Wavel Ramkalawan, the President of the Republic, and Linda Ramkalawan, the First Lady, were the honorary guests at the Seychelles Chinese Cultural Centre’s ceremonial opening ceremony on Benezet Street in Victoria yesterday evening.
After a protracted wait for the Center to open, the Chinese community in the Seychelles came together for this historic occasion. The Center was finished after 8 years.
President Ramkalawan addressed the gathering and congratulated the Chinese community on this significant accomplishment, which he stressed was fraught with challenges.
“I’d like to congratulate you on finishing this Center. I also want to thank the late Charlie Ng Ping Cheun, the former chairman of the Chinese Association of Seychelles, for his unwavering commitment and the energy he put into this project so that we could have this new monument.
The old Pagoda building was in fact a landmark for all Seychellois. That holds true for each and every member of the association, including the current chairman.
I’d want to express the government’s gratitude to the Chinese community for all that you have done to shape our nation into what it is today.
Let’s continue to develop our culture., stated President Ramkalawan. “This Center is a part of our culture.
The new pagoda’s foundation stone was laid in February 2014 at the first Seychelles-China Day celebrations, according to Mr. Robert Chong Seng, chairman of the Chinese Association.
He discussed the difficulties they had to overcome to see it through, including a serious lack of cash, requesting financial assistance, and frantically raising funds, among other things.
Mr. Chong Seng used the occasion to express his gratitude to Mrs. Wei Guo, the Chinese ambassador, for her tireless support throughout the Center’s construction.
The Chinese Ambassador praised the Center’s opening as a momentous occasion for the Seychelles and a fresh beginning for the Chinese community.
The President, Ambassador Guo, Chinese elders, the head of the Chinese Association, and other Chinese leaders cut the ribbon to conclude the ceremony. Additionally, two Chinese elders unveiled the opening plaque.
There was also a Tai Chi demonstration during the ceremony. Every Friday at 4:30 p.m., the Center offers Tai Chi lessons that the general public is welcome to attend.
After the event, the First Lady and President Ramkalawan, together with other notable visitors, took a tour of the Center and the first and second floors’ exhibitions.
The exhibition emphasizes significant events from the Chinese Association and its antecedent, the KHUM FOCK FOOY QUOON’s, more than 100 years of existence (Cantonese and Fukienese society).
The Seychelles Chinese Cultural Center, which replaced the previous pagoda, is at the center of the story.
The Center also supports Pagoda Art and Design, which strives to offer a platform where artistic and creative works are more accessible to tourists and locals, as well as where creators can be compensated financially through the sale of their creations.
The Chinese population in Seychelles, as well as other invited guests, were present at the ceremony, together with Mr. Ahmed Afif, Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles, and Mrs. Stella Afif.