Compatriots,

Seychellois brothers and sisters,

It is with great joy and pleasure that I wish each and every one of you, anywhere you may be, a happy and prosperous new year 2019.

2018 was a challenging year. However, faced with these challenges, we saw a resilient people. This is our strength – our resilience as a population.

We are a small country but we live in a global village. Despite the uncertainties and tribulations in the world, we succeeded in continuing to make progress together.

Facing increasing global turbulence, 2019 is a year where we need to focus on making more progress. This is the only way to consolidate and maintain our development.

The key lies within each one of us – we become more active, engaged citizens. As students, we become more engaged in our studies. As workers, we become more engaged in our workplaces. As parents, we become more engaged in raising our children. As citizens, more engaged in the development of our country. When we are engaged, we move our country forward – and we ensure the we sustain our progress.

A new year marks the start of a new chapter that brings hope. It also means a new engagement; a new engagement to continue to make a positive difference to the lives of those around us. It is a moment to develop new opportunities as an individual, as a family, as a community, and as a nation – but it is essential we remain consistently engaged.

Our Seychelles that is bigger than all of us, is calling us to remain engaged to bring it forward. Together, we can do it.

I thank you all for your support and hard work during 2018, which showed that when we are united, when we put our minds together, we can accomplish a lot.

It is my sincere desire that our country and people continue on this path of national unity, peace and stability. Where we live as one family, where we practise respect and tolerance, where we show compassion and where we are always united.

As a nation, we will continue to promote peace, freedom and the fundamental right of all people to live in dignity.

It gives me great pleasure to wish all Seychellois, once again, a happy and prosperous new year 2019.

May God continue to protect us and bless our beautiful country.