President Michel nominated for prestigious 2016 Gusi Peace Prize award |25 November 2015

Seychelles President James Michel has been nominated as a laureate for the 2016 Gusi Peace Prize Award in connection with the initiative he has taken on the Blue Economy concept in the interest of small island states.

This information was conveyed to Seychelles’ founding President Sir James R. Mancham at the opening of the Sino-Asia Pacific Medical Forum which the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation is hosting in partnership with the Philippine's Medical Association.

On the eve of this year's Gusi Peace Prize ceremonies which will open on Wednesday November 25, Sir James is expected to make a keynote address. It is to note that Sir James received the Gusi Peace Prize Award for Statesmanship in the year 2011.

The Gusi Peace Prize Foundation is a charitable organisation aiming to recognise individuals or groups worldwide who are distinguished exemplars of society or who have contributed towards the attainment of peace and respect for human life and dignity.

The Gusi Peace Prize is Asia's foremost award-giving body and brings out the best of human achievements, ideals and value. Every year it confers some selected awards of excellence and distinction in the following categories such as – Academe, Scientific Research and Discovery, Physiology or Medicine, Chemistry, Physics, Journalism, Statesmanship, Philanthropy or Humanitarianism, Economics, Religion, Politics, Poverty Alleviation, Cultural Heritage, Architecture, Ecosystem and Biodiversity.

There are 17 Gusi Peace Prize laureates for 2016, among whom are Dr Mary Pinder (from Australia) for Medicine, particularly in the field and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; from Cambodia – HE Hun Many, son of Prime Minister Hun Sen for Youth Leadership and Humanitarianism; from China – Dr Huang Jiefu for Surgery and Organ Transplantation; from Czech Republic – Professor Petr Blizkovsky for International Diplomacy and Work on Governance; from Japan – Dr Syunji Sano for Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery; from the Philippines – Ms Nora Aunor for International Performing Artist; from Portugal – former President Antonio Ramalho Eanes for Statesmanship; from Qatar – Honourable Ali Hamad Mohammed Said Efaifa for Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation; from Russia – Professor Alexander Chumakov for Physical Science; and from the USA – Dr Susan Briggs for International Medical Surgical Response.

The Philippines being Asia's first republic and dubbed as the "crossroads of the Pacific" and "Pearl of the Orient Seas", has become the rendez-vous of leaders from everywhere when they come to Manila to be part of the Gusi Peace Prize Award ceremony.

The vision of the Gusi Peace Prize International Foundation under the leadership of its chairman, Ambassador Barry Gusi, is to promote world peace, friendship and goodwill.

As a matter of fact, every fourth Wednesday of the month of November has been declared by the Philippines Presidential Proclamation 1476 as the Gusi Peace Prize International Friendship Day.

Sir James said President Michel has worked ceaselessly in the promotion of the Blue Economy concept which has now become an area of greater and greater global interest.

Sir James said he was therefore very happy with this development which will certainly keep Seychelles’ profile high in the field of international relations and development – and so far as the Gusi Peace Prize is concerned, the founding President has stated that it has never become more relevant than today when humanity is confronted by problems of all kinds.
 
“Let us not be contented and instead let us all together work to find solutions to the challenges that face us,” Sir James said.