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Maxime Ferrari

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Born Jean Désiré Maxime Ferrari
27 January 1930
Mahé, Seychelles
Nationality Seychellois, Italian, French
Occupation obstetrician, politician
Years Active Medicine, 1955-1974 Politics, 1974-1990
Religion Catholicism
Spouse Ginette Nageon de L'Estang
Children Marie-Antoinette Ferrari Cécile Ferrari Jean-François Ferrari Pauline Ferrari André-Michel Ferrari

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.[1][2] 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.[3]

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 the Regional Representative and Director of the Regional Office for Africa of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Early Life and Medical Career

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.

After attending primary and secondary school in the islands, he went to study medicine at University College, Cork and qualified M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.(National University of Ireland) in 1955.

First three medical positions were based in Northampton, before he returned to the Seychelles in 1957. Here, he practised mostly obstetrics and gynaecology until 1975. During this time, he founded and presided over a number of social, cultural and development organisations. In the Seychelles, he was decorated for services rendered to the community. In 1972, he was also made a Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester, by the Pope, His Holiness Paul VI, for services rendered to the Church and in 1976, he received an O.B.E.

Upon his return to the Seychelles, he worked in the both the Baie Sainte 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).

Due to his work as an obstetrician to the majority of the Seychellois population, he was responsible for the delivery of 13,000 babies across a career spanning 16 years.

Seychellois Politics

He joined politics and the struggle for Seychellois independence in 1974 and soon became Vice-President of the Seychelles Peoples United Party, which formed into the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front, now known as the People's Party.

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. He was also heavily involved in the negotiations and signing of the Lomé II and Lomé III Conventions.

From 1975-1977 he served as Minister of Labour and Social Security. On 5 June 1977, he was involved in the launching a coup against the president of the Seychelles James Mancham led by Albert René.[4] This occurred less than one year after independence. From then on he continued to serve as Minister of Agriculture, then Minister of Planning and Development and finally Minister of Planning and External Relations until resigned in 1984, due to his disillusionment with politics.

Following this, he 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.

United Nations and the Environment

After leaving Seychellois politics, Maxime Ferrari joined the United Nations Organisation and held the post of Regional Representative and Director of the Regional Office for Africa of UNEP. Posted in Nairobi, Kenya, he travelled widely in Africa and elsewhere. In this position, he attended the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) held in Cairo in December 1985 and acted as Head of the Conference up until his retirement. In collaboration with UNECA, he organised the African Regional Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development held in Kampala, Uganda, in June 1989. His work involved organising a wide range of workshops on the topic of environmental management.

He retired in 1990, founded the Seychelles Institute for Democracy, and made a contribution to the return of multi-party democracy in the country.

After Politics

Since retiring from UNEP in 1990, Dr Ferrari has devoted his time to the creation of socially democratic organisations with support that he garnered from groups within the Seychelles and abroad. These are designed to ensure the maintenance of democracy and pluralism in the Seychelles. He founded the Rally of the People of Seychelles for Democracy (RPSD), the Seychelles Institute for Democracy (SID) and was the Chairman of the United Democratic Movement in the Seychelles.

He has published numerous articles on the environment and has lectured to scientific communities on environmental policies, as well as on the conservation of endangered species.

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 the 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'.

He is currently in the process of writing his new book which will contain excerpts of his various speeches concerning issues such as democracy and the environment, as well as a range of social, political and cultural themes.

He is the grandfather of British pro-Remain campaigner and EU policy specialist, Blaise Baquiche, who was previously an adviser to the Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) within the European Parliament.

Positions Held

University Education

Medical Career

  • 1957-60 General Practitioner, Seychelles Hospital
  • 1961-63 Obstetrics/gynecology, Seychelles Hospital

Political Career

Awards

Publications

  • Sunshine and Shadows: A Personal Story, Minerva press, London.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Nation Home". www.nation.sc. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  2. ^ "EISA Seychelles: Independence and the one party state (1976-1993)". www.eisa.org.za. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  3. ^ "Seychelles-eNews - Former Minister Maxime Ferrari comments on 'Modern History of Seychelles'". www.seychellesweekly.com. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  4. ^ "Seychelles - Coup by Rene Supporters, 1977". countrystudies.us. Retrieved 2018-10-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  5. ^ Ferrari, Maxime (1999). Sunshine and Shadows: A Personal Story. Minerva. ISBN 9780754105534.
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