Maxime Ferrari

Born	Jean Désiré Maxime Ferrari
	27 January 1930
	Mahé, Seychelles
Nationality	Seychellois Italian French
Occupation	obstetrician, politician
Years Active	Medicine, 1955- Politics, 1961-
Religion	Catholicism
Spouse	Ginette Nageon de L'Estang
Children	Marie-Antoinette Ferrari Cécile Ferrari Jean-François Ferrari Pauline Ferrari André-Michel Ferrari

Dr Jean Désiré Maxime Ferrari [French pronunciation: [dʒin deziʁe mæksim ferˈraːri](born 27 January 1930) is a retired politician and former obstetrician who held several different positions in the government of the Seychelles. He is widely regarded as an activist against corrupt governmental practices and a champion of human rights and democracy in the African island nations of the Indian Ocean.

He is most recognised for his role as the Founding Father of the 'Indian Ocean Commission' (La Commission de l'Océan Indien), an intergovernmental organisation designed to strengthen the relationship between the five African Indian Ocean nations, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros, Madagascar and Réunion (an overseas region of France).

In 1985 he became Director of the Regional Office for Africa of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Early life

Maxime Ferrari was born on 27 January 1930, on the largest of the Seychellois islands, Mahé. He left Seychelles for the first time in July 1949, on board the SS Karanja, a British India steamer, to travel to Europe via Bombay.

Medical Career

In 1955, Ferrari graduated from his degree in Medicine from University College Cork.

First three medical positions were based in Northampton, before he returned to the Seychelles in 1957.

Upon his return, he worked in the both the Baie Ste Anne cottage hospital and the local ward situated on the island of La Digue. Once a week, he would travel Curieuse Island, to tend to an isolated population who were suffering from Hansen's disease (leprosy).

Among his work as an obstetrician to the majority of the Seychellois population, he was also responsible for the delivery of 13,000 babies across a career spanning ?? years.

Political Career

From 1975-1977 he served as Minister of Labour and Social Security, and then became Minister of Agriculture and Land Use from 1977-1978. He was then Minister of Planning and Development from 1978-1982, and Minister of Planning and External Relations from 1982-1984.

During this period, he was an ambassador for the Republic of the Seychelles at the Franco-African Summit in 1981. In 1983 he also represented the Seychelles at the Organisation of African Unity Summit in Addis Ababa, the Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting in New Delhi, and the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Criticisms on Modern History of Seychelles

Coup d'état

On 5 June 1977, p161, Ferrari was involved in the

Personal life

In 1955 Maxime Ferrari married Ginette Nageon de Lestang. He has five children, Marie-Antoinette, Cécile, Jean-François, Pauline, and André-Michel.

He identifies himself as Roman Catholic, and was elected as the first president of "L'Union Chrétienne Seychelloise'', an organisation designed to promote cultural, moral and Christian values.

In 1999, at the behest of his two eldest children, he published an autobiography, entitled 'Sunshine and Shadows, A Personal Story'.

See also

History of Seychelles

Politics of Seychelles

References

Ferrari, Maxime (1999) Sunshine and Shadows: A Personal Story, Minerva Press, London

Criticisms on Modern History of Seychelles http://www.seychellesweekly.com/October%2024,%202009/p02_ferrari_history.html

Further Reading

https://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Shadows-Maxime-Ferrari/dp/0754105539

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