SCCI & SHTA TOTALLY REJECT THE GOVERNMENTS’ PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT ACT

“A CALL TO THE PRIESTHOOD IS A CALL TO LEADERSHIP”

In this week’s Big Interview, Leader of the Opposition and priest, Hon. Wavel Ramkalawan shares with TODAY his candid views on the government response to COVID-19 and the pitfalls of a lack of consultation, whether the elections should be postponed, the country’s social and economic landscape and the necessity of reinventing ourselves for a post COVID-19 world. We speak to Hon. Ramkalawan about the priesthood and politics, leadership, the protection of children and the family unit in the country.

Hon. Wavel Ramkalawan

 Father, speak to us about your religious beginnings and aspirations to lead?

Well, now we’re going back some 55 years. I’ve always felt the call to become a priest. This was apparent at the age of four on Praslin. In fact, it’s my earliest memory that sticks to mind. From there everything just continued.

I knew exactly what I was called to do in life. When I finished my A-Levels I went to the Theological College in Mauritius. Upon my return I was ordained Deacon and after one year I was ordained to the priesthood. Then I went to Birmingham University to do my post graduate degree in pastoral care, and returned to Seychelles.

Looking at how things were in the one-party state, I again felt a call to stand up and address the issues of the lack of democracy and a lot of illegal things that were happening. I remember very well when Kathleen Pillay was denied entry into the country and she was sent back. She came a second time and then she was accepted into the country after a lot of negotiations and aggression. I always say that this marked me and a little later, I denounced the system in a sermon. I was then banned by Albert Rene from doing any services on radio.

A year later, things started to change and together with others such as Roger Mancienne, Jean- François Ferrari, Bernard and Annette Georges and others, we pushed for multi-party democracy under the name ‘Parti Seselwa’. Eventually, multi-party democracy was accepted and we continued to this day as a registered political party.

Would you say that there is a link between the clergy and politics in that it involves a lot of speaking to communities?

I see what you mean. In fact, one can say that a call to the priesthood is a call to leadership. As a priest you are leading; of course, you’re firstly a messenger preaching the gospel but at the same time you also have to address issues going on in the country.

There is a similarity but the common point is leadership. When we got multi-party, I was chosen to be the leader of ‘Parti Seselwa’. Locally, there were no leaders and since I had stood up to the regime, I was asked to lead the party.

As the Opposition Leader, what are you opposing?

Leader of the Opposition is the title. I wouldn’t focus too much on the word opposition or anything else. I see myself as a political leader with other strong-willed people and colleagues around me, aiming to fulfil a mission.

There is a vision and it’s always been there: returning Seychelles to a fully-fledged democracy, fighting for justice, equality, for the protection of human rights and a strong economy where wealth is fairly distributed. This is what we are fulfilling.

Like I said, the title is ‘Leader of the Opposition,’ simply because I am not part of the government. Of course, I oppose a lot of the present government’s policies. In fact, I have felt like this since Rene was president; it’s the same political party!

They have been responsible for a lot. You just need to look at what comes out of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission to understand why I could never be part of that system. There have been too many killings, too many who’ve had to live in exile, people have lost jobs and properties and all of these things do not match my way of thinking.

I oppose even to this day because there is still a lot of corruption that goes on. Through the FPAC we’ve revealed a lot of anomalies in the way things are being done. I oppose the system because I believe Seychelles needs a break from the terrible past of bloodshed and corruption. Seychelles needs a fresh start. For the time being yes, I am the presidential candidate but I want to see a fresh start for the country and I believe that once we change the government, then politics will be different. We will have more young people involved and people will feel that it’s not about partisanship but fighting for the greater good of the country.

How do you think the government is handling the COVID-19 situation?

Well, we have to look at the medical side and the economy. These are the two main elements. I firmly believe that Doctor Gédéon and team are doing a good job but I wish a lot of decisions were taken earlier.

As you know, I pushed for a lockdown after our first few cases, I knew what I was talking about. Now we have a situation whereby after the 11th case, there is the possibility of community transmission, we don’t know where we stand today. We are walking around with fingers crossed and eyes to the sky, thanking God for protecting us.

I believe that we shouldn’t have ever been in this situation. I pushed for a lockdown even before 14 days after the first two cases were diagnosed. We are now working backwards, so to speak.

We hear that things are getting better but measures being taken point to the other direction, the curfew. It is a bit of a mess and of course in that mess, suddenly people are asking questions. Is it worse that what we’re being told?

I pray that we do not get any more positive cases and that on the medical front everything gets sorted out.

