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. He took office after

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

France-Albert René stepped down and the previous Vice-President,

James Michel James Alix Michel, Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, GCSK (born 16 August 1944) is a Seychellois politician who served as the third President of Seychelles from 2004 to 2016. He previously served as vice president under his predeces ...

, 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 Antananarivo (Malagasy language, Malagasy: ; French language, French: ''Tananarive'', ), also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana (), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known ...

, graduating in 1970. He then completed a

Master of Science A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medici ...

in Tropical Agricultural Development from the

University of Reading The University of Reading is a public research university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as the University Extension College, Reading, an extension college of Christchurch College, Oxford, and became University College, ...

in 1975.Page on Belmont at Seychellois State House website
. 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, he was moved to the position of Minister of Housing and Land Use in a December 1999 cabinet reshuffle. After four years in the latter position, he was appointed Minister of Tourism and Transport in January 2004; soon afterward, in July 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. In 1992, Belmont served as the chairman of the new constitutional commission. In the July 2006 presidential election, in which Michel was victorious, Belmont ran as his vice-presidential candidate.

Later life and death

Belmont retired in 2010 from politics. He was succeeded as vice president by Danny Faure. Belmont died at a hospital in Victoria, on 28 January 2022, at the age of 74.

Honours

''Officier'',

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

(22 May 2000)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Belmont, Joseph 1947 births 2022 deaths People from Grand'Anse Mahé United Seychelles Party politicians Vice-presidents of Seychelles Alumni of the University of Reading University of Antananarivo alumni Officers of the Legion of Honour