Mr Patrick and his wife returned to Seychelles after having lived overseas for many years. They bought a parcel of land at Le Niole and started a small tourism self-catering business of only two rooms. A parcel of land adjacent to their own belongs to government; on it is a dilapidated, uninhabited house. Two years ago, Mr Patrick requested to government that the plot be leased to him for extending his business. Government agreed but not before going through traumas as Patrick’s family were not very fond of the political party in power. However, after Patrick’s wife served as witness in the famous ‘however’ case challenging the election results, government revoked its intention to lease the land in question to Mr Patrick. Patrick’s wife was certainly not a witness of the government in power. When the revocation letter was received by the family, the motivation was abundantly clear; political victimisation.
As the uninhabited house posed a health risk to the adjacent tourism establishment because of rodents and vermin, Mr Patrick found it necessary to maintain a minimal level of cleanliness on the adjacent property; work which he had to do on his own. However, the old house attracted drug users and other part time squatters; it had been overgrown. Because of the declining security situation in the country, the family was forever concerned about the security of their guests and with the death of Mr Simon Esparon, Mr Patrick became more worried.
Coincidentally the family came across another couple who had been seeking decent short term accommodation. Mr Patrick found an opportunity to attend to the security problem by having someone live in the abandoned house. With a lot of verve and determination, the area was cleaned and made habitable. Before the cleaning started, Mr Patrick sought an appointment to meet with the Principal Secretary for Habitat to seek his permission in allowing the house to be temporarily occupied for the reasons stated but he was not successful. Determined, he informed the secretary to the PS that he was going to State House which he did. He was about to meet Mrs Arnephie when his phone rang and he was informed he had been granted an audience with Mr Denis Barbe, the PS Habitat.
He informed PS Habitat of the situation and gave his commitment that the couple would leave when government needed to make use of the land. The couple had brought into the house few furniture by the time Johan Loze showed up and informed everyone who wanted to hear that the house had been allocated to him and squatters had no rights in Seychelles. Mr Loze was adamant that the house was his and he had the right to evict the squatters.
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| Johan"Zimo" Loze |
The house was subsequently barricaded and nailed shut to ensure that no one could enter; the couple could therefore not take out their furniture.
Interestingly, they received a letter from the planning authority threatening action for unauthorized renovation works.
After negotiations were undertaken, PMC officers supervised the removal of furniture from the house which was barricaded shut again.
It is such a tragedy that a ministry which is responsible for ensuring that every Seychellois has a roof over their heads should be involved in a useless eviction exercise. Furthermore; who is Johan Loze and what role does he play in all of that?? The incident highlights that Parti Lepep is more vicious than ever; their networks are still very active. Parti Lepep diehards will find President Danny Faure’s theme for 2018 of respect, compassion and love very hard to digest.
Source: Seychelles Weekly
