Up Close … with Jean-Paul Adam, Minister for Foreign Affairs/swimmer |03 June 2014

‘Good leaders are those who can inspire others’

By B.P Damou

Many of our readers have expressed their wish to read about the other side of people who hold leadership positions or are involved in decision-making in our country. For the past few weeks, I have been covering events hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and meeting up frequently with Minister Jean-Paul Adam, I asked him if he would like to feature in our ‘Up Close’ page and he willingly obliged.

Childhood days and education

As his parents lived in United Kingdom, Jean-Paul Adam was born there and shortly after his birth his late father, former minister Ralph Adam, was appointed the Seychelles high commissioner in London. He came to Seychelles at such a very young age that he does not recall the exact year that they came.

He did his pre-school studies at the Sans Soucis and Bel Air crèches before moving to Mont Fleuri school to do his six years of primary studies. He then went on to the Plaisance school to do his four years of secondary schooling.

At that time the National Youth Service (NYS) was still in operation so he went there to continue his studies before qualifying to move to the Seychelles Polytechnic. From the Seychelles Polytechnic he went to Sheffield University in London where he did his first Degree in English and French Literature. He did not stop there as he moved on to Manchester University to obtain his Masters.

“I was a very obedient child and I believe that the way I was brought up has formed my character,” Minister Adam said.

He added that although he was an active child, he was never up to mischief that would get him into trouble but as is the case with every child, there were times that he would get scolded by his parents.

“Being an active child I liked to take part in different activities – mainly sports and activities that had to do with my studies. And I am so grateful to have parents who were interested and supported me in everything that I decided to do,” Minister Adam said with gratitude.


Interest in swimming

Many of our readers will remember Minister Adam during the days that he competed for Seychelles in swimming.

“I have always loved water; I remember my mum told me that she and my father were so scared that my brother and I would drown that she made sure we learned how to swim at a very young age,” Minister Adam said smiling.

Most athletes take up a sport that they love or feel passionate about! But for Minister Adam it is a different story.

“I remember I was around nine years old and I was at a birthday party when I ran into a sliding door and my ligament in my left knee was severed. My leg was in cast for three months. And as my leg was immobilised for that long, I was ordered to have physiotherapy to help it gain back its strength. My muscular strength in that leg had become weak and my thigh was thinner than the other. And as therapy I was recommended to go swimming. I was swimming several times per week and at that time there was a competition that was being held and I was asked to compete,” Minister Adam said.

During the competition for the first time there was an international coach who was in Seychelles to help put together a national swimming team.

“That was my first swimming competition and I finished second. I remember at that time all the swimming competitions took place at the Sheraton Mahé Beach and Beau Vallon Bay hotel and we trained in the sea. The coach, who was a Russian, was asked to look for potential swimmers to build the team and I was among those who were chosen and that was in 1987,” Minister Adam recalled with excitement as if he was reliving good memories.

The coach saw the potential in Minister Adam and he was chosen along with Kenny Roberts, Pierre-André Adam, Fabien Antat, Ivan Roberts and others.

“As we started the team we had to train at the Beau Vallon beach; it was difficult as we had to contend with rough seas sometimes as well as jelly fish; and we even saw a shark once while training. But despite all of this, the experience made it fun for us,” Minister Adam said.

“We took part in our first competition one year after the team was formed. We went to compete in the African Championship in Zimbabwe,” he noted.

As a sportsman everyone has their competition that has marked them and for Minister Adam it’s the 1993 Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) where he won his first medal and it was a silver.

“But five years later, during the IOIG 1998, we came out with a strong team and for the first time in the history of the Games Seychelles won a gold medal in swimming, and that was by Kenny Roberts in the 200m medley. But every competition has its own memories that I cherish,” he added.

At a certain point in life everyone has to make a decision that can change one’s life forever and for Minister Adam he made his after the IOIG 2003 when he decided to quit swimming and concentrate more in his work.

“I do not regret my decision as I competed in four IOIGs and the Olympics but the thing that I really have appreciated during the days that I swam was the friendship that I have built over the years,” Minister Adam said with enthusiasm.

Career life

Minister Adam started his career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a diplomatic officer.

“When I started my attachment it was the year that I lost my father. Before he died we talked about the fact that it never crossed my mind to follow in his footsteps. As a child of a minister, I understood the responsibilities that being a minister comes with,” Minister Adam said.

In 2005 President James Michel appointed him to work in his office. “When I started to work in the Office of the President, President Michel was already working on his new economic reform plan and he shared with me his vision for Seychelles. While there by his side during the transformation and the changes he was making to achieve his vision for Seychelles, he asked me to take a post in his cabinet of ministers and I found myself accepting it willingly,” Minister Adam explained.

Taking this big decision and being a family man at the same time, how does he balance the two. “Actually the two relates; as any father I want the best for my family. As I took the decision to serve the government I took an oath to do my best to help in taking decision that will be in everybody’s interest which includes my family’s,” he noted.

Minister Adam also took the opportunity to thank all those who have helped him in being what he is today.

“My parents were always there beside my brother and I; they were there to support us in whatever we decided to do, be it sports or our education. And I feel gratitude towards them and all those who have supported me throughout my life to where I am today,” Minister said with appreciation.

As a person who has become a minister at a young age he has this piece of advice for the young people: “Leadership is not a post, leadership is a way of thinking and a way to inspire others. The best leaders are not always the people who has a post in decision-making but those who can inspire others and we can always see that teachers are the best leaders; as well as nurses, doctors, people who are always helping in the community as they can make others change their perception of life and behaviour.”