Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts

En pep ki pa konn son lorizin, son listwar ek son kiltir I parey en pye dibwa san rasin (tradiksyon) Marcus Garvey

As Mayor of Victoria, Capital of Seychelles, I have been entrusted by President Wavel Ramkalawan with Culture in the Government of Seychelles. And I offered him, instead of the post of Minister of Culture, to take charge of the creation of the "National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts of Seychelles".

In fact, culture is everyone's business and the business of all ministries. A Ministry of Culture alone cannot achieve the objectives of safeguarding culture and heritage. Many responsibilities must be assigned to other ministries, agencies, non-governmental organizations, communities and individuals for their implementation in various fields such as education, architecture, entrepreneurship, environment, urban planning , housing, immigration, the arts and more. The preservation of culture and heritage must be an integral part of the development of our society.

And why do we have to leave the ministerial administrative framework?

Ministries have specific mandates limiting their sphere of influence. Ministries, as we know, are subject to political changes as new governments see fit. Culture is a dynamic, a challenge and an independent force based on the right to freedom of expression. All people must be equipped with the tools to safeguard Seychellois culture and have the opportunity to participate in the cultural life of our country. In a democratic society, it is not for politicians to be able to determine or dictate its terms. What the cultural sector needs is a clear sense, direction and permanence that will guide the actions of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, non-governmental organizations, communities and citizens contributing to the sector.

The establishment of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts aims to give Culture the permanent space, national status and recognition it deserves and to move away from the political and bureaucratic mentality . The abandonment of a ministry will give this institution an independent role, that of pre-emption and impulse on all cultural matters, to apply its objective with regard to all developments in our country, to make recommendations and advise the government accordingly. The Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts acts as a de facto ministry.

(s) David André

“I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible, but I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.” Mahatma Gandhi

 

https://www.statehouse.gov.sc/news/5334/president-ramkalawan-officially…