Seychellois at forefront in charting global oceans agenda for next decade

Source: Seychelles Nation - 27.08.2007

Dr Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President, has been invited to serve on the Steering Committee of the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, a communique from his office has announced.

In line with this invitation, Dr Payet has also agreed to chair a Special Working Group on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) primarily to advance the ocean and marine global agenda. 

Dr Payet will work with a number of working group leaders, notably Ambassador Ronny Jumeau (Seychelles’ UN Permanent Representative in New York), Dr Angus Friday (Chairman of the Alliance of Small island states), Ms Diane Quarless (Chief of the Small Island States Unit in the United Nations), Ambassador Jagdish Koojul (former Chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States, from Mauritius), among others.

The purpose of these working groups, organised under the umbrella of the Global Forum for Oceans, Coasts and Islands, is to chart the global oceans agenda over the next ten year period.

The working groups, which include government, NGO and private sector representatives from all over the world, will cover issues such as marine ecosystem health, coastal and ocean management, small island states, fisheries, maritime security and climate change.

The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands was mobilised in 2001 to help the world’s governments address issues related to oceans, coasts and islands, especially on the agenda of the World Summit on Sustainable Development which was held in Johannesburg in 2002.

It is to be recalled that Ambassador Jumeau, Dr Rolph Payet and Mr Peter Sinon (in their previous capacities) led a number of initiatives and negotiations at this important global meeting.
The Global Forum will organise its next global summit in 2008 in Vietnam, where it is expected to adopt this 10-year global strategic plan.

The working groups are expected to consider policy issues at stake, evaluate major constraints and obstacles, consider strategic opportunities and issue global policy briefs, and eventually a global report for consideration in upcoming international meetings, in particular the upcoming 2008 Vietnam Global Oceans Conference and the 2009 Indonesia World Ocean Conference.