VICTORIA, Seychelles — It was a highly symbolic and promising moment that Seychelles experienced as it hosted the official launch of the Regional Youth Parliament of the Indian Ocean (PRJOI) yesterday morning. Organised under the auspices of the Indian Ocean Commission (COI) and on the eve of the 39th Council of Ministers, this historic event brought together 13 young parliamentarians from the five member states of the COI, to inaugurate a regional platform dedicated to their expression, their commitment and their active participation in the political and social dynamics of the region.
The launch of the PRJOI was hailed by several dignitaries, including the President of the National Assembly of Mauritius, representing the President of the Association of Parliaments of the COI Member States, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Seychelles, Sylvestre Radegonde, also president in office of the COI Council of Ministers, and the Secretary General of the COI, Prof. Edgard Razafindravahy. All emphasised the importance of this initiative which is part of continued commitments to peace, stability and good governance, supported by the GPS Project (Governance, Peace, Stability) financed by the French Development Agency (AFD).
In his speech, Prof. Razafindravahy expressed deep emotion before the youth present, describing this first generation of parliamentarians as “the bearers of the voice, colours and hopes of an entire region”. He recalled that this parliament is the fruit of a clear will: not to wait for tomorrow to act, but to invest in the youth from today. For his part, Minister Radegonde insisted that “youth is not a spectator, but an actor of change”. He encouraged the young people present to use this parliament as a platform to make their voices heard, carry their ideas and participate in the decisions that shape the future of the Indian Ocean.
