January 2004 saw experienced Minister Joseph Belmont take up the reigns at the Ministry of Tourism and Transport (MTT), replacing Mrs Simone de Comarmond, holder of the portfolio for the last ten years

In a speech delivered at Mrs de Comarmond's final MTT management cocktail, Principal Secretary for Transport, Mr Gerard Lafortune paid tribute to the out going Minister.

PS Lafortune hailed Mrs de Comarmond as the one who "pioneered the development of the (tourist) industry to where it is today."

Listing such work as the U-First campaign and the Vision 21 strategy document as amongst Mrs de Comarmond's achievements while in office, PS Lafortune said that the, "single most important achievement that Minister de Comarmond has made, particularly in the tourism industry, is that she has managed to get Government and the industry talking to each other."

"From a time when there was very little dialogue between the industry players and the decision makers, the industry is today talking to Government, exchanging views, ideas, concerns. The trust and partnership needs to be strengthened however, but none of this can happen if there is no dialogue."

Within the Transport portfolio PS Lafortune drew attention to the work done by Mrs de Comarmond on the airport redevelopment, flight information region, port developments on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, road improvement scheme and vehicle testing station, and described the Victoria Bus Terminal as one achievement of which she was particularly proud.

The Principal Secretary said that Mrs de Comarmond's career began as a clerical officer in the deputy Governor's office of the colonial government in 1972 and saw her rise to become Minister for Education in 1989. In July 1993 she moved to Tourism and Transport, the brief which she held until her retirement this year.

In addition to her Ministerial work PS Lafortune also pointed out that Mrs de Comarmond has served as Chair, or on the board, of the  National Travel Agency, SPTC, Indian Ocean Nurseries, L'Union Estate, Works Enterprise Limited, Boat Builders and SIM.

Thanking Mrs de Comarmond for her leadership, PS Lafortune said that she would be missed throughout the Ministry.

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