But today I have become a Seychellois like the other Seychellois, I know the pain of the people as a Seychellois; I rejoice with them as a Seychellois and assist them as a Seychellois,” said Bishop Wong.
Father Louison Emerick Bissila Mbila said words cannot express his gratitude, appreciation towards the President of the Republic of Seychelles.
“Unlike the United States President Donald Trump who wants to build walls and keep immigrants out, President Danny Faure has opened his heart and Seychelles to him through the award of Seychellois citizenship,” he said.
“It was a great surprise for me because yesterday (Wednesday) May 10 was my birthday. I was celebrating my 41st birthday. Then I got a phone call to report at the Immigration Office and I did not know what was waiting for me there. Then I got the news that the president is granting me Seychellois citizenship. This, I can tell you, was the biggest birthday present ever. I never dreamed I would be granted such. I also see it as a recognition for the work we are doing with God’s grace. It has an impact but is also an encouragement to continue with what is good and to rectify what is not too good,” said Father Louison, adding now he and the church can represent Seychelles internationally.
“I therefore thank the president for this recognition. It is a big encouragement for me,” he said.
He also described the award as the hospitality of the Seychellois people.
