CFO Andre Morel longest serving employee

After spending 40 years in the Seychelles Fire & Rescue Services Agency, chief fire officer Andre Morel is the longest serving employee in the fire department.

For his loyalty and long service, Mr Morel has received a certificate, a shield and a token of appreciation from the hands of the Minister of Home Affairs Charles Bastienne.

This was during a ceremony which was held at the Espace Building yesterday afternoon in the presence of other high Seychelles Fire & Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) officials.

Mr Morel stated that the 40 years spent in the service is due to hard work, motivation and perseverance that kept him going.

“I never expected to reach 40 years of service, but with determination and perseverance I managed to keep going. When I joined the force I was only 18 years old, and slowly I managed to climb the stairs and was promoted to other ranks. Back then we did not have any protection to protect us against fire, it was really hard, but nothing is easy in life,” he said.

 He added that with the help of God, he hopes to continue to serve the public.

“To be a fireman is really hard and demanding. We have so many young people in SFRSA today and I encourage them to be motivated and to stick to one job,” he pointed out.

Minister Bastienne remarked that fire fighters play a key role in our society and that those officers are really brave to make such sacrifice everyday in order to keep us safe. He added that the government will always support the SFRSA and give it all the necessary elements needed to deliver a good service. 

Twenty six SFRSA staff were also rewarded for their long service, and they also received a shield, certificate and a token of appreciation. They are: Patrick Payet, Jones Madeleine and Benjamin Bijoux (20 years of service); Jean-Claude Philoe, Alvin Payet and Michel Philoe (21 years); Patrick Mousmie, William Constant, Edson Nanon, Lammy Florine, Philip Thomas and Emmanuel Pierre (24 years); Simon Nourrice (27 years); Angelin Isaac (29 years); Jeffrey Gabriel, Elvis Marimba and Gilbert Nourrice (31 years); Danny Betsy, Joachim Marie, and Andre Cesar (33 years); Alford Nourrice (34 years); Regis Bethew (37 years); Antoine Gilbert (38 years); Albert Rose, Antoine Bibi  and Yvon Fitch (39 years).

Two other staff members who are not fire officers but are also celebrating more than 20 years of service were also rewarded. They are the personal secretary to the chief fire officer Jennifer Kilindo (37 years) and Lifeguard boss Ralph Agathine (23 years).

During the ceremony, some SFRSA officers were also promoted to higher ranks.