VANILLA ISLAND PRESIDENCY FOR 2014/15 UNDECIDED AS NOT ONE, NOT TWO BUT THREE VIE FOR THE POST
(Posted 25th April 2014)
The meeting of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Island organization yesterday in Victoria reported a stalemate over the nomination and election of a new president, who would see the organization into the next phase after incumbent Alain St. Ange, Minister of Tourism and Culture of the Seychelles, who served two terms, expressed his intent to step down and make way for another member country to carry on the torch.
It was learned earlier today that during the meeting, which dealt with an extensive agenda, failed to agree on the nomination of one consensus candidate, after Reunion had nominate the President of the Regional Council Mr. Didier Robert for the presidency, only to see Mauritius rush into the fray and nominating their Minister for Tourism. Madagascar then too threw their hat into the ring it was learned when the largest of the Vanilla Islands suggested their own tourism minister be selected for the one year presidency. No representation was recorded from either the Comoros or from the Maldives.
During interaction with fellow observers of the Indian Ocean scene who are also present in Victoria for the Carnival Festival, it was swiftly concluded that fence sitter Mauritius clearly had an agenda of her own though it was appreciated that, should Minister Michael Yuen Sik become the successor of Alain St. Ange for the next year, perhaps Mauritius would after all have to make sure that real integration and cooperative action had to take place. It was also noted however that neither the Mauritius tourism minister nor the CEO of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, one Karl Mootoosamy, were present in Victoria as they had instead sent a Destination Management Executive from MTPA, fueling further suspicion about their commitment to the organization and more so even to the Carnival Festival in the Seychelles, for which several leading members of the Mauritius press are present but no official representative nor even a participating troupe. The word ‘boycott’ was mentioned more than once in the morning exchange of messages, mails, calls and one on one interaction, and while maybe harsh did express the underlying sentiments spot on.
Reunion, one of two French Indian Ocean regions besides Mayotte, was expressly thanked by outgoing Vanilla Island President Alain St. Ange for their financial support to the Vanilla Island Organisation and it was learned that Reuion Island has in fact benefitted from being a member through the influx of more tourist visitors attributed to the promotional activities under the Vanilla Island banner.
The next meeting of the organisation will take place prior to the International Tourism Trade Fair in Madagascar, which is also a Vanilla Island Event, and indications are that intense consultations will take place prior to that meeting to try and determine who will take over the presidency. As the saying goes, do watch this space for future updates and the announcement in Madagascar who will take on the mantle of Vanilla Island Organization President.
