August 1, 2012 -- It is only the people of Seychelles, in their great majority, who will decide if the date of our national day is to be changed.

This was said by President James A Michel in the Meeting the President’s (En Moman avek Prezidan) broadcast on television on 29th July 2012.  

He was referring to a proposal made recently by the inter-faith committee, through Catholic Bishop Denis Wiehe, that 29th June, Independence Day, is adopted as the National Day in the place of 18th June.

President Michel then went on to explain how 18th June was chosen to be adopted as the National Day.

“This date commemorates the adoption in 1993 of the Constitution of the Third Republic,” he stated.

He said that the two political parties at the time -- the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF)  and the Democratic Party (DP) -- were elected by the Seychellois people to represent them at the drafting of the new constitution and during the discussions there was the proposal that the date the new constitution would become our national day.

The new constitution was adopted by the Seychellois people on 18th June 1993. It was approved by 73% of voters who participated in the referendum. A new law was then passed by the National Assembly to confirm 18th June as the National Day, and also a public holiday.

“It is important that we situate this in its historical context,” said President Michel.

He added: “It was the Seychellois people who agreed to make 18th June our National Day and if one day this has to change it will only the people of Seychelles who will decide on it and not any individuals or organizations.”