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Day: 27 January 2022

Monaco celebrates it’s patron saint

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/01/2022

Prince Albert was joined by his children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella for the annual boat burning ceremony of Sainte Devoté on a chilly, but clear evening on Wednesday.

The boat burning ceremony takes place ahead of the somber mass and relics procession on the official day of Sainte Devoté on 27th January, but it remains the highlight of the religious occasion.

Health restrictions this year meant that public participation was limited and the fireworks display was cancelled, but a large screen placed behind the boat gave an assembled crowd the chance to witness it from afar.

Photo of Princess Gabriella with Caroline, Princess of Hanover, by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department

Lighting the pyre was Prince Albert and his son Prince Jacques, as well as Princess Gabriella who was accompanied by her aunt Caroline, Princess of Hanover, in the absence of Princess Charlene who the Palace confirmed on Thursday was still in recovery for “several more weeks”.

Also present for the ceremony were Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy and Louis Ducruet, as well as Archbishop of Monaco Monsignor Marie-Dominique David, Minister of State Pierre Dartout, Mayor Georges Marsan, and National Council President Stéphane Valeri.

Photo by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department

Saint Devota (Sainte Devoté) is the Patron Saint of Monaco and Corsica, who was killed on the island during the Christian persecutions in 303 AD and whose corpse, placed in a boat destined for Africa, washed up on Monaco’s shore after a storm. In her honour, the Sainte-Devoté Chapel was erected.

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Princess Charlene’s recovery will take “several more weeks”

 

Top photo by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department 

 

 

 

Princess Charlene’s recovery will take “several more weeks”

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/01/2022

As the Princely family celebrated Monaco’s Patron Saint on Thursday, the Palace issued a statement confirming Princess Charlene’s absence this year, stating that the mother of two’s recovery is “very encouraging” and will continue for a number of weeks.

Prince Albert II was joined by members of his immediate family in the Cathedral on Thursday morning for the Pontifical Mass of Saint Devoté. Notably absent from the mass, and the traditional burning of the boat on the previous evening, was his wife Princess Charlene.

As the family and Monegasque officials prepared to take part in the procession to the Palace with a shrine containing the saint’s relics, the Palace released a press statement confirming that Princess Charlene was indeed absent from the celebrations due to her ongoing recovery, but that she was there in spirit.

“Princess Charlene’s convalescence is currently continuing in a satisfactory and very encouraging manner,” said the Palace. “Her recovery, as well as the follow-up of her dental care, should still take several weeks. The Princess will unfortunately not be able to attend the festivities of Saint Dévote this year.

“With her husband, Prince Albert II, she wholeheartedly joins forces with all Monegasques and residents on the occasion of these celebrations. As soon as her health permits, it will be with joy that the Princess will once again share moments of conviviality with them. During this period, the princely couple ask that their privacy and that of their children continue to be respected.”

After eight months in her native South Africa, where she underwent a series of procedures for a severe ear infection, Princess Charlene returned to the Principality on 8th November. One week later the Palace announced that the Princess was suspending her public duties and entering a treatment facility outside of Monaco for “a state of deep, general fatigue”.

Prince Albert’s sisters, Princess Stephanie and Caroline Princess of Hanover, have both stepped in to fill the official void left in Princess Charlene’s absence, often appearing alongside her children, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.

 

 

Photo by Eric Mathon / Prince’s Palace

 

 

 

 

Government pushes merits of e-commerce

by: Stephanie Horsman
27/01/2022

The value of e-commerce has been explained to local businesses in a seminar designed to ensure they stay competitive by reaching customers both inside and outside the country’s borders.  

Online shopping is nothing new. Worldwide in 2020, 85% of consumers made purchases from internet sites, with a similar figure, 83%, for shoppers in Europe. These huge numbers are partly due to the effects of the global pandemic, as people were physically unable to go to shops, but the trend shows no sign of lessening as consumers become accustomed to the ease and convenience of internet shopping.

In order to stay competitive, Frédéric Genta, Interministerial Delegate in Charge of the Digital Transition, and Alexandre Pasta, President of the Union of Traders and Artisans of Monaco (UCAM), put together a conference explaining how local businesses can use the internet to expand and to stay alive in this new era.

Through the seminar, they offered a response to new consumer habits by allowing local players to export their products beyond the borders of the Principality.

“Digital for commerce is a strategic issue. We cannot content ourselves with importing added value from outside the Principality,” Frédéric Genta explained. “On the contrary, we must export the excellence of Monaco thanks to our merchants, and this involves e-commerce.”