Now for the economy, I think the country needs to look at things with new eyes and we also need to think in terms of how we reinvent ourselves. I would say that the government was too hasty in announcing certain measures. Danny Faure should never have uttered the phrase, “the government will cater for salaries in the private sector.”

This should never had been said. Instead, the government should have first consulted with the private sector and not just SCCI. I’ve heard a lot of criticism of the SCCI. There are other bodies such as the Praslin Business Association, the La Digue Business Association and others.

The Opposition should have been consulted too because the economy and COVID-19 is not just about the government. There should have been wide consultation and from there, a better understanding could have been taken from the private sector.

Having made the announcement, it’s only now they’re reflecting. For example, some of the measures imposed on the private sector, be it annual leave or redundancy, these two issues will come back to bite the government. They were wrong decisions. Economists are openly speaking about it. We are now in the first month and people are getting replies and they’re upset.

The president retracted his decision. When the government found that it made a mistake saying that salaries would be covered, the bar was pushed higher, asking for so many documents and accounting records and such.

This is an indication that the government does not really want to pay the private companies. At the end of this month we will definitely see the real chaos.

A lot of self-employed people have received letters. They were expecting to get at least the minimum salary, just as was announced, but things are different. I know someone for instance who’s getting SCR2,000. This is SCR500 cash and SCR1,500 for STC vouchers to buy food.

The government is really messing up. The farmers were told “don’t worry, we have fertiliser stock for three months and then we’ll bring in more stock.” When they went to the stores, they saw this wasn’t true and the government had to change its story.

The whole thing about STC buying produce was not fulfilled, same thing with the fishermen.

The government has not led our producers up the right path. It looks like a knee-jerk reaction in order to give a quick answer. There have been a lot of promises, but I feel by the end of the month, things will be clearer. The government should not tie the hands of the private sector. The reality will hit the country hard.

Seychelles is shocked to hear about the child-molestation cases, which in fact is widespread and has been ongoing for years but remains taboo. What is your take?

I condemn child molestation. I believe our children are here for us to protect them. They should not be preyed upon and abused by adults. For me, this is a clear no-go area as far as our children are concerned. The three men convicted pleaded guilty and of course, everybody went into shock.

It’s not the first time that people have been convicted for similar offences. A few years back a guy was arrested for abusing young children and there was an uproar. He was sentenced for over 20 years and everyone went quiet after a while. Now the uproar is back.

I think the country needs to be serious about protecting our children. What sticks out for me is that this is the first time it’s happened when we have a minister responsible for the Family. This has happened under their watch. Now, we can either say that they’re working and they’ve been able to identify offenders, or on the other hand we can turn around and say that the ministry isn’t doing its job.

This latest case went through the internet and we know well that international organisations have ways of tracking these paedophiles, so what has Seychelles been doing? We complain about social media, but what has been done concretely? We still have fake profiles and children can be easily lured through these profiles.

The police need to get their act together. An IP address can easily be traced. One, we need to step up as far as social media is concerned. Two, the family needs to be more responsible. We hear from time to time that children go missing. When they do return home, what do the parents do? Do the police manage to trace where the children have been? Your phone has a GPS on it and we should be able to track and follow where a child could have been.

Schools must be able to identify abnormal behaviour. These kids exhibit certain behaviour when such things happen.

Now the country needs to step up, make an example of these offenders as a deterrent to would-be predators. People who do these things are sick in the head. Maybe they should realise that they shouldn’t be preying on young children, rather getting on with a serious adult life.

Would you agree that Seychelles as a whole is going through a lot of social ills whereby certain unhealthy actions and habits, that are Western, are deemed normal?

I think you’re right. A lot of kids find this normal. Though we are labelled as African, we tend to follow more the Western culture. I am amazed at how things that pop up in the west suddenly become the norm here.

There is a tendency to see such things as normal. It is also true that parents, because of this western mentality, fall into the trap of thinking this is normal. They don’t feel the need to impose restraint on their kids.

A lot of people would say that it is because of how kids dress up and they’re looking for it. I don’t think we should ever say these things. A child remains a child and it’s the adult that interprets things differently.

A child taking part in a child beauty pageant is innocent at its core and I believe it is the adult’s mind that interprets things differently, seeing an opportunity to prey on a child. This is why I used the expression of them being sick in the head.

Unfortunately, the family is not a strong unit in Seychelles. Over 60% of children are born out of a serious relationship. Furthermore, a lot of family units comprise of a father who have other children, as well as the mother. We have instances where the stepdad preys on the daughter of the partner. There is a lot of secrecy as the mother does not want the shame of the revelations. The innocent child becomes a victim in that sense too because the very people who are supposed to protect them cannot do so.

