The suburb of Perseverance, taking shape on land reclaimed from the sea, now has 450 families living in newly-built houses. The suburb continues to grow as new houses are constructed.

Yesterday President James Michel toured the developments in the area, after he attended the laying of the foundation stone by Education and Human Resources Minister MacSuzy Mondon, for a new school.

The President told the media that he could see that Ile Perseverance was developing into a little town. He said Ile Perseverance is the first such place where many residents would have to live together in a new environment, a departure from the traditional way of having separate houses for families. He asked residents to live together as good neighbours, and to plant flowers and shrubs around their houses.

Construction of additional houses will allow 300 more families to join, by the end of the year,  the 450 already there.

Families who wish to buy the houses have the possibilities to acquire the units.

Some of the houses recently allocated to families were part of the athletes' village during the Indian Ocean Islands Games in August last year.

Another 180 units are being built elsewhere in the districts of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.

During his tour of Ile Perseverance the President visited some homes. He met eight-year-old Karim Hoareau, a disabled boy, and gifted him a wheelchair. After meeting Karim President Michel said it was obvious that our social protection service did not often cater for people with specific needs.

Two houses at Ile Perseverance are equipped with photovoltaic cells donated by businessman Radley Weber. The President said that he viewed renewable sources as the future. He said that if the system of photovoltaic cells were found to be adapted to Seychelles' conditions and needs, it would be possible that future residential areas, such as Ile Perseverance, could become self-sufficient in electricity consumption.  

Other proposed developments presented to the presidential delegation while at Ile Perseverance included the construction of a supermarket and an internet café.

President Michel and his entourage also toured the huge stockpile of sand, dredged offshore, which contains 500,000 cubic metres of seabed material for the construction industry. The stockpile will last for five years. Sale of the material will begin in two weeks' time.