Joseph Belmont
Vice President of Seychelles
In office
14 July 2004 – 30 June 2010
PresidentJames Michel
Preceded byJames Michel
Succeeded byDanny Faure
Personal details
Born(1947-06-01)1 June 1947
Mahé, Seychelles
Died28 January 2022(2022-01-28) (aged 74)
Victoria, Seychelles
Political partyPeople’s Party

Joseph Belmont (1 June 1947 – 28 January 2022) was a Seychellois politician who was the Vice President of the Seychelles from 14 July 2004 until his retirement on 30 June 2010.[1] He took office after President France-Albert René stepped down and the previous Vice-President, James Michel, replaced René as President. Belmont was one of the leading members of the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF).

Life and career

Belmont was born on 1 June 1947 in Grand Anse on the island of Mahé. He studied agronomic engineering at the University of Madagascar in Antananarivo, graduating in 1970. He then completed a Master of Science in Tropical Agricultural Development from the University of Reading in 1975.[2]

Belmont was Minister for Labour and Social Security from 1982 to 1985. During the subsequent ten years, he was Minister of Manpower and Social Services on two occasions, as well as Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister of Administration and Manpower. He was Second Designated Minister and Minister for Administration and Manpower from 1993 to 1996, then became Designated Minister and Minister for Administration and Manpower in 1996. After serving as Minister for Industries and International Business from 1998 to 1999,[2] he was moved to the position of Minister of Housing and Land Use in a December 1999 cabinet reshuffle.[3] After four years in the latter position, he was appointed Minister of Tourism and Transport in January 2004; soon afterward, in April 2004, he became Vice-President, while also holding the Tourism, Transport and Public Administration portfolios. Later, he was assigned the portfolios of Internal Affairs, Public Administration and Tourism.[2]

In 1992, Belmont served as the chairman of the new constitutional commission.[4] In the July 2006 presidential election, in which Michel was victorious, Belmont ran as his vice-presidential candidate.[2]

Later life and death

Belmont retired in 2010 from politics.[5] He was succeeded as vice president by Danny Faure.[6]

Belmont died at a hospital in Victoria, on 28 January 2022, at the age of 74.[7]

Honours

References

  1. ^ "Vice-President Faure Takes Oath of Office". Official Website Of State House, Seychelles. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Page on Belmont at Seychellois State House website Archived 10 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ “Seychelles president reshuffles cabinet”, Reuters (IOL), 30 December 1999.
  4. ^ Joubert, Patrick (24 September 2021). "TRNUC hears more on former President James Mancham's return from exile". nation.sc. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Vice-President Joseph Belmont Farewell". Official Website Of State House, Seychelles. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  6. ^ Gappy, Vidya; Govinden, Gérard (29 January 2022). "Décès de l'ancien Vice-Président des Seychelles Joseph Belmont". nation.sc (in French). Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Humble, calm, soft-spoken, a true servant of Seychelles - Former VP Joseph Belmont passes away". Seychelles News Agency. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Adieu Joe!". nation.sc (in French). 5 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
Political offices Preceded byJames Michel Vice President of Seychelles 2004–2010 Succeeded byDanny Faure
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