Africa-Press – Seychelles. During a visit to the nuclear center of Penly Commune of Petit Caux, Sylvestre Radegonde Ambassador in Paris accompanied by Ralph Agrippina the Minister Counselor will suggest the idea of a twinning with La Digue, the third island of the country. Patrice Philippe had undertaken to present this project.
The twinning of Petit Caux with La Digue becomes a reality
This is how in the midst of the coronavirus period on October 11, 2021 the project was going to be proposed by videoconference. Everyone wore a mask but despite everything we noticed the emotion of the elected officials on both Seychellois – Norman sides.
Immediately proposals were issued. We felt the overflowing enthusiasm of the signatories of this charter who, as for a wedding, were particularly proud to have made their contribution to this beautiful event which opens the doors to multiple projects including all layers of the population.
There is no five star hotel but nature has six
La Digue is the third island of the archipelago behind Praslin, has 5km long and 3km wide. On this little paradise cars are rare. The bicycle and… the ox cart are the only ones authorized to circulate on the narrow roads. The shacks docked next to the wooden houses contribute to the charm of this island.
The first inhabitants arrived around the year 1700. The island served as a reception center for slaves and then received political exiles from France and Reunion. In 1820 the population included 414 people including 365 slaves. Currently La Digue has 3,200 inhabitants.
To get to La Digue you have to take the boat from Mahé to Praslin then to La Digue. The headquarters of the port authority was inaugurated in June 2007, which is very recent. For tourists it is a must where it is possible to find minibuses, bicycles, ox carts. The tourist office, the post office, the police, the judiciary are gathered in the same place.
From a tourist point of view, the island is very beautiful: the mountain (330m high), the beach, the huge chaotic granite blocks that seem to be in unstable balance enchant tourists eager for curiosities. Almond trees, vanilla trees, mango trees, banana trees and cheese trees are the main trees on the island. Nature is therefore the main tourist attraction.La Digue has many assets in terms of tourism but it should not be limited to that. This island is alive. There is work for everyone. Of course tourism and fishing come first. Le Diguois is a musician, dancer and singer.
He is also an athlete who has the opportunity to practice team and individual sports. Athletes from this island have already been selected for the national team to participate normally in the Indian Ocean Island Games.
Big plans in the near future
For this second meeting between La Digue and Petit Caux, everyone brought their list of grievances. There will be something for everyone.
In November 2022 a delegation from Petit Caux was received in La Digue. For this first visit it was a question of studying many projects concerning life in institutions, colleges and primary schools. The delegation of Petit Caux presented its municipal council for children as well as the benefits obtained for the benefit of these young elected officials. Of course culture, sport as well as civic actions were examined.
Return match at Petit Caux for ten days
The Petit Caux twinning committee has been busy since the trip to La Digue in November 2022.
This stay is planned with study and feasibility work. The visits are well distributed as well as the festive periods.
The delegation is housed in a magnificent hotel located by the sea.
Work on the action sheets is planned in order to discuss them the next day so as to already prepare for the future.
The discovery visits will be very numerous with a trip to an establishment specializing in the manufacture of goat cheese.
Le Petit Caux being one of the only towns in France with a museum of the history of daily life and of course the people of Digue will take advantage of this stay to make a return through the object on everything that allowed us to enter fully into modernism.
Diguois will be surprised to discover high quality sports facilities including stadiums and sports halls allowing the practice of all disciplines such as football, basketball, gymnastics… and ice sports! which for a city of 10,000 inhabitants is hardly believable!It is worth pointing out that the Seychellois delegation discovered meeting rooms, conference rooms and performance halls that can accommodate, in a seated position, a thousand spectators.
In addition to visiting Dieppe, its four ports and its award-winning market as the best in France by national television (TF1), a visit to Rouen was a must.
The Norman capital is a real history book that has evolved towards modernism.
A visit to the Grand Port Maritime was planned with a boat trip. The Port of Rouen works with the countries of Northern Europe, Asia and the Indian Ocean. This visit to Diguoise is a good thing for the country’s trade, because a Norman shipowner has expressed the intention of creating a commercial line with the countries of the Indian Ocean united under the banner of the Indian Ocean Commission.
A tour of the historic heart of Rouen by boat allows you to discover the beautiful monuments and this famous district of the Old Market where Joan of Arc was burned in 1931.
It is obvious that an evening had to be organized so that everyone expresses their joy at finding themselves in good company. In reality, one evening is not enough, it took two to discover the succulent dishes and the dances, music and songs of Petit Caux and La Digue.
After all these festivities, work and discovery sessions, it will be time to leave for Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, the monuments, the Champs Élysées and of course …… the department stores. This will be the end of a wonderful stay in Normandy.
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