The tenth anniversary of the celebration of World Population Day in Seychelles was marked on Saturday July 12, with a "Population Fair" in the grounds of Unity House.

Organised by the Social Development Division of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the fair drew together representatives from a variety of governmental and non-governmental bodies concerned with social development.

Noting that the national theme for Population Day was "Beyond Numbers: people, achievements, challenges", Research Officer with the Social Development Division, Ms Jane Victor, stressed that development must be people centred to work effectively.

Explaining that the division hoped to sensitise people to the variety of population issues that need to be addressed in Seychelles, Ms Victor said it was hoped that this would be achieved by bringing people together to celebrate the Population Day.

"By holding the fair here, next to the bus stop, on a Saturday July 12, we are able to reach a large swath of the population," Ms Victor said.

The fair attracted participants from the Alliance of Solidarity for the Family, the National Council for Children, the Prisons Division, the Rehabilitation Centre, the Scouts and the Centre for Skills Development, among others.

It was held the day after the Minister for Social Affairs and Development, Mr Dolor Ernesta, had opened an exhibition on Population Day, in the National Library, with a call to face future development challenges and not to dwell on past successes.

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