DRDM wraps up disaster risk reduction week with special mass |22 October 2019

DRDM staff and oter partners in a souvenir photograph with Father David Alcindor and Speaker Prea

A special religious service was organised at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Victoria on Sunday as the culmination of activities organised to mark Disaster Risk Reduction Week.

The week-long activities were launched on October 13 by Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, who holds the portfolio responsibility for Risk and Disaster Management.

The religious service on Sunday, presided over by Father David Alcindor, was animated by staff of the Department of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) and also other first responding organisations such as the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency, the Red Cross Society of Seychelles and the Seychelles Police Force.

It was attended by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nicholas Prea.

The principal secretary for DRDM, Paul Labaleine, addressed the congregation and urged the general public “to take responsibility for the protection of their assets and properties”.

“This year’s theme which has been adopted by the Sendai Framework revolves around substantially reducing disaster damage to critical infrastructure and the disruption of basic services. As a department we work hard on a daily basis to ensure that our infrastructure and services are well safeguarded and we also strive towards the protection of our peaceful and blessed country,” he said.

“We recognise however, that there is a lot to be done and everyone in the community has a very primordial role to play in protecting our environment and also our infrastructure,” said the PS.

He noted that “unity is key in all of this and today I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the DRDM staff for their commitment and hard work and also all of our key partners who continue one way or the other to work tirelessly to save and protect lives and livelihood”.