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Sunday, January 8, 2017

James Mancham Passes Away!



It is announced from Glacis Surmer James Mancham the First President-Republic of Seychelles died peacefully in his sleep last night. The post was made on Gossip Corner by his son Alexander Mancham. 

Mr. Mancham had suffered from a stroke previously about 8 months ago and was confined to bed for some time. He made public appearances for the inauguration of the President after elections and the passing of Michel Administration to Faure Administration. This aside he had significantly reduced his travels and public agenda.

Mancham was a lead politician in the 1960's after returning from law school in London. He formed the Democratic Party, campaigned for " Free Association" with the U.K. 

The other side of the pendulum dur not the 1960's was the campaign for Independence led by France Albert Rene under the banner " Sesel Pou Seselwa" which was a spin off of the independence movement in Kenya : " Kenya For Kenyans" at that time.

As history chart its course, Mancham became the First Chief Minister of Seychelles government. Then in 1975 at Malboro House in London, on invitation of the Crown government, both Mancham and Rene along with their respective teams were called to the table, handed a Constitution for Independence and a Westminster style parliamentary system. Mancham would become the first president, Rene would become the Prime Minister, as the UK was bent on cost cutting and reducing its commitments to its colonies around the world, in spite of Mancham convincing Seychellois to remain " Freely Associated" with the United Kingdom.

The life of James Mancham has been tied intricately to the history of modern Seychelles. 

While Mancham fought for a international airport to open these once isolated and beautiful islands to the world, Rene opposed the airport. He would later change his stance after seeing the fruits and benefits of this critical move for Seychelles.
In the early 1970's Mancham travelled Europe, asking people he met, to come to Seychelles and invest their time, know how, money, to develop the lands. The Dutchman came, he open the Flying Dutchman hotel and restaurant, serve us the best ice cream in the world until he too passed. Many others came, Bill Pomeroy, Mario Ricci, Claus Meitimeir,they are too numerous to name. Seychelles was open to business.

On June 29th, 1976, a new flag was hoist with a new anthem. Eleven months later, another flag was hoist with another anthem, by this time Mancham was deposed while on a Commonwealth Conference in London by his Prime Minister France Albert Rene, a now self groomed leftist following Fidel Castro as his prime mentor.

In exile, he distant himself from the troubles of Seychelles, keeping in touch with occasional contacts  within the growing opposition exile as things got worse in Seychelles. As the exiles grew, the contacts grew, within the exile community and the international world as well. But as he would always say, " there are no free lunches out there".

In October 1991, France Albert Rene announced the following year, Seychelles will move to a multi party democracy, under pressure from the USA, all of which Mancham was right there to press the buttons, in the back ground, with the help of his faithful right hand man recruited from MPR Paul B. Chow.

The advent of Democracy in 1992, was the return from exiles thousands of Seychellois. Mancham returned April 12, 1992, to a crowd of 10,000. If he had assumed his seat at State House that day, Rene would have taken his seat on the out bound British Airways. He did not, instead opted to play the field, according to Rene Rules. Under Rene's rules it was, but Mancham held steadfast to his cherished proverb from Ghandi: " an eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind".

As the rules played out, the funds tighten. The Democratic Party folded over time as she pulled in multiple directions. Mancham had no regrets, just less responsibility. 

As Michel took the reigns, he saw the deep rooted weaknesses, capitalized on it, embracing Michel, endorsing him, at times in irrational ways to the lay man' s eye. 

If his record on the local stage was questionable for his supporters, his opponents loved having him on the other side. On international scene, he was energetic, making contacts through out the world. No Seychellois has racked as many travel miles as James Mancham in history. That kept him busy, as he once said to me:" it does not matter what your destination is as long as you are moving"........I suppose he had a point.

Finally, James Mancham dined his opponents around the dinner table, he did not butcher them and plant them in the sands of Beau Vallon. 

The future of the Seychelles he leaves rest in the lap of dialogue and real national reconciliation.

A peaceful spirt has been called to rest!

Rest in Peace!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Christopher Gill

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

well said Mr GILL! hE WAS A MENTOR FOR PEACE despite we were frustrated with many of his descision.Today Mr Manchan died peacefully but Albert is still strugglying and will struggle a bit more .Manchan has clean hands not him.Rest in Peace ton Jim.

Anonymous said...

Seychelles lost a patriot .a pathfinder.He built two roads named Goodness and reconciliation.He was an imperfect man who was perfect for one of the most imperfect society in modern history of Seychelles.He tamed the wrathful beast of revenge roiling in the heart and soul of many Seychellois.In his own heart he .he tended a garden of love harmony and reconciliation.Mancham had the right message for the most imperfect society ....in the mournful words of Hario in Hamlet>
Now cracks a noble heart.Good night .sweet prince
And flights of engels sing thee to the rest
And to that wrechted grim reaper,i shout out the defiance words of John Donne//////death be not proud,though some have called for thee
Moghtz and dreadful,for,thou art not so,
For ,those,whom thou thinkst,thou dost overthrow,
Die not,poor death,nor yet canst thou kill Sir James..
RIP

Anonymous said...

Let us not confuse revenge with justice in grief.

Anonymous said...

As our first Demcoratic thus legitimate first President earns a National funeral with 21 cannon shot and lay to rest in Statehouse Garden ..........
We must must ensure that person to he likes ot Rene And Michel with Moral turpitude,,and were not democratically elected should never benefit from such National funeral srvices when the they will pass way nor be buried in State house garden ..for they donot belong there.

Anonymous said...

More and more we seeing a flood of individual DRONES increase in Seychelles .....in my opinion only --Military ...SBC or scientists should be autohrized to use DRONES in Seychelles .........else it would soon become a pollution ...noise pollution etc.....

No regulation by government .......which means a guy can fly his drone on my private property ,film me and then put it on facebook ,,,,without my approval ......
Indiviudals could be filmed illegally ,,,etc,,,
NO REGUALTIONS --
for instance ,no go area like on sensible state permises like airport ,port ,electricity plants .etc....which crooks might use to perpetuate illegal activities ..
Drug dealers may use to transport their cargo ...
Crooks may use to film indiviudals in privacy

it will become a kind of air pollution ,,,,,,like flies drones everywhere ,anyhow ..

Seychelles should ban drones ---except for licensed proffesionals like photgraphers ,or SBC ,,military ,scientists,polcie ,ro fire brigade .......and for the rest there must be a banned ...before it become a fleoh.......noise nuisance ,,,and so forth