The founding president of the Seychelles, James R. Mancham, recently presented his new book at a formal reception organized by Vladi Private Islands’ chairman, Farhad Vladi.
The founding president of the Seychelles, James R. Mancham (75), recently made a surprise appearance in Hamburg, Germany, in order to present and promote his latest publication, “Seychelles – The Saga of a Small Nation Navigating the Cross-Currents of a Big World.”
Former President Mancham was invited to read a series of extracts from his new book by long-term friend and associate, Farhad Vladi, better known to readers of Private Island News as the chair and founder of Hamburg-based island brokers, Vladi Private Islands GmbH.
In his reading Mr Mancham reiterated his argument that no country is small if it is surrounded by the sea and summarized the key points in his book, which tells of the nation’s transformation from a country on the brink of bankruptcy to exemplary political stability and economic development.
Further to the enlightening reading by Sir Mancham, the gathered guests also enjoyed an interesting short film provided by the Seychelles Ministry of Tourism as well as a series of delicious Creole inspired drinks and snacks.
The reception took place on 30th September 2014 at Germany’s largest geographical bookstore, Dr Götze Land und Karte, and was well-received by the scores of island fans in attendance. The honorary consul for the Seychelles, Hans-Joachim Worms, was also in the audience, as was Mr. Vladi himself.
The friendship between Mr. Vladi and Sir Mancham goes back as far as the 1970s, when the two worked together on the sale of Cousine Island – the first ever island to be sold by Vladi Private Islands GmbH. Perhaps as a result of this, Mr Vladi continues to have a special relationship with the Seychelles to this day, and still considers them to be “the most beautiful collection of islands in the world today.”
“Sir James is a great storyteller and this book has something of interest for everyone interested in the Seychelles of yesterday, today and tomorrow,” said Mr. Vladi in an interview with the Seychelles-based newspaper, Nation.
“Seychelles – The Saga of a Small Nation Navigating the Cross-Currents of a Big World” by Founding President James R. Mancham is published by Mahé Publications, and is available to buy at Dr. Götze Land und Karte, Germany’s biggest bookstore.