Funeral service of Seychelles founding President Sir James Richard Marie Mancham |13 January 2017

Seychelles says goodbye to ‘a most illustrious son’

Seychellois bade farewell and paid homage, yesterday, to a great man, Sir James Mancham, whom Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon has described as “a most illustrious son of Seychelles”.

The founding father of the Republic of Seychelles and our country’s first President, Sir James was laid to rest in the State House cemetery yesterday afternoon following a moving two-and-a-half-hour long religious ceremony filled with solemn memorial at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Given a state funeral with full military honours, Sir James lies next to some notable historical figures of Seychelles’ history such as Quéau de Quincy and Governor Sir John Thorpe

The religious ceremony was presided over by Bishop Denis Wiehe with the help of Anglican Archbishop French Chang Him, Arch Deacon Danny Elizabeth, father David Alcindor and deacon Louis Agathine.

Sir James passed away in his sleep in the early hours of Sunday January 8 at his Glacis Sur-Mer residence.

Designated Minister Mondon also described Sir James as a world statesman and a citizen of the world; a true patriot with noble ideals; a seasoned politician; a most remarkable personality; a passionate African; a humanist, a philosopher, a poet and writer; a gifted global spokesman; a defender of liberty and champion of human rights; and an apostle of peace, reconciliation and national unity.

She said such attributes and traits of his personality have characterised and moulded his life as a politician, statesman and leader, and as a national and global peacemaker.

The designated minister noted that President Mancham will always be remembered for the many years of his life devoted to the service of his country.

“He carried high, the banner of his convictions and whose principles helped shape the modern and peaceful Seychelles of today. He contributed tremendously to the Independence of Seychelles. He played a central role in the country’s move to multi-party democracy, returning to Seychelles to contribute to its political life and promoting national unity,” said Mrs Mondon.

She added that Sir James remained steadfast, vigorous and determined in his commitment to Seychelles and our nation.

“He loved his country dearly, and his was a voice of reason and wisdom, exhorting his fellow citizens to espouse reconciliation and working together because these are essential for our small country to progress in a turbulent world,” noted Mrs Mondon who also paid tribute to his tireless efforts for the promotion of peace in Africa and elsewhere in the world, as well as, for humanitarian development, the unity of mankind and against warfare and division.

Designated Minister Mondon added that the government of Seychelles shared President Mancham’s vision and commitment for a peaceful, harmonious and loving world, and therefore received the unconditional support of government in the pursuit of his noble goals.

“Sir James Mancham was a symbol and artisan of Seychelles’ national unity and reconciliation. He always sought to create space for dialogue and inclusiveness, rejecting hatred and retribution. He strove till the end of his life, to achieve those goals in the interest of his fellowmen and compatriots. Seychelles is indebted to Sir James. His lessons are for the learning of all of us. Such foresight will continue to inspire us and many generations to come,” said Mrs Mondon who called on all of us to embrace his legacy and the ideals he cherished.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nicholas Prea said “Sir James was a champion of human rights” adding that he was also a parliamentarian from 1964 to 1970 and from 1993 to 1998 in the Third Republic.

Mr Prea added that Sir James contributed to the development of Seychelles through his ideas and he will be remembered as the man who steered Seychelles towards independence and democracy.

He noted that members of the National Assembly have recourse to his ideology, especially in the truth and reconciliation committee.

Anglican Archbishop French Chang Him recounted that one of his friends said she overslept on Sunday morning and in her dreams Sir James told her to ‘wake up to go to church’. And while they were celebrating mass, they heard ambulance siren.

“It was probably at that time that our brother was departing,” said Archbishop French who added the he became friends with Sir James in 1945 when they first met at the Gordon Square (now Freedom Square).

Mancham offered him a small boat and this was the start of their friendship.

“Jimmy was a leader who eclipsed all the others because of his strong personality. This is why he was chosen as class prefect,” said Archbishop who added that Sir James went on to make of himself a world leader.

The question I frequently ask is what would have happened to Seychelles if he had been in power for a little longer?

“As Jesus, Mr Mancham has preached to an international crowd which a synagogue will never be able to contain, and despite his internal pain he was always a flamboyant character and showed his sufferings in his poems,” said Archbishop Chang Him who added that he wrote to Sir James in a letter dated July 16, 1991 telling him that President France Albert Rene had agreed to his return.

Sir James’ granddaughter Lauren Cooper said her grandfather was “brave, bold and determined” and “gave up holidays, birthdays, family and friends to give full time to the cause of the day”.

She added that he chose to come back to make these islands the best while he could have stayed in England.

As Raymond Clarisse sang Mickey Mancham’s ‘Oh! Rolling Sea’ we can say that Sir James was brought back home by the waves, and on his part his son Richard Mancham interpreted the song ‘Yesterday’ by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.