President Danny Faure met with the Chairman and some members of the Seychelles Inter-faith Council (SIFCO), today at State House.
President Danny Faure commanded the Council members for the way they have joined together different religious groups in the creation of this structure. He expressed the interest to work with the Council in uniting Seychelles, making positive changes and moving the country forward.
“I honestly believe that collectively we have a golden opportunity to do the right thing for our country and I am prepared to make myself available to work together with you as a collective organization to address some of the issues that you consider as persisting or burning issues. I know that as an organization, SIFCO, you do have a similar approach because I don’t think it was easy when you created this organization. I really value the efforts you have made collectively in bringing all of you together as an interfaith organization structure,” said the President during the meeting.
President Faure and the SIFCO delegation discussed various issues such as the prevention of drugs and alcohol abuse, national healing and reconciliation, victimization, the promotion of spiritual values among the youths, access to information, law and order in the country, rehabilitation programmes among others.
President welcomed the various contributions from SIFCO and other civil society whereby he said that the government will now need to build greater partnerships in dealing with social ills affecting the country. He expressed his wish to remain in contact with SIFCO on a frequent basis.
“It will be a policy of my government that all matters of societal importance, we will structure government to open up and build the alliance with SIFCO. The alliance has to be based on genuine partnership, whereby the winners are the people that we work for,” informed President Faure.
The Chairman of SIFCO, the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Port Victoria, Mgr. Denis Wiehe welcomed the decision of the President to collaborate with the Council as important partners in the decision making on social matters and policies.
“I was happy by the way the President talked and welcomed our questions on various subjects concerning our society. I think at this moment we are at a crossroad in our society and we have to take the right road for the future. The President said that the government will take us on board as partners and this is very encouraging for us. It was very positive meeting,” said Bishop Wiehe.
Also present at the meeting this morning was the Secretary of State Cabinet Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Afif and the Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Mrs. Jeanne Simeon.