Photo of Frédéric Genta during the seminar, by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department

Regulatory issues have been a hindrance for Monaco’s merchants, as several payment service providers (PSP), such as PayPal, are not allowed to operate in the Principality. Nonetheless, solutions exist. Purchasers approved by the Prudential Supervisory and Resolution Authority are completely free to offer their services in the Principality. As a result, over 20 PSPs have been identified by the government as usable within the borders.

Merchants and business owners were also given a tutorial on the regulatory frameworks and good practices needed to have a successful e-commerce site in order to take advantage of new opportunities.

“You don’t have to be a digital expert to embark on this adventure,” said Alexandre Pasta. “We are fortunate to have many seasoned professionals in the Principality who can take on projects.”

The presentation of government-backed initiatives were revealed during the conference and included access to one of several e-learning training courses available free from the dedicated website, events giving Monegasque traders the chance to speak to the Digital Economy teams with planned topics being payment methods, omnichannel strategy and social selling, the online publication of an e-commerce guide and the offer of strategic and financial support to companies in their digital transition from the Extended Monaco for Business platform and the Blue Fund.

For more information and to access online resources, go to www.eme.gouv.mc

 

 

Photo by Pickawood on Unsplash

 

 

Prince Albert I honoured as Constitution turns 110

by: Stephanie Horsman
27/01/2022

This year marks the 110th anniversary of the adoption of the Monegasque constitution and the subsequent creation of the National Council, the Principality’s elected legislative body. To mark the occasion, Prince Albert II, Stéphane Valeri and Professor Dominique Chagnollaud spoke at an assembled event to honour the institution and its founder, Prince Albert I.

The year was 1911 and Prince Albert I, at that time the Sovereign Prince, created the modern constitution of Monaco. As part of that historic text, he included the creation of an elected parliamentary body to give the people a voice in making laws and getting important issues heard, thus making Monaco a constitutional monarchy.

Constitutional monarchies were still something of a rarity in those days, and the progressive move was made even more so by the fact that Monaco’s sovereign was the head of an active and powerful political and social institution in its own right, though clearly not looking to be an absolute power.

This may seem normal in today’s parlance, but at the turn of the 20th century, it was quite remarkable.

It was not Monaco’s first stab at a constitution. In February 1848, an elective assembly was formed but was made invalid less than a week later when, on 2nd March, Roquebrune and Menton seceded from Monaco. This cut the territory of Monaco down from 25m2 to 1.5m2 and lowered the population to a manageable 1,200. This seemed, at the time, to eliminate a need for a formal elected body and was not revisited again until Prince Albert I.

In marking the National Council’s 110th anniversary on Tuesday 25th January, Council President Stéphane Valeri reminded the assembled council members that they share a special bond with the Princely family, and Prince Albert I specifically.

“Through this event, what will hold our attention today is the contribution of Prince Albert I to the Institutions of our country, through the granting of our first Constitution and therefore through the foundation of the National Council,” said the National Council president. “The attachment that we mentioned between Monegasques and their Princes was not born, as if by magic, from a constitutional text. Indeed, the symbiosis between Monegasques and their Sovereign has always been and will always be the strength of our country.”

Photo of National Council President Stéphane Valeri and Prince Albert I by Gaetan Luci, Prince’s Palace

 The Prince expanded on this theme, saying, “We celebrate, in effect, in a way, a common ancestor. In fact, and as everyone knows, Prince Albert I is my great-grandfather, but he is also, as you have just recalled, Mr. President, the founding father of your institution.”

This sentiment was given more credence by the words of Professor Dominique Chagnollaud, President of the Cercle des Constitutionnalistes and Professor at the University Panthéon-Assas in Paris, who said, “This monarchy, instituted by the free will of the Prince, is unlike any other as its principles are so inherent in what I call the Monegasque constitutional identity, in a country, as the national anthem reminds us, where Monegasques are always linked to their Princes by a personal union.”

Prince Albert then unveiled a large photographic portrait of his great-grandfather at the newly-named Prince Albert I Library, saying, “I am very touched by your proposal – for which I thank you – to baptise the library of the National Council with the name of my great-grandfather, he who had founded the municipal library and reorganised that of the Palace.”

 

 

Photo by Gaetan Luci, Prince’s Palace 

 

 

 

Weekend ski report: 28th – 30th January

by: Luke Entwistle
27/01/2022

Still no snow forecast this weekend at the region’s resorts, but there will be plenty of sunshine and no shortage of events on offer, including a festival at Les Deux Alpes.

