Members of the Board during their meeting with Minister Pool (3rd from right). On the minister's right is Mr Belle, the Board's re-appointed chairman

Tourism principal secretary Eddie Belle has been re-appointed chairman of the National Monuments Board, accepting the appointment from Minister of Local Government, Sports and Culture Sylvette Pool.

Mr Belle, who has occupied the board’s chairman post for the past 10 years, said that his love for the cultural heritage of the country has encouraged him to accept his re-appointment.

Members of the board met with Minister Pool on Friday April 16, at La Bastille at Ma Joie, where they discussed an action plan and various projects to be implemented during the next two years.

Also present at the meeting were Patrick Nanty, principal secretary for sports and culture, as well as staff of the National Heritage section.

Mr Belle said that over the last 10 years, the board had been able to maintain most of the national monuments in Seychelles despite scarce resources.

He said that for the next two years, the National Monuments Board's main aim would be to continue with its projects to maintain monuments by encouraging different private organisations and institutions to adopt a monument.

The new board, he said, is also committed to being more proactive in promoting respect for traditional values, cultural tourism and traditional practices in construction and architecture.

Mr Belle said that for some time the board has been in contact with experts from Reunion to help with the restoration of some of the oldest monuments, especially the cemetery at Bel Air.

Mr Belle said that the board also plans to include more of the cultural heritage aspects of Seychelles on brochures as an extra attraction for tourists, citing examples of cultural-based tourism, such as the Doctor’s House on Curieuse turning into a guesthouse, which will help generate funds to restore the monument.

The board also took note of the recent approval of the International Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was ratified by the National Assembly last month.

Minister Pool said that with the support of her ministry, the board is expected to work with more dynamism to preserve the country’s cultural heritage.

The minister also talked about the restructuring of the culture department, which she said is better prepared to come up with more related programmes.

The committee is also in the process of looking for two other members from the private sector to join the board.

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