Address by Her Excellency Mrs. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, G.C.S.K., C.S.K., PhD., DSc President of the Republic of Mauritius

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1 Address by Her Excellency Mrs. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, G.C.S.K., C.S.K., PhD., DSc President of the Republic of Mauritius on the occasion of the 36 th Annual Orchid Show Friday 30 September 2016 at hours Audi Zentrum Showroom, Réduit

2 The President and Members of the Orchid Society of Mauritius All Flower Lovers Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen Good evening to you all! I feel very comfortable being in the midst of flower lovers, like me. I am sure you know that I am very much passionate about plants and flowers, mostly, orchids. Indeed, I have a collection of orchids at home. They are so majestic and inspiring. They are a morning glory at my window. But, first of all, let me congratulate all the members of the Orchid Society of Mauritius for the excellent work that they have been doing over the years, and for having associated me with this Annual Orchid Show. It must not be an easy feat to regularly bring together orchid enthusiasts from all walks of life in a bid to promote and popularize the orchid culture in Mauritius. But I am sure you have been doing it with your heart and passionately, stimulated by your love for Orchidaceae or, as is commonly known, orchids. The Orchid Society of Mauritius has also been playing an active role in disseminating information about growing of orchids to a wider set of audience. This wonderful show is an excellent opportunity for you not only to admire these lovely flowers, but also, to take them home with you and learn to care for them. And, in return, the orchids will enchant your home with their sweet and lingering fragrances. Because as Mario Quintana, a Brazilian author and poet said and I quote: Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul." (Unquote) 2

3 Thank you, Mr Gervais Fayolle, for having invited me to my very first Orchid Show as President of the Republic. As many of you are aware, the Chateau de Réduit is surrounded by an immense garden laden with a plethora of flowers, trees and plants. And I feel immensely blessed and privileged to be associated with such a tranquil, picturesque and appeasing environment. Indeed, flowers play a special and crucial role in our daily lives, sometimes without us really realizing it. Flowers speak the language of love, emotions, friendship. They convey unspoken and wordless messages. Flowers can appease a distressed soul, bring a smile to lips and act as a balm to soothe angsts. As Lady Bird Johnson, former First Lady of the United States beautifully put it, and I quote: Where flower blooms, so does hope (Unquote). I am equally pleased to see such an encouraging number of participants this evening, which is enough testimony that we are all flower lovers. Also, there is hope that all the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today. And it concurs with what Clare Ansberry, a famous journalist of the Wall Street Journal once said and I quote: Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes. (Unquote) Flowers have an indescribable way of making people feel better, happier, and more invigorated. And as poets would say, they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. Indeed, flowers have been an essential source of inspiration for poets, writers, artists and painters alike since the beginning of times. Famous painters like Monet are known to have immortalized flowers and nature in their toiles. And the Still Life: Vase with Fourteen Sunflowers by Van Gogh is an 3

4 indispensable painting for amateurs of art to know, to study and to replicate. Ladies and Gentlemen, As a scientist, I am inclined to appreciate the Orchidaceae beyond its aestheticism and fragrance. Orchid lovers probably know that these stunning and exotic blooms have been used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases and ailments. Ancient Greeks were known to use them for their medicinal properties and as an aphrodisiac. Japanese revered the Cymbidium ensifolium, one of the species of the orchid, for its alleged virtue to enhance fertility. Orchids have also been used as a source of herbal remedies in China since 2800 Before Christ and Confucius was said to have called the orchid the King of Fragrant Plants. Of the thousands of species of orchids known to us, about 50 of them are used, even to this day, for concocting Chinese herbal medications. I am conscious that the use of these plants for their medicinal properties has somewhat dwindled in today s modern times due to lack of research and testing. That s why I would urge researchers to actively study these beautiful marvels of nature. And if scientific evidence is established for their medicinal use, we should promote them and bring them back in the limelight. Ladies and Gentlemen, May I, once again, thank everyone involved in putting together this magnificent festival of colours, forms and scents so restful for the eyes and so heavenly for the nostrils. I wish you all a very pleasant time throughout the Show. And I hope that all of you who are flower lovers and gardeners, whether professionals or amateurs, will go on applying your creativity in this craft. I am sure that you will also enjoy the friendships you have made along the way, and will continue to be inspired by the orchids. 4

5 And as one of my favourite poets, Oscar Wilde said and I quote: "With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?" (Unquote) On this note, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention and wish you a pleasant and memorable Orchid Show. 5