MNAs launch political history book |14 October 2005

The book, entitled Seychelles, In Search of Democracy, has been written and published by members of the National Assembly, Alain St.Ange and Bernard Georges.

The 226-page book, printed in France, carries some 1800 pictures of different political players, campaign posters and election rallies and reviews the constitutional and political history of Seychelles.

"Seychelles, In Search of Democracy attempts to place on record the political and constitutional developments in Seychelles from the period when the islands were under French and British colonial occupation, through Independence, the short-lived First Republic, the Second Republic, to the return of multi-party democracy with the Third Republic. It ends with the handing over of the Presidency from Mr Albert Rene to Mr James Michel in April 2004," the authors say in a press release.

According to the authors the changes in the political landscape are highlighted using as many photographs and pictures as are available of the political players and of campaign material.
 
"The result is not so much a history as a record of the people behind the principal political events which have marked our country's search for democracy," they say.

Launching the book in front of a crowd of politicians and other guests,  Bernard Georges said, "History and politics are not dull subjects and I hope you will not be disappointed."

Mr Georges said that, "whether politicians or not we hope that all Seychellois can identify with a person or an event between the pages of the book."

Speaking at the launch of the book the Speaker of the National Assembly, Francis Macgregor, commended the authors on their work, and reminded the audience that history in Seychelles had been predominantly politically driven.

The Leader of the Opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan, also spoke at the book launch and said that he was proud of the work done to produce the book.

"What Alain and Bernard have given us today is a record of what has taken place so far. It is good to have this record to hand," he said.