Nundkeswarsing BOSSOONDYAL, CEO and Founder Member of United Nations Association of Mauritius at the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and the 40th anniversary of the United Nations of Mauritius, 22nd Oct 2015. Dear Honourable Minister Leela Devi Dookun-Lutchuman, Minister Premduth Koonjoo, Minister Fazila Daureeawo, Lord Mayor- Mr. Mohammad Oumar KHOLEEGAN, Mr. Simon SPRINGETT UN Resident Co
ordinator, Excellencies of Diplomatic Mission and UN Focal Points, distinguish guest, with all Protocol Respected, it is an honour to greet you all at the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and the 40th anniversary of the Mauritius United Nations Association. 2015 is also marking the 60th anniversary of the first political conference of Asia-Africa at Bandung, Indonesia. So we are commemorating 3 round numbers of commemoration today such as UN70, Bandung 60 and UNA Mauritius at 40. From our last Commemoration of UN65 held at London College in 2010, to UN70, we had lost our 2 key members and we pay tribute to late Harold Chan Lam founder/Manager of London College who was the Honorary President of MUNA and Mr. Issack Lallmamode, a founder member and the former Vice President of UNA Mauritius, may their soul be in Peace. I welcome Mr. Terry Chan Lam, President of the UNA-Mauritius and to all founder and current members of MUNA. Brief on the coming to existence of the United Nations Association of Mauritius:
The proceeding to form a United Nations Association of Mauritius was initiated during the United Nations Third World Population Conference that was held in Bucharest, Romania, from 19 to 30 August 1974. I had personally participated at the NGO forum side events of the UN Population conference as representative of the Socialist Working Youth League of Mauritius (SWYLM) an affiliate of World Federalist Youth. Following bilateral discussion with representatives of the International Youth and Students Movement for the United Nations during the UN Conference on Population, I bring back home the concept to have a UNA in Mauritius. On 24th October 1975, at a celebration of the UN Day in Mauritius, the SWYLM decided to proceed with the amendments to its rule to include the set-up of a branch of WFUNA - United Nations Association as section of SWYLM was launched. On 24th October 1976, the UNA Mauritius moved to operate as an independent national NGO. The main aims and purpose at the creation of UNA Mauritius was to bring UN and its systems more closely to the Mauritian society and to promote the aims and objectives of the UN in Mauritius. This is how we started with UNA Mauritius. I am glad to be part of the founder members and notice with pleasure to see few founder friends present here. During these past 40 years of its existence, UNA Mauritius had organizes hundreds of programs on most UN issues and having its linking with Mauritius and including Human Rights, Populations, Women, Youth, Education, Environment, Development, Peace, Leadership and others. Our 2 last events before today function were respectively on 19th September 2015 the International Coastal Clean-up day at Mon-Choisy and on 21st September the United Nations International Peace day that was hosted in this Chambers with other partners. UNA Mauritius memberships are now mainly from Civil Societies and those remaining individual founder members. MUNA is the branch of the World Federation of United Nations Association. MUNA is also affiliated with UNDPI and CONGO and enjoy Consultative Status with the UN DESA. In Mauritius we are affiliated with MACOSS, registered with CSR and MRA as a charitable institution. UNA Mauritius do carry its activities also in association with other Civil Societies and partners. UNA Mauritius is a national NGO and not a UN agency or institution. We do operate only with sponsorships, patronage and voluntary donations from members and well-wishers. That is why we are limited and selective in our programs and activities. We are grateful to the Municipal Council of Port-Louis and the London College who had been always at the fore-front in support of hosting major programs of activities of MUNA and UN Days in Mauritius. UNA Mauritius programs of priorities as from 2015 are: Promoting the awareness of Tissues and Organs Donation and transplant, we have just get the registration of the Tissues and Organs Donations Advocacy Association - TODAY. UNA Mauritius will further concentrating to work and to collaborate with United Nations Action to Counter Terrorism and other regional and international networking countering world terrors which we feel will also might one day jeopardies our peaceful Mauritian society. UNA Mauritius will continue working on major UN, AU and NAM issues and on related subjects for Mauritius like alleviation of Poverty, Good Governance, Peaceful Co-habitation, Democracy, Social & Sustainable Developments among others. UNA Mauritius express its most sincere appreciation, gratitude and thanks to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Lord Mayor of the Municipal City Council of Port-Louis for accepting our request in joining the UN Campaign of UN70 for “TURN THE WORLD UN BLUE”. May I draw your attention that the Government House and the Municipal Council of the City of Port-Louis are fully committed the lit up with the “TURN THE WORLD UN BLUE” campaign on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and as such Mauritius is joining other UN members states in such great events. UNA Mauritius welcome the UN resident Coordinator office for Mauritius and Seychelles in joining us for the commemoration of UN70 and MUNA40 and the UN Campaigns on Blue UN. UNA Mauritius seize this Golden Opportunity to extend its warmest congratulation to the UN Secretary General and its entire team around the world in promoting, World Peace, Human/Peoples Rights and Developments. I sincerely express my warmest appreciation and thanks to the Organizing Team for this events who had worked very hard for the last 3 months as volunteers to get this result. I notice and greet the presence of Mr.Menon Murday a childhood-scout member of UNA Mauritius and the probable next Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius. Thank you for your attention.
