Seychelles Minister Alain St.Ange played host to a VIP lunch at Marie Antoinette Restaurant of Victoria to welcome Creole island dignitaries to 2012 Seychelles Festival Kreol. In the presence of the Mauritian Minister for Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare Mireille Martin; the President of Ile de La Reunion Tourisme IRT Jacqueline Farreyol; Serge Clair, Rodrigues Chief Commissioner; and Jean Rene Drenaza, Advisor of the General Council of Reunion Island; Minister St.Ange embraced their presence in Seychelles and said that it is welcoming to see that they responded unanimously to the Seychelles invitation to be present during 2012 Festival Kreol.

“It is important that we come together as a solid bloc of Indian Ocean Islands and spread the message of solidarity as Creole-speaking islands and put the Festival Kreol forward as our region’s event,” said Minister St.Ange

Mirielle Martin, the Mauritian Minister for Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare Minister, who was representing the Mauritian Minister for Culture and Arts, congratulated Seychelles for rallying Indian Ocean islands of Creole-speaking countries to celebrate Festival Kreol.

“Culture forges personalities. Somehow the value of culture in a society is underestimated. Seychelles has made a giant step in rallying all Indian Ocean islands under one common platform to celebrate our cultural identity as Creole-speaking countries. It is primordial that we value our identity. We must work together to gain international recognition of our identity and culture,” said Minister Martin from Mauritius.

Rodrigues Chief Commissione, Serge Clair, who is on his first visit in Seychelles and for Festival Kreol, spoke at length about what he described as the dynamism of the young people’s portrayal in the official opening ceremony of the 2012 Festival Kreol.

“The experience gained during this festival is of lasting impression. The participation of Rodrigues will surely be counted and will be remembered. We shall continue to be present at future festivals,” said Serge Clair.

The delegations from Rodrigues, Mauritius, and La Reunion islands present for the VIP lunch expressed satisfaction on the smooth running of the 2012 Seychelles Festival Kreol.