A large crowd of Parti Lepep supporters clad in party colour red turned up at Freedom Square on Sunday to take part in a rally to celebrate not only Liberation Day but also their win in the presidential election held last month.
The celebrations started as early as 11am, right after the annual laying of wreaths at the Zonm Lib monument to commemorate Liberation Day.
A live band was present to entertain all day, while local singers led the crowd to sing popular patriotic and party songs and a number of party representatives addressed the crowd.
Towards late afternoon, President James Michel and his entourage, who included Vice-President Danny Faure, Designated Minister Vincent Meriton, cabinet ministers and other high-ranking government officials made their appearance.
Addressing the audience, Mr Faure said as from January next year the minimum wage will be revised and increased.
He also announced better terms to the existing home improvement loans.
President Michel, who received a rousing welcome when he made his appearance on stage, said the event was a double celebration – to mark Liberation Day and also the Parti Lepep’s victory in the election, when a new Seychelles was born and from which every Seychellois will benefit.
“On June 5 we broke the chains of enslavement and paved the way for equal chances for all and today we have achieved all we set out to do and more and all this we owe to that historic event back in 1977,” he said.
Mr Michel also thanked his supporters for the confidence they have put in him, for staying true to the party’s principles, which have enabled them “to remain the biggest political party in the country”.
“We asked for five and indeed you gave us five -- five districts back -- and the 33,000 people who voted for me have saved our country,” he said.
Noting that he his a man of his words, he said he will remain true to his campaign pledges and deliver on all of his promises outlined in his manifesto.
The President also denied on behalf of his party the opposition parties claims that the Parti Lepep had bribed people to vote for them thus unethically influencing the outcome of the election, which Mr Michel said was “an insult”.
Among other speakers at the rally were National Assembly Speaker Dr Patrick Herminie and leader of government business in the National Assembly Marie-Louise Potter.
The party’s celebrations on Freedom Square continued until well after sunset.
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