VICTORIA, Seychelles — It was an emotional moment for the Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Province of the Indian Ocean, and fourth Bishop of Seychelles, James Richard Wong Yin Song. Accompanied by his wife Doreen, he paid a farewell visit to the President of the Republic, Wavel Ramkalawan, at the State House, yesterday afternoon. After the meeting, the Archbishop was still deeply moved. ‘I came to Seychelles on April 19, 2009 to start my service,’ he said.
Born on January 13, 1960 in Rodrigues, the Archbishop began his studies to become a priest in Mauritius. After completing his formation in Mauritius, he went to England for specialised studies at the College of the Ascension in Birmingham, together with the current President of Seychelles and the current Bishop of Mauritius. ‘When I started my 26th year of service, I was elected to become Bishop here.’ His message to the Seychellois, particularly in this election year, is to remain calm and ensure order during the elections.
‘My wish is to see Seychelles continue to grow into a thriving democracy, thus becoming a model for other countries in Africa. I hope the church can continue to flourish and grow. But above all, I hope the people of Seychelles can know fulfilment and deserve the best. For this, it is essential that there is unity among us.’ On his experience in Seychelles, the Archbishop said: ‘I think the church has globally contributed to providing valuable support to the Seychellois population. When I arrived, many people did not dare to speak out. In a way, the church played an important role by encouraging the Seychellois people to be more responsible, to have the courage to speak out and say what they think.’
