Minister Santaram Baboo, the Minister of Arts and Culture of Mauritius, last week welcomed Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, at his offices at Port Louis. This was the first meeting between the two ministers who are responsible for culture for the islands of Mauritius and the Seychelles since Minister Baboo was appointed following the last general elections of Mauritius some three months ago.

Minister St.Ange, who was in Mauritius for a working visit in the context of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, had said that it was important for him to meet his Mauritian counterpart as he was in Mauritius and was accompanied to the meeting with Minister Santaram Baboo by Patrick Victor, the well-known and popular Seychellois artist. Mrs. Rajwantee Ramrukheea, the Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Arts and Culture of Mauritius, was also present at the meeting as were other senior officials of her ministry.

Discussions centered on the development of closer cooperation between the two islands in the field of culture and the arts and the two ministers agreed that the MOU signed between Mauritius and Seychelles that had expired would be renewed and the signature effected during the 2015 Creole Festival in Seychelles in October. This would be a marking point on the Creole Festival that will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Other points discussed touched on copyrights, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites submissions, access for historical documents that touches the respective islands, and participation by Seychelles in the Mauritius Celebrations of the Abolition of Slavery, among others.

Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles said that he appreciated the meeting he had with his counterpart from Mauritius and was looking forward to welcoming him for his first-ever visit to Seychelles in October.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .

WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:

Discussions centered on the development of closer cooperation between the two islands in the field of culture and the arts and the two ministers agreed that the MOU signed between Mauritius and Seychelles that had expired would be renewed and the signature effected during the 2015 Creole Festival in Seychelles in October.
Ange, who was in Mauritius for a working visit in the context of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, had said that it was important for him to meet his Mauritian counterpart as he was in Mauritius and was accompanied to the meeting with Minister Santaram Baboo by Patrick Victor, the well-known and popular Seychellois artist.
This was the first meeting between the two ministers who are responsible for culture for the islands of Mauritius and the Seychelles since Minister Baboo was appointed following the last general elections of Mauritius some three months ago.