Isola 2000 – There are currently 20 ski slopes and 13 ski lifts open at Isola with around 70cm of hard snow. There’s no fresh snowfall expected over the weekend and, given the fact no snow has fallen at the resort since Christmas Day, the snow canons are working overtime. The forecast is for sunny skies, with a little more cloud expected on Saturday. There will be highs of 11°C and lows of -3°C. The col de la Bonette and la Lombarde roads are closed until the end of the winter season.

Auron – There are currently 22 ski slopes and 14 ski lifts open at the resort, with around 30cm of standing snow. It is expected to be largely sunny over the weekend with highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C. There will also be winds of up to 27 km/h on Friday. In terms of access, Route de la Tinée, Route de la Bonette, Piste de la Moustière, Piste de Demandols all remain closed. The resort will be hosting a range of family-oriented events over the weekend, ranging from treasure hunts to snowshoe hikes with stunning panoramic views.

Les Deux Alpes – There is a large choice of runs at the resort with 80 ski slopes and 38 ski lifts currently open. There is 50cm of soft standing snow. It is expected to be largely sunny throughout the weekend, with slightly cooler temperatures compared to last weekend with lows of -2°C and highs of 6°C. The snow festival ‘Snowattack’ will be taking place in the resort until Saturday featuring a whole host of different DJ sets.

La Colmiane – There are 11 ski slopes and five ski lifts open at the resort, together with between 40 and 30cm of standing snow. As it is throughout the region, conditions are expected to be sunny over the weekend with winds of up to 33 km/h on Friday. There will be highs of 9°C and lows of 0°C. The resort hosts a market on Saturdays, and will continue to do so until the end of March.

Greolieres les Neiges – There are five ski lifts open and 40cm of hard standing snow at the resort. It will be sunny throughout the weekend with highs of 12°C and lows of -2°C. The resort isn’t reporting any road closures..

Limone Piemonte – The Italian resort is reporting 16 open runs and 11 ski-lifts, while snow levels vary from 10cm to 45cm. Visibility should be good throughout the weekend, with sunny skies and lows of -1°C, highs of 11°C. Passage through the Roya valley currently isn’t possible due to the collapsed bridge at Tende. Drivers must instead pass through Ventimiglia and the journey from Monaco is currently approximately three hours. On Saturday, there will be a guided snowshoe hike to the Colle di Tenda forts.

Valberg – There are 18 ski slopes and 11 ski lifts open. The resort currently has 40cm of standing snow, but – like the rest of the resorts – there has been no snowfall since Christmas. Conditions are beautiful, however, with plenty of sunshine and highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. The resort is hosting a range of events on Sunday including the Dragon Cup u8, u10 and u12 races, whilst there will also be an Escape game.

 

Note: Snow tyres must be worn on the roads up to the ski resorts.

 

Photo: Webcam footage from Les Deux Alpes

 

 

Hellenic Community of Monaco celebrates 70th anniversary

by: Stephanie Horsman
27/01/2022

The Greek community of Monaco took the occasion of their New Year’s blessing ceremony to celebrate their 70th anniversary in Monaco.

This year’s Vassilopita, or New Year’s blessing, had special meaning for the Hellenic Community of Monaco. At an event organised on 23rd January at the Yacht Club of Monaco, the group observed seven decades in operation.

Friends and members of the association met to discuss the role and activities of the Hellenic Community and were treated to a speech given by the club president, Sophia Vaharis Tsouvelekakis, who made a presentation about the mission of the organisation. A financial statement was then given by the treasurer, Dr. Panagiotis Kyriazis.

Amongst the distinguished guests were Monseigneur Dominique-Marie David, Archbishop of Monaco, France’s Ambassador to Monaco Stefanini Laurent, Counsuls of Greece in Monaco Petros Machas and Benzimira Philippe, Hydra’s Mayor George Koukoudakis and Deputy Mayor Maria Katsika, and CEO and Vice-President of the Prince Albert II Foundation Olivier Wenden.

The event also included a fundraiser tombola. Numerous sponsors offered products and services and, in the end, a total of €5,650 was collected and donated by the Hellenic Community to the Prince Albert II Foundation to support a project which is protecting the Mediterranean monk seal, who are found on the Greek Island of Gyaros.

 

 

Photo left to right: Gerasimos Marinis, CHM Vice President, Gregory Stassinopoulos, CHM Vice President, His Eminence of the Métropolite de France Dimitrios, Zeliana Charemi, CHM Member, Sophia Vaharis-Tsouvelekakis, CHM President, source: CHM