President James Michel left Seychelles earlier in the month on 5th December to attend the EU-Africa Summit held in the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, where Leaders of the two continents met and adopted a Joint EU-Africa Strategy and endorsed the Lisbon Declaration and the Action plan. The EU-Africa Strategy identifies strategic priorities in the area of peace and security, democratic governance and human rights, trade and regional integration and other key development issues. Discussions between the leaders were based on a wider view of supporting African countries in their efforts to attain all the Millennium Development Goals by the year 2015.
The Summit was described by Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid and for relations with Africa, as “representing a turning point in the history of Euro-Africa relations; a moment when both continents decide to upgrade their partnership, to make sure they can live side by side in peace, security, prosperity and dignity; a moment when both continents decide to tackle global challenges and shape the future of the planet together; a moment when women, men and children at both sides of the Mediterranean join forces, building a partnership of people.”
Global issues, which featured on the Agenda, were Peace and Security, Governance and Human Rights, Trade and Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Climate Change. Observers are saying that Seychelles participation in the Summit will help re-establish our country among the family of nations, something neglected in the past by former President Rene, apart from that we do not stand to gain much out of it. Seychelles is not a typical African state; we need to argue our position forcefully to get international organizations such as the World Bank, the IMF and the United Nation to recognize that fact and that they need to change the way small island states are classified and accorded assistance. Most often than not Small Island states are penalized because of the mythical outlook of the economy or level of development. President Michel and his entourage must make full use of the opportunity to state our case before the international community whenever they get the chance.
Faking our progress and prosperity, pretending we are doing well as a country economically when attending international forum is worth only a slap on the back and nothing more. The compliments we get are not accepted liquidity before our creditors; we still have to pay back what is owed to them and Seychelles remains forever in the red! And that is because we keep faking it, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. 2008 is the dawn of a new era. Hopefully, the President and all who govern with him will see the lights of reality; it is the only way to get our beloved Seychelles out of the stagnant state we have been in for the last fifteen years. The reality for the ordinary Seychellois is totally different from what President Michel and his cohorts are making it out to be………! This is what the international community needs to know!