National Day celebration
National show to be main attraction
As of this year a national show will be the main event to mark the National Day, besides the annual parade and the President’s address.
The National Day celebration principal coordinator Patrick Andre said this during a press conference at the Roche Caïman sports complex, the venue where this new event will take place for the first time.
He said all activities forming part of the show will be scattered over the entire complex.
And various sectors including tourism, education, agricultural, businesses and government organisations will be taking part.
Arrangements are being made to ensure that people from Praslin and La Digue can come over to take part and enjoy this national activity.
Speaking about the activities, Mr Andre said organisations from various sectors will be exhibiting and promoting their products in the National Sports Council (NSC) Hall (ex-SMB Hall). The main stalls and stage will be at the parking lot where musical performances will be taking place all day during the event.
And the agricultural and horticultural sectors, the Bazar Victoria and garden décor will be set up behind the Stad Linite. A food court with local as well as international cuisine will be available and there will also be a child minding service.
At the swimming pool there will be fashion shows and other activities. A drive-in cinema, also a new event at national level, will be made possible through the Deepam Cinema, whereby a movie will be premiered so as to attract a bigger audience. A wide variety of exhibits -- from new cars to boats -- also feature on the programme, including glass bottom boat rides.
“Entrance to the main show will be free but members of the public will have to pay a nominal fee for some activities, such as the fashion show and drive-in film show,” Mr Andre said.
A raffle-cum-lottery, with a car as the star prize, will also be launched, but the draw will be done on June 29, for the Independence Day.
The Seychelles Tourism Board is also promoting this national event in all its overseas office and on its website.
He said as the show will be in the form of a trade fair, all farmers and organisations will be selling their produce and products and the fisheries sector is to be included.
“There will not be any agricultural and horticultural competition, as the intention is to diversify the national day activities and to make it more commercial,” he added.
About 50 farmers have already registered and forms are available in all districts for those who have not enrolled. Those interested can also collect it at the National Library and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency’s office at the Independence House.
“We are encouraging farmers and all those taking part to bring quality produce and products and criteria has been set up by the Agricultural Agency to ensure this,” he said.
Stalls will soon be allocated to all who are taking part. Tents will be available for those displaying their products at the main stalls in the parking area. Small business and agricultural sectors will have to bring their own facility including stalls and will be based behind the stadium.
However other organisations can buy big stalls with prices ranging from R3,500 to R10,000 for the three-day activity.
The government is the main sponsor of this national show but other companies have also contributed.
Those who are interested in booking outside stalls and for any further information can contact the national show secretariat on Tel: 611100