“At the start of this new year, I wish that you continue to serve Seychelles with passion, devotion, enthusiasm, and pride – the sentiments which I, as the Commander in Chief, share with you. I hope that, together, we will work even harder to realize our vision for a new Seychelles. I count on you. Seychelles counts on you,” President Michel stated.

President James Michel addressed the officers of the Seychelles People’s Defense Forces (SPDF) and the Police Force, in his capacity as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, during the annual New Year’s Day gathering, at the International Conference Center.

The President thanked the SPDF and the Police for their accomplishments during the last year and said that the two institutions are the pride of the nation. President Michel asked the officers to continue to work hard to continue to bring further victories for Seychelles.

Mr. Michel also congratulated the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) for the success it has had in removing drugs from the streets, including 100 million ruppees worth of drugs, and arrests of 2,000 persons in drug-related offenses, since its creation in August 2008.

“We need to attack, without mercy, this drug problem, which is gnawing away at our society. We need to fight crime and banditry with determination. We need to eliminate anti-social behavior, which is a shame of our nation. In this new year, we need to transform the values [of] ‘social renaissance’ into reality. We need to live these values every day,” said the President.

The President also said that the piracy situation is a threat to freedom of movement and life as a maritime nation, and he praised the bravery of the Coast Guard, Tazar forces, and SPDF air wing for their bold and victorious actions against pirates.

“It is a situation which poses an enormous risk for our economic survival and our socio-economic development. This means that Seychelles is at war! We are at war against piracy! Our Armed Forces are leading an herotic combat to drive away this threat from our shores … Seychelles will never allow itself to be conquered by fear.”