WELCOMING REMARKS BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER

 

DR B.S.S.DLAMINI

 

DURING THE COURTESY CALL OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND AFRICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE SCOUTING MOVEMENT

 

AT THE CABINET OFFICES, MBABANE

 

FRIDAY 14 MARCH 2014

 

Secretary-General

Africa Regional Director

Hon Minister for Sport, Culture and Youth Affairs

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to my Offices this morning and, indeed, to extend a very warm welcome to the Kingdom of Swaziland.

We are very pleased to be hosting a meeting of such high-ranking officials in the International Scouting Movement. In Swaziland we hold in high regard the activity of scouting as a key component in the physical, mental and spiritual development of our youth. We see it making a valuable contribution to our youth playing a constructive role in society, well-equipped with the outdoor knowledge and skills that they gain as scouts.

Scouting has an illustrious history, started as it was, some 107 years ago by the legendary Lord Baden-Powell, and Swaziland is an active member of the International Scouting Movement, participating in the international forums as they arise.

Government, through the Ministry of Sport, Culture and Youth Affairs, supports our domestic scout movement and gives an annual subvention to assist it, recognizing that it plays a crucial role in national activities such as Umhlanga, Incwala and the King’s Birthday celebrations. The local Chief Scout was appointed by His Majesty King Mswati III in 2009. Last month we, in Swaziland, enjoyed the commemoration of Scouts Day.

We thank you for having chosen to host, in the Kingdom of Swaziland, an international activity of this magnitude. I do hope that, during your stay in our country, you are able to find time to see some places of interest and I am sure that you will take back good memories of your time here.

 

Thank you.