Seychelles new music stadium gains funding for its first phase construction announcement made as three Ministers meet Performing & Visual Artists
ATP- Arab tourism portal- A sum of R6.5 million has been allocated in the mid-year budget review for the construction of its first phase on the new music stadium in Victoria.
The project which will soon be tendered out by the Ministry of Land Use and Housing, is expected to be ready for official opening of 30th edition of Festival Kreol in October 2015.
The first phase will include a boundary wall, building to accommodate a stage, toilets and changing room facilities. There will also be a back stage parking and parking arrangements for public close to the stadium. The second phase is costing the government R2.4 million will be undertaken, once construction work on the first phase is completed.
It was during a meeting held at Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa that the sum was disclosed by Christian Lionnet, the Minister of Land Use and Housing.
The meeting organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for performing and visual artists was chaired by Alain St.Ange, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Jean Paul Adam Minister for Finance, Trade and Blue Economy, Christian Lionnet Minister of Land Use and Habitat, Benjamine Rose pincipal secretary for Culture and Jimmy Savy the chief executive of the National Arts Council.
Opening the meeting, Minister St.Ange emphasised on its core objectives.
He said it is a platform for performing and visual artists to voice out their concerns and suggestions to bring culture to the next level. The meeting opened on whether performing and visual artists should be making their contributions to the Value Added Tax (VAT).
It was made clear at the meeting by Ministry of Finance, Trade and Blue Economy, that in principle, artists does not pay tax contribution to the Seychelles Revenue Commission, because they fall within threshold of small businesses with a turn -over below 2 million rupees.
The Ministry of Finance, Trade and Blue Economy said it is open to suggestions from artists for feasible mechanism to create a win – win situation whereby both government and artists could benefit.
Minister Adam said culture is a “vehicle for economy prosperity’’ and played a pivotal role in the “welfare of the country’’.
He added that it is therefore “in the government’s best interest to find different mechanism to push forward this industry and open doors for artists’’.
The Ministry of Finance, Trade and Blue Economy added there is the Small Business Finance Agency, where artists can secure loan up to 3 hundred thousand rupees with 4 % interest, to develop their industry.
When artists took stance to give proposals, to government how it can assist them to top up their income and gain international exposure, the discussions turned towards government assistance for them to tap into reputable international musical fairs such as World Music Market.
Minister St.Ange welcomed the proposal saying his ministry will be undertaking a reach out mission at these respective fairs to get a first -hand impression on how its work.
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture emphasised on an income reporting mechanism for artists. Miss Rose said the mechanism will speed up the assistance that the government gave to artists. She said one measure taken by the ministry is to ensure these data are collected by National Arts Council.
