IDC marks 30th anniversary with launch of new book and logo
The Islands Development Company (IDC) marked its 30th anniversary on Thursday with the launch of its logo and a new book entitled Outer Islands of Seychelles.
The 200-page book, written by Adrian Skerrett, Thelma Pool and Judith Skerrett, touches on different aspects of these islands, including their natural history and geography as well as stories of ghosts believed to have inhabited some of these islands.
The book was officially launched by Vice-President Joseph Belmont at the Seychelles Trading Company conference room in the presence of the IDC chief executive and chairman Glenny Savy.
Ministers, members of the National Assembly and of the diplomatic corps, and other high government officials were also there.
Addressing the audience, Mr Belmont, who also was the company’s first general manager in 1980, said he was delighted to launch the first book dedicated to the outer islands of Seychelles.
He added it is a tribute to the people of Seychelles who have lived on these islands, and shared the government’s vision for the outer islands back then, which was to develop them so as to contribute towards the country’s economy.
The main activities during that time included copra production, and later airstrips were built to allow the development of tourism infrastructure and more job opportunities for Seychellois.
“I believe that there is still potential in agricultural developments and fishing on some of our outer islands, especially where there is little prospect for tourism,” he added.
Mr Belmont said he hopes that the IDC will still ensure sustainable tourism development and create more employment on the outer islands and meet the challenge to assure security for our people especially now with piracy in our territory.
He concluded by reading the words of President James Michel in his foreword to the new book in which he wrote: “I hope this book inspires Seychellois to take pride in the outer islands, to visit them and perhaps to live and work there. I hope visitors to our shores take home with them a positive message that human development and conservation can both prosper when they are friends and allies.”
Mr Savy, who has been working with the company for the past 28 years, said the IDC is proud to be associated with this book.
He said the income from its sales will be given to the Island Conservation Society in support of conservation projects on the outer islands.
Today, this company is one of the largest employers in Seychelles and has a staff of about 600 people, including hotel staff.
“We provide employment for just over 1,000 people and we anticipate this number will rise dramatically when new hotels are constructed on Farquhar, Platte, Coëtivy and other islands,” he said.
He added that a large agricultural programme has been planned for Desroches to supply the hotel and residents with fresh vegetables and other produce.
“This island should become a major agricultural producer and it is hoped that other islands will follow a similar path in years to come,” he added.
Mr Savy said he hopes the book serves as a source of pride in these beautiful corners of our nation for those who have visited these islands and for those less familiar, it may become a source of inspiration to go and experience them.
On his part Mr Skerrett said he has long felt the absence of a book dedicated to the outer islands.
He described it as a remarkable work as compared to many books about Seychelles which are produced by people with little or no connection with the country. All contributors towards this book are people who were either born in Seychelles or have come to call Seychelles their home.
The book has an insight into the history, the geography and the natural history of the outer islands. There are first hand stories from islanders themselves covering a period of more than half a century.
It also features Creole stories by Antonio Constance alias Mazaren -- who spent 40 years on these outer islands and who shares the story of his life there. And Therese Marthe Malbrook who grew up on Silhouette also wrote something about the famous witchcraft master Bonm Boutyou.
During the launch ceremony, copies of the book were presented to Mr Belmont, the National Library and to schools.
The Outer Islands of Seychelles - Zil Elwannyen Sesel will soon be available for sale at R400.
The IDC, in partnership with the Education Ministry, will also be launching a quiz competition on the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation television, to allow students and the general public to know about the outer islands.
This quiz for secondary students from all schools in the country will be an opportunity for winners to visit these islands.
The new IDC logo, which will be used on all official documents of the company from now on, was also revealed at the ceremony. It has a lifebuoy which shows that we are still using boats to go to the outer islands and to bring merchandise there; a stamp is also found on the logo. And on it there is a turtle and a bird, representing conservation and sustainable development.
The bird also signifies the company’s planes as nowadays we also use them to go to some islands. Silhouette Island also features on there, as it is the only inner island being managed and administered by the company. The sea represents our archipelago and natural beauty.