May 16, 2011 -- "On the occasion of the International Day of Families it gives me great pleasure to greet all families in Seychelles and to wish everybody success and joy in family life and in nurturing and maintaining good family relations.  

"Today is an occasion to celebrate the family and its importance to people of all ages and to society.
The family is the people who live together in intimacy and share food and shelter; share joys and sorrows, problems and solutions, difficulties and victories. Families provide love and understanding and protect against loneliness. Families promote inclusion and togetherness. The home is where children are nurtured and educated; where they learn values; where their future is first shaped.  The home is where the elderly may find solace and care.

"Families are the foundation of society. This is acknowledged by our Constitution which recognises the family as "the natural and fundamental element of society".  Indeed, we Seychellois have traditionally placed great importance on the family and family relations.

"However, contemporary life brings with it a number of challenges, temptations and tendencies which, if we are not careful, can easily make us more individualistic and self-centred and negatively affect family relations and social cohesion.  

"As a nation and especially because we are a small population, we need to address vigorously the various social ills that affect our society. A crucial element in our drive to combat social ills is the empowerment of our families and the promotion of strong family values and relations.  

"It is primarily in the home that we must build the capability of children, youths and adults to live well and thus build the defences against social ills. It is through the empowerment of families that we will promote the social, moral and spiritual values that strengthen social cohesion and permit the holistic development of our people and country.  

"I thank everybody who is actively engaged in assisting families that need help and in empowering families throughout Seychelles - all the workers of the various agencies in the public sector, the NGOs, the Churches and religious organisations. I urge you to work in partnership for greater effectiveness.  

"I salute everybody who is doing his or her best for his or her family and community and those who open their hearts and their homes to individuals in need as if they were their own family.     

"Let us celebrate our families and let's seek God's blessing so that, as a nation, we live in peace and harmony as one big family."       

James Alix Michel