Reception marks USA’s 247th  Independence anniversary |01 July 2023

The cutting of the anniversary cake

The U.S. ambassador to Seychelles, Henry Jardine, hosted a reception yesterday evening to celebrate the 247th anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America which falls on July 4.

The reception, which was held at Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, Glacis, was attended by Vice-President Ahmed Afif; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde; Chief Justice Ronny Govinden and other eminent personalities in the country.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Jardine and Minister Radegonde toasted to the good health of President Joe Biden, to the prosperity of the American people and to the lasting friendship between Seychelles and the United States and cut the anniversary cake.

In his address for the occasion, Ambassador Jardine said that the United States deeply values the relationship maintained with our country throughout the last decades on a host of critical shared priorities:  democracy and human rights, protecting the environment and tackling the climate crisis, ensuring maritime security, and combatting the scourge of drug trafficking.

“The reestablishment of the embassy is a critical step in strengthening our partnership to advance our common goals and to begin the process towards a dedicated, full-time resident US ambassador to Seychelles. The new embassy will allow us to broaden cooperation and will remain a visible sign of the long-term U.S. commitment to the Seychelles,” the ambassador stated.

Ambassador Jardine noted that his country will build on the excellent cooperation between our country’s law enforcement and security agencies and financial institutions and hope to sustain and to expand the support of the U.S. government agencies, including DEA, FBI, the department of Treasury, and others including doing more outreach to civil society and the community with continued long-standing cultural exchange programmes, including Fulbright, Mandela Washington Fellows, and several youth exchange programmes that have provided opportunities for Seychellois to visit the United States, exchange perspective, and gain new skills.

He mentioned that the United States also appreciates Seychelles’ leadership on ocean conservation and the blue economy, for joining the Ocean Conservation Pledge at COP27 to advance our shared goal of conserving or protecting 30 percent of the global ocean by 2030 and our world’s first sovereign blue bond, a pioneering financial instrument designed to support sustainable marine and fisheries projects.

To support our efforts on ocean conservation and the environment, Ambassador Jardine announced the arrival of the first U.S. embassy Victoria Science Fellow programme of technical experts in the country this year to provide expertise, advice, and assistance with issues relating to the environment, science, technology, and health.

Reflecting on other areas where our country has made great strides, this year, Ambassador Jardine said that they were pleased to see that our efforts to combat human trafficking recognised in the Department of States' annual Trafficking in Persons report that saw Seychelles upgraded to Tier 1 – the only country in Africa to receive a Tier 1 ranking, and only one of two countries to move from Tier 2 to Tier 1.

“Seychelles’ commitment to justice and accountability through appropriate prosecution serves as a powerful example for countries in the region. Again, I feel very fortunate and privileged to be here in Seychelles at such an important point in our relationship.  The last few months have been a very exciting time, given how much our team and new embassy have accomplished.  I look forward to building on that success in the coming year and working with many of you,” Ambasador Jardine said.

In response, Minister Radegonde who on behalf of President Wavel Ramkalawan, the government and the people of Seychelles, extended our warmest congratulations and best wishes to the American government and its people, said the occasion celebrates the friendship and partnership between our two countries enjoyed through constructive and friendly relations dating back almost 50 years bound together by shared values and a mutual commitment to democracy, freedom and human rights.

“Earlier this month, we were honoured to receive Deputy Secretary Verma and saw the re-opening of the United States embassy in Victoria, marking a very welcome return to our shores by a close friend and partner. I am sure that the re-opening of the embassy will inject renewed vigour into our excellent relationship,” Minister Radegonde said.

Highlighting the collaboration by the two countries on numerous fronts, including human rights, environmental conservation, sustainable tourism, ocean governance and maritime security, the minister said that we are grateful to the United States for its support to the development of our country over the years and particularly for its support in protecting our marine resources.

“Seychelles looks to the United States, as indeed to our other friends and partners, for their continued support in our call for the specificities of small island developing states to be recognised. May I take this opportunity to commend the United States’ resurgence in multilateralism, most notably by becoming a party once again to the 2021 Paris Agreement on Climate Change,” stated Minister Radegonde, who noted that Seychelles welcomes and fully supports the United States’ decision to re-join UNESCO.

He added that the urgency and complexity of climate change and Covid-19 means that the time has never been more critical for frank discussions and concerted efforts which can only be through cooperation, dialogue, and understanding to overcome them.

The minister also took the opportunity to challenge the ambassador for a U.S. military regiment representation in our Independence Day parade next year. 

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert