Australia committed to support small islands’ development goals |27 January 2014

Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to combating crime in the Indian Ocean region and supporting the development goals of small island states.

This was highlighted by the acting Australian high commissioner Julienne Hince during a reception on Saturday on board HMAS Melbourne to mark Australia Day.

Among guests present at the reception, which was hosted by the ship’s commanding officer Brian Schlegel and Ms Hince, were Natural Resources minister Peter Sinon, other high government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and of the Australian community.

After Commander Schlegel had welcome all present on board the ship, which was anchored outside Port Victoria, Minister Sinon, who was representing the government of Seychelles, also warmly welcomed Ms Hince, the Australian community in Seychelles and Commander Schlegel and his crew to our shores. Minister Sinon congratulated the Australians on their day and expressed the gratitude of the government and the people of Seychelles for the significant contribution Australia continues to make  towards the development of our island nation.

“Some of these include a host of short-term and long-term Australian scholarships and training opportunities for our young professionals, exchange of savoir faire in our local institutions such as our statistics bureau and finance department, while the many high level exchanges by both sides including the state visit of President James Michel to Australia in 2011 have brought additional dimensions to our ties,” Minister Sinon said.
 
On the question of joint initiatives, the Australian warship HMAS Melbourne forms part of a group of warships patrolling the Middle East and Northern Africa under the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) fighting against Somali piracy and narco-trafficking.

“I am happy to also highlight that Australia has played a pivotal role in this process through her participation in the Combined Maritime  Forces. The conclusion of the memorandum of understanding between our two countries on the Conditions of the Transfer of Suspected Pirates and Armed Robbers and Seized Property to the Republic of Seychelles in June 2013 are clear example of the joint initiatives we have taken to claim back our ocean,” Minister Sinon said.

Australia as an island nation attaches tremendous importance to its marine resources and Minister Sinon highlighted that Seychelles highly appreciates Australia’s valuable participation in the first Blue Economy summit co-hosted recently by Seychelles and the UAE in Abu Dhabi.

To conclude Minister Sinon extended sincere gratitude on behalf of the government and people of Seychelles to the former Australian high commissioner to Seychelles Sandra Vegting for her instrumental role played in bringing renewed impetus to the Seychelles-Australia relations over the past years.

Referring to the good and friendly relations between Seychelles and Australia, Ms Hince noted that her country has provided 47 scholarships to Seychelles since 2010  and it remains committed to developing the capacity and  leadership skills of Seychellois students in the future.

Other areas of support by Australia is the Ministry of Finance and the Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics.

“The visit by our Governor General to Seychelles in 2009 and former parliamentary secretary in 2011 and in 2013, the visit of the President of the Republic of Seychelles, James Michel, in Australia in 2011 and the visit of the Speaker of the National assembly Dr Patrick Herminie in 2012 have consolidated in a major way the already excellent ties that exist between our two countries and people,” Ms Hince said.

She also underlined her country’s commitment to combating crime in the Indian ocean region and supporting the development goals of small island states.

“We have also worked with Seychelles on building democracy in the region. We supported the Indian Ocean Commission with a grant of $300,000 to assist with the implementation of the roadmap for ending the crisis in Madagascar, which is part of the Indian Ocean Commission’s contribution to the UNDP management Electoral Support Project. We commend the work of Seychelles, the Indian Ocean Commission and SADC in the implementation of the roadmap,” Ms Hince stated. After the official speeches, both Minister Sinon and Ms Hince toasted to the progress, peace, security and strong relations between the countries, and to the President of Seychelles and its people as well as to the Australian Prime Minister and its people.

Following that came the lowering of the flag by the ship’s guards, a ceremony done at sunset.

The 148-metre HMAS Melbourne, which was on a working visit to Seychelles, was expected to leave Seychelles shortly after the reception.