28 June 2018 | Foreign Affairs.
Reception Hosted by President Danny Faure in Honour of Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland Secretary General of the Commonwealth
Thursday 28th June 2018
Secretary General,
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening,
I am pleased to welcome you all this evening on this special occasion as we welcome the Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary General, to Seychelles as our Guest of Honour for the celebrations of the 42nd anniversary of our Independence.
Secretary General,
On behalf of the people and Government of Seychelles, we are truly happy to welcome you back to our shores, after many years since your last private visit. I would also like to sincerely thank you for accepting our invitation to grace us with your presence over the next few days. It is indeed a great honour for us.
Your presence here this week is a true reflection of the strong and fruitful working relationship between Seychelles and the Commonwealth, one that is characterised by generous technical assistance and capacity building in various fields ranging from the blue economy, the promotion of democracy, and youth empowerment.
Our cooperation rests on our shared values and principles of a world that is mutually respectful, resilient, peaceful and prosperous.
The Commonwealth remains one of the most committed international organisations in Seychelles, actively engaged in our national development. We continue to benefit greatly from its Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) and the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), which have made significant contributions in the areas of [education] and the blue economy.
Through the assistance of the Commonwealth, Seychelles has been able to take the lead in advocating for the cause of Small Island Developing States, especially with regards to combatting climate change.
When the Heads of State and Government adopted the Commonwealth Blue Charter last April in London, we sent a clear message to the world about the importance of oceans and their significant contributions to the economic, social and environmental health, as well as to the cultural heritage of all nations.
In this regard, I consider that our membership of the Commonwealth represents the double advantage of participating in important cooperation programmes and enjoying preferential ties with most of its members.
On both counts, I am sure that there are many opportunities yet to be seized and avenues yet to be explored, as evidenced by our discussions earlier today. We will work together towards those ends.
Secretary-General,
Since we became an independent nation in 1976, we have drawn on the rich experience of our many partners to consolidate our democracy in various ways, notably in the strengthening of our institutions and ensuring the socio-economic development of our people.
These have been very successful relationships and it is fitting therefore that I seize the occasion this evening to say a big thank you to you and to your predecessors and to the dedicated team at the Commonwealth Secretariat, past and present, for the Commonwealth’s invaluable contributions to our national development since 1976.
On this note Secretary General, I wish you a most enjoyable stay with us and I hope that the next few days will be exceptional as you reacquaint yourself with our culture and experience for yourself what Seychelles has to offer. You will surely find Seychelles greatly changed since your last visit!
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I ask you to raise your glass to the health of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, and to the long-lasting cooperation between Seychelles and the Commonwealth.