It’s a complex issue and I think we definitely have to start somewhere. The attitude of ‘laissezfaire’ has gone too far. The attitude of sleeping-over by teenagers has become a norm and a lot of parents do not know what goes on when their kids sleep over. We need to get back to basics!

What are your views on the police force and how do you think they’re faring during the COVID- 19 situation?

Unfortunately, I would say, following my own experience, I am quite disappointed with the police force, especially with the ANB. This came out clearly in the report (related to my unlawful stop and search) by Judge Robinson that they need to have a protocol on how they carry out certain activities. If you stop somebody for a search, there needs to be reasonable suspicion. Your freedom is sacred and anything that takes away your freedom needs to be real!

I think the police needs quite a bit of training; the attitude of officers should be more reasonable. Without hesitation, I will talk about the case of Honourable Valmont. He was arrested after breaking the curfew rules from what I understand and he ran to his home. The police chased and followed him to his home. If this is the way it happened, for me, the question is, you arrest somebody in his home and you take him to a police station to have him detained. This does not make sense. It should not have happened. He should’ve been cautioned and made to report to the police the following day and charged if needed.

But then, I’ve seen multiple videos being circulated where officers use excessive force or tear gas, playing the ‘cowboy’. The police need to be reasonable and uphold the rule of law.

I believe that our police force needs to take stock on what’s happening within it and then give Seychelles proper policing. This way, a police officer does not abuse his powers. A citizen can talk and reason with an officer and that officer should have the possibility to understand and empathise. It shouldn’t be a question of ‘no, I’m the officer! Therefore, I am detaining you.’ No, this type of policing is gone, it’s finished.

I look forward to an era where police officers are well trained and will see themselves as servants of the people and they will help to maintain law and order. They will not be the ones accused or convicted of breaking the law.

Can we get an update on FPAC recommendations and where it’s at now?

The thing is, the FPAC has done a lot of work up until now. We have carried out a number of investigations and we’ve presented our reports to the Assembly and through the Assembly, to the government.

Unfortunately, I feel that the government has not taken the findings of the FPAC seriously. On the other hand, though, what I have found is through our deliberations, especially when it comes to the Auditor General’s report, looking at the issues raised, the ministries have listened to our propositions on procurement and we find that year after year, things get better.

In fact, one instance we are happy about concerns the Botanical Gardens Foundation. The government was collecting only SCR1.2 million and after conducting our investigation, we saw where money was disappearing. We notified them and gave recommendations. Interestingly enough, last year, they collected over SCR7 million. The same for L’Union Estate, which was running at a loss and now after the FPAC intervened, for the last two years, it is running at a profit. If I’m not mistaken, it recorded SCR15 million as a yearly profit.

Now, the work staring the FPAC in the eye is the first disbursements to be made under the special budget for COVID-19 and for the Ministry of Finance to provide us with a report. That should be presented to the National Assembly and the FPAC will go through it and make our report to the Assembly for an assessment on what we have found.

How have you been feeling about the elections up until now and do you think that it should be postponed?

No, I don’t think the elections should be postponed. We are in April and elections should be held between September and Novembe, we still have some time to go. South Korea had their elections some two, three weeks ago in the midst of the COVID crisis. The US will be having theirs too, so I don’t see anything that should stop the elections from being held unless there is a second round of COVID- 19 that really messes up the world, then I would obviously step back and think about what we are going to do.

Of course, the situation has affected the traditional campaigning style but just like the country will have to reinvent itself, we have already reinvented our style of campaigning as I am sure others have, so things are going smoothly.

But, back to election time, I am confident that the people of Seychelles still want to see a change of government and I believe it will happen in 2020.

Do you think the leading party has an unfair advantage in terms of campaigning and visibility since the president and the government are constantly on TV and communicating to the public?

Well, yes, one could easily come to the conclusion that Danny Faure is always on TV and making announcements and as such is doing a lot of politics. I would say that it’s normal, I do not see it as an unfair advantage. He is the president of the country and COVID-19 is a serious issue and as the head of the executive he has to be the one leading the fight.

So, I don’t have any problems with that. In fact, sometimes it is to our advantage! He makes an announcement and then he needs to go back on these. Farmers complain, fishermen complain; he makes an announcement and the private sector complains. I mean, overexposure can also destroy.

So right now, I am not complaining about his presence because he is doing us quite a lot of good.

Has the party discussed a structure and changes if you reached the executive?

We were already working on a programme and in fact, because of COVID-19 we have had to change a lot of things. For example, the way we look at the economy. Tourists will probably come back, after whatever number of years it takes. But it is obvious now that we cannot make tourism the number one [pillar].

