Mancham to attend World Ocean Summit and finalise agreement for release of new book ‘Little Seychelles in a big world’ |23 January 2014

Seychelles founding President Sir James R. Mancham has accepted the invitation of John Micklethwait, Editor in Chief of The Economist, to attend the 2nd World Ocean Summit which will take place on February 24 – 26, 2014 at the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, USA.

The Economist’s inaugural World Ocean Summit in 2012 in Singapore brought together a wider group of politicians, business people, economists, environmentalist, scientists and regulators that had ever been gathered before to explore new ideas and solutions on how to manage the growing human impact on the ocean more sustainably.

In his invitation letter dated December 6, 2013 to Mr Mancham, Mr Micklethwait states “Building on the first summit will be a considerable challenge. As the pace of economic activities around the seas accelerate, ocean and coastal eco-systems are continuing to degrade.  But there is also room for optimism. Our understanding of the ocean is growing, new alliances are forming and new ideas and initiatives are taking shape”.

Confirmed speakers at the World Ocean Summit 2014 include Prince of Monaco HSH Prince Albert II, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries David Balton, United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Achim Steiner, Global Ocean Commission Co-chair José María Figueres, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Chief Executive Officer Frits van Paasschen, The Wrigley Company former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman William “Beau” Wrigley, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki, Indonesia’s Minister for Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sharif Sutardjo, Chile Minister for the Environment Maria Ignacia Benitez Pereira and many more.    

Recalling the words of President James Michel when he opened the first Blue Economy summit in Abu Dhabi on Monday January 20, 2014 that we must not be afraid to set a new trajectory for development on our oceans and seas and must double our efforts to face the challenges ahead, Mr Mancham said that coming just after the Blue Economy summit the World Ocean summit in San Francisco would be an ideal venue to once again echo the message concerning Small Island Developing States, who could be considered the guardians of our oceans and who today are isolated in the context of many developments by more developed nations which are prejudicial to their well-being and survival.

Mr Mancham said he hoped to echo the sentiments of President Michel, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Paul Adam, and the Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet, concerning the urgency of the issues before the world.

“The Economist is uniquely placed to convene this dialogue. Where the first summit in Singapore set the scene, the second summit in San Francisco will be looking more towards solutions,” Mr Mancham stated, adding that President Michel’s initiative of hosting the Blue Economy summit is a clear indication that Seychelles is moving “in harmony with the mood and spirit of our times” and in a manner which is consistent with his own long-held view that “no country is small if it is surrounded by the sea”.

Following The Economist Conference in San Francisco, Mr Mancham is scheduled to fly to St. Paul, Minneapolis, USA to meet with Gordon Anderson, the Chief Executive Officer of Paragon House Ltd which printing house published ‘War on America Seen from the Indian Ocean’ in 2001 and his autobiography ‘Seychelles Global Citizen’ in 2009 to discuss the publication of a new book to be entitled ‘Little Seychelles in a big World’.
 
Mr Mancham is hopeful that the book will be released in Seychelles at the time of his 75th birthday on August 11, 2014. He expects through his active association with several regional and international organisations to get the book translated into several languages.  

The book will be focused on the theme of global contentment and the need for changes in the world in a manner which emphasises the importance of the local community and the happiness of the people.   He said that stories of historical importance of and concerning the Seychelles which were left out of the autobiography, will also be included.