U.S. reopens embassy in Victoria By Patrick Joubert |02 June 2023
Unveiling the commemorative plaque
After 27 years, the United States of America (U.S.) has reopened its embassy in Victoria.
The embassy is located on the second floor of the Oliaji Trade Centre.
It was President Wavel Ramkalawan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, the deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources of the U.S., Richard Verma, the US ambassador to our country, Henry V. Jardine and the US charge d’Affaires in the country, Jim Donegan, who had the honour of cutting the ribbon and unveiling the commemorative plaque to officially mark the opening of the embassy. The place was formally used as the U.S. Consular Agency.
Other guests present at the ceremony were Vice-President Ahmed Afif; the Speaker of the National Assembly, Roger Mancienne; Chief Justice Rony Govinden; ministers; the Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier Michael Rosette; the Commissioner of Police Ted Barbe; the Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles, Caroline Abel; members of the diplomatic corps; other representatives from the government, the National Assembly and the U.S., among other guests.
It was at the end of the Cold War that the U.S. subsequently closed its embassy and cultural centre in Victoria in August 1996 and got its ambassador in Port Louis, Mauritius, also accredited to our country, to look after its diplomacy regarding our country. The embassy was at the time was located on the first floor of Victoria House and its cultural centre was very popular among the locals.
The place was first opened as the U.S. consulate in May 1976 to become an embassy after Seychelles' independence on June 29, 1976 when diplomatic relations between the two countries were established. The closure of the embassy was followed by the demise of the U.S. Air Force Tracking Station at La Misère in 1997.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Radegonde said the re-opening of the US embassy was a clear testimony of both countries’ mutual commitment to deepen partnership and to strengthen bilateral relations.
“What would be missing now are dozens of single Americans on motor bikes and mini mokes on our streets,” he said.
The minister noted that since the present government came into office in October 2020, a lot has been done to enhance the bonds between our two countries and that both are firm defenders and proponents of democracy, human rights and the territorial integrity of states – values and principles enshrined in the UN Charter while cooperating effectively in a number of core areas, vital to both respective national interests to secure tangible benefits.
“As a partner in development, the U.S. is aware that Seychelles is a very strong advocate of the creation of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI). It is about time that the international system fully accepts that the peculiarities and vulnerabilities of Sids (small island developing states) are real. Sids cannot continue to be assessed solely on GDP per capita. The MVI needs to be put in place and we count on the U.S. to help Sids in making this become a reality,” Minister Radegonde said.
Minister Radegonde commended the U.S. for the many assistance provided to our country and for partnering with us in maritime security to help safeguard the region.
He added that he hoped with a permanent US diplomatic presence here, consular matters such as visa formalities for our nationals will be done and expedited in Victoria, rather than in Port Louis as is currently the case.
“I am confident that our partnership and friendship will continue to thrive. We will work together to promote economic growth and development, to address climate challenges and protect the environment, maritime security and to ensure peace and security in the region and beyond.
In his address, Mr Verma said the US deeply values the relationship maintained with our country on a host of critical shared priorities such as democracy and human rights, protecting the environment and tackling the climate crisis, ensuring maritime security, and combatting the scourge of drug trafficking.
“This embassy will allow us to broaden cooperation and will remain a visible sign of the long-term U.S. commitment to the Seychelles. And we look forward to building and growing our embassy presence here in Seychelles in the years ahead,” said Mr Verma, who noted that the reopening of the embassy will allow for the beginning of the process towards a dedicated, full-time resident U.S. ambassador to our country.
For his part, Ambassador Jardine said he was happy the embassy has finally reopened because since presenting his credentials in March 2023, the words he kept hearing in his interactions with the locals was “When will the U.S. open its embassy again in Seychelles”.
The ambassador thanked the Seychelles government and every other persons for the patience and support which have resulted in the reopening of the embassy.
Speaking to the press later, Mr Verma said he doesn’t foresee the embassy closing down again given the deepening and growing commitment of his government to our country including in the western Indian Ocean region where they have come to appreciate that one on four people in the world will be living in the Indian Ocean region where two thirds of the population will be 35 years old or younger, a surge of the world middle class of internet users will be in the region including the world’s most significant scientific discoveries and significant threats which will also happen in the region, among others.
“I think we are doing it at the right time to deepen our presence here,” said Mr Verma, who noted the embassy in our country is the place that the US government wanted it to be.
With regard to visa application service at the embassy, Mr Verma said they are looking to settle down first before working to ensure that the document can be obtained in future at the embassy.
Earlier in the morning, Mr Verma leading a delegation who also included Ambassador Jardine, paid a courtesy call on President Ramkalawan at State House.
Speaking to the press following his meeting with the president, Mr Verma said that they had a terrific meeting where they discussed all the elements about the good relationship between the US and our country in terms of the economic, security and climate change partnerships, among others, including the people to people tie that holds the two countries together.
“So I am really excited about the work we’ve done in the past but I also think this is the chance for us to restart and reset our relationship to make it even stronger in the years ahead,” Mr Verma said.
Also present during the discussion were Minister Radegonde and Ambassador Vivienne Fock Tave, principal secretary in the Foreign Affairs department.
