During a press conference held on March 05 in Port Louis, the Minister of Education, Culture and Human Resources, Dr. Vasant K. Bunwaree, gave details of activities which will be held at the national and regional levels for the National Day celebrations. The official ceremony will start at 18 30 hours at Champ de Mars on the 12th March and will comprise march past by disciplined forces, uniformed organizations and sports federations, helicopter flypast, and a procession of floats by Local Authorities. The flag-raising ceremony will take place at 19 00 hours followed by a cultural show presented by the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, the Conservatoire de Musique François Mitterrand and local artists. The celebrations will culminate with a ten-minute musically synchronized giant fireworks display.

Dr. Bunwaree recalled that the theme “Nou Pays Nou Fierté” which was used in 2006 for the National Day celebrations will be used till 2010. It is a very strong theme which aims at promoting and consolidating national unity amongst the population, he said.

“This is a special occasion whereby the whole population feels a sense of patriotism and belonging to the country”, the Minister pointed out.

Several other activities have also been organised at the national level. A national flag campaign will be mounted so as to encourage the people of Mauritius to float a national flag on that occasion. There will also be a distribution among school children of a bookmark focused on “Maurice – Ile Durable”. With a view to ensuring greater mobilisation around the country, cultural shows will be put up by the various District Councils and Municipalities.