Jérémie Bonnelame

Jérémie Émile Patrick Bonnelame (born October 24 1938) is a Seychellois political figure and diplomat. He was Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Commission from 1993 to 1997, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2005, and was the Permanent Representative of the Seychelles to the United Nations from 2005 [http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/bio3657.doc.htm "NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SEYCHELLES PRESENTS CREDENTIALS"] , UN Press Release, BIO/3657, May 13, 2005.] to 2007. Since 2007 he has been the Chairman of the Constitutional Appointment Authority (CAA). [http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=9999 "Seychelles’ new Permanent Representative to the UN accredited"] , Nation.sc, August 25, 2007.]

Bonnelame was born on Mahé Island in the Seychelles.Fact|date=May 2008 He worked as a teacher at the Modern Secondary School of Seychelles from 1967 to 1975, as well as Editor-in-Chief of "L'Écho des Îles", a Catholic monthly. He was subsequently Director-General of Information from 1978 to 1979, then Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education from 1979 to 1980, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of External Relations from 1981 to 1983, and Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Information from 1983 to 1986.

He entered the government as Minister of Manpower in 1986, serving in that position until 1988; he was then Minister of Transport from 1988 to 1989 and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from 1989 to 1993. He was not included in the government named on August 3 1993 ["Aug 1993 - New government", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 39, August, 1993 Seychelles, Page 39587.] and was instead appointed as Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Commission in the same year. He remained in that post until he returned to the Seychellois government as Minister of Foreign Affairs in August 1997.

Bonnelame was replaced as Foreign Minister in February 2005 and was instead nominated as Permanent Representative of the Seychelles to the United Nations [http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=2165 "Assembly approves Mr Bonnelame’s ambassadorial appointment"] , Nation.sc, March 2, 2005.] and Ambassador to a number of countries, including the United States, by President James Michel. The National Assembly approved the nomination on March 1. Presenting the motion for its approval, Leader of Government Business Patrick Herminie noted Bonnelame's extensive experience as a politician and diplomat; the opposition chose to abstain from the vote, acknowledging that Bonnelame was qualified for the post but questioning the selection of a man of Bonnelame's age, expressing the view that a younger person would be more suitable. Bonnelame presented his credentials as Permanent Representative on May 13 2005; he also presented his credentials as Ambassador to the United States in May [ [http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/94434.htm List of ambassadors of the Seychelles to the United States] , U.S. State Department website.] and presented his credentials as High Commissioner to Canada on June 7. [ [http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=3067 "Seychelles HC to Canada accredited"] , Nation.sc, June 11, 2005.]

In mid-2007, Bonnelame was appointed as Chairman of the Constitutional Appointment Authority (CAA); he was replaced by Ronald Jumeau as Permanent Representative to the UN and as Ambassador to the US. [ [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/pix/b/92730.htm "Photo: President Bush With Ambassador Ronald Jean Jumeau of Seychelles"] , U.S. State Department website, September 18, 2007.] In April 2008, Bonnelame was additionally appointed by President Michel as a member of a constitutional review commission. [ [http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=12021 "2008 national theme: Our Constitution, the Voice of our Nation"] , Nation.sc, April 17, 2008.]

References