On two consecutive weekends, Saturday, March 17, 2012 and March 24, 2012, a Fire Prevention Workshop was organized by Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort and Casino on Mahe in partnership with the Ministry of Community Development, Mr. Dan Frichot (Special Advisor to the Minister of Community Development, Sports and Social Affairs) and the Seychelles Fire&Rescue Services Agency, Mr. Andre Morel (Chief Fire Officer). With the joint effort of the three parties above, the trainer from the Seychelles Fire&Rescue Services Agency, Mr. Jones Madeleine, was able to conduct two workshops for the benefit of the community. The objective of the workshop was to provide fire safety knowledge to house owners within the Beau Vallon district, Bel Ombre district, and also both primary and secondary school children.

Mr. Ken Choo, the General Manager of Berjaya Beau Vallon Resort, said: “We are glad that we were able to run these workshops, which benefitted many people and households. Knowledge about fire prevention and fire safety is critical in order to have a safer community. It was with the knowledge and skill which our staff acquired from the Seychelles Fire&Rescue Services Agency several months ago, which helped us manage the fire during an incident in the hotel late January 2012. As such, we feel very strongly to share the knowledge with the people in our community in which we operate our hotel business. We do not just see ourselves within our four walls. It is the community which made our hotel company successful, and it is our community which gave us the support and resources to operate our hotel business.”

Mr. Ken Choo also said: “The workshop was also aimed at consolidating the people from two districts to come together to share a common interest. The integration and synergy between two districts and two schools over the two afternoons did promote greater harmony and sharing of ideas for the common good of the community. The participants had both classroom sessions and practical sessions. They get to dress up in exclusive fire brigade uniforms, practice using the fire hoses, and watch how actual fire was put out with different extinguishers. The participants also got a chance to see a fire engine up close. In the classroom session, participants learned some new safety techniques and had many of their questions answered.”

All the participants successfully completed the fire-prevention awareness workshop, and they were all awarded Certificates of Participation, presented by Mr. Andre Morel, Chief Fire Officer. During the press conference, the DG of Community development, Mr. Dan Frichot, congratulated and thanked the management of Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay for being the first hotel group to support the “Community Fire Prevention Program.” Mr. Dan Frichot also presented a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Ken Choo.

Alain St.Ange, the Minister for Tourism & Culture, welcomed the move which he said showcases the social responsibility actions by responsible industry players. “Tourism in not and cannot be managed in isolation from the wider community, and the actions by Ken Choo and his Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort&Casino is appreciated. Seychelles will benefit from such community oriented actions,” Minister St.Ange said.