Venn’s Town Viewing Lodge Reopens Sixteen Days After Devastating Arson Fire
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Venn’s Town, Sans Soucis, is now open to visitors again, 16 days after its key attraction, the View Lodge, was destroyed in a fire. The re-opening, by President Wavel Ramkalawan in the presence of senior government officials and dignitaries, took place yesterday afternoon.
When addressing the guests, the Head of State thanked Pilgrims Security and Laxmanbhai & Co Seychelles for their prompt intervention to restore the site, and the Public Utilities Corporation, which provided wooden poles for the structure. He urged Seychellois to treat the country’s heritage as their own. “We should all be proud to take care of our heritage. Before we think of destroying it, we must realise we are destroying part of our history,” the President said.
Venn’s Town, also known as Mission Lodge, served as a school for children of freed African slaves who arrived in Seychelles after 1861. It was inaugurated as a heritage site on March 20, 1972, by Queen Elizabeth II, as a reminder of Seychelles’ role in the campaign to abolish slavery. Entrance fees for non-residents are set at SCR 100.
