A group of 25 recruits from the Seychelles Police Academy (SPA) graduated on Friday after undergoing a six-month training programme at the academy.

The training started off with 29 recruits on April 3 of this year but unfortunately four recruits did not complete the course. Interestingly enough, 20 out of the 25 new constables are females while only 5 are males.

The graduation ceremony was held at the academy at Pointe Larue in the presence of Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, Commissioner of Police Kishnan Labonte, Commander of SPA Assistant Superintendent Ned Wirtz, officers of the force and families of the graduates.

It has become customary, over the years, to reward students who excel and perform above par in their studies during these types of graduations, and this one was no exception.

37-year-old Beryl Rapide clinched the awards for best overall recruit-in-training and best disciplined recruit.

To celebrate Deepavali (Diwali) the Copper Pot restaurant at Beau Vallon brought lunch (chicken briyani, ghee rice with chicken curry) to some 50 police officers at the Beau Vallon police station yesterday.

Deepavali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs to mark various historical events and stories, but they all symbolise the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.

It was the newly appointed Commissioner of Police Kishnan Labonte who accepted the donation from the owner of Copper Pot, Mangala Raja.

Mrs Raja stated that everyone needs to support the police officers in their dangerous task.

“Our business is in Beau Vallon and we support the community in whatever forms possible. Deepavali is also a time to share and care, so we found it suitable to share and care with the community police of Beau Vallon and Glacis police station. We are aware how tough the job of every police officer is and we take this Deepavali celebration time to appreciate their service through a common lunch supported by our business,” she said.