We are looking at how to give fishing and agriculture their rightful place in our economy. We are also looking into self-sufficiency so that we can cut on importation. If we do that, we can build higher reserves. These two are now top on our agenda and we’re talking to experts on how to push this forward.

Tourism does not need to be rebuilt and reinvented. But agriculture, we need to start thinking in terms of livestock. This is one area that needs emphasis, as well as production.

When we look at our islands run by IDC, COVID-19 has proven to be a real test. Apart from tourism, they haven’t produced much. Celebrating 40 years of IDC, I believe there is a huge question mark on what IDC has actually been doing. They put all their eggs in one basket and today, we cannot depend on IDC for livestock or agricultural products. We have to take a new look in how we manage our islands that will bring greater benefits to our country.

by A. Laporte

Source: Today in Seychelles

UNLAWFUL SEARCH RULING TO BE CHALLENGED IN SUPREME COURT

By N.Esparon

Following the release of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the search of Honourable Wavel Ramkalawan’s luggage at Seychelles’ International Airport on 8 February 2020, the legal counsel for the Seychelles Police Force, Frank Elizabeth addressed the media through a press conference on Friday, 17 April 2020.

When Judge Fiona Robinson rendered the search conducted by ANB officers on Honourable Ramkalawan which occurred in February to be unlawful as the officers did not satisfy the test of reasonable grounds for suspicion before the search took place, it raised the question of the legality on the way stop and search is currently being conducted by law enforcement officers in Seychelles. The Misuse of Drugs Act, 2016 (MODA), under the Power of search and seizure, article 25 (1) states that an officer at any time, without a warrant, can - (a) to stop and search any person whom the officer reasonably suspects of having in his or her possession a controlled drug or an article liable to seizure.

According to Elizabeth, the Seychelles Police Force is not disputing the fact that MODA doesn’t give any officers the authority to conduct a stop and search without reasonable suspicions. However, Elizabeth explained that when consent for the search is given to the police, this should give the police the authority to search contrary to the findings in the report, which states that even though Honourable Ramkalawan instigated the search, and giving consent in the process, it was still an unlawful search due to no evidence of reasonable suspicion.

 

Elizabeth

Elizabeth announced that the Seychelles Police Force will therefore be taking this matter to the Supreme Court for judicial review and for them to make a pronouncement on whether Judge Robinson’s ruling was correct. He also pointed out that Judge Robinson based her ruling only on section 25 of the MODA but she should also have taken into account the Right to privacy, Article 20 (1) of the Seychelles Constitution where it states that every person has a right not to be subjected to – (a) without the consent of that person, to the search of the person or property or premises of that person or to the unlawful entry by others on the premises of that person. However, Elizabeth believes that in reverse to Article 20, where consent for the search is given to the authority, this should permit the law enforcement officers to search without any reasonable suspicions but this is contrary to the report as it suggests regardless of consent, reasonable suspicions must be present first.

According to Anthony Derjacques, the legal counsel for Honourable Ramkalawan, a judicial review is only applicable to an adjudicating authority, such as a tribunal, a court or public authority where they would render a determination or judgment on a matter. The role of the Commission of Inquiry is simply a body established under the Act by the president to establish the finding of the facts, the law and the facts under the law, it is not to adjudicate between parties like in a court of law but to establish the fact and report back to the president; the findings of the Commission can include recommendations.

Anthony Derjacques

He also pointed out that you don’t normally refer to the Constitution when there’s a dispute with a special law, in this case, the MODA, 2016. Normally this is addressed by submitting a petition to the Constitutional Court challenging the constitutionality of MODA. As MODA is separate from article 20, it has to be applied as is.

“If you want to enlarge MODA in the light of article 20, you have to take into account when looking for reasonable suspicion that in law, consent from a child is not consent and consent under duress is not consent in law. If there is a finding of consent, it is one of the circumstances that must be taken into consideration by the police officer when he or she finds there was reasonable suspicion. For example, a person who approaches a police officer and says to search him, the police officer will tell him to go away I have no intention of searching you. But if, in the circumstances that someone approaches an officer and ask to be searched to get the attention of the officer whilst his friends walk by with a package containing drugs, the police officer can take into account whether to determine if the person that said to search me knew about the drug trafficking taking place and raises a reasonable suspicion in his mind, he can even arrest that person. You cannot look at consent or the lack of consent in isolation, it is one of the circumstances when you try to interpret section 25 (1) of MODA” clarified Derjacques.

Source: Today in Seychelles

MISHANDLING OF PAYMENTS KEEPS LA MISERE CASE DRAGGING ON

Abert René and Kamal Zarqani both paid R250,000 although in the same household

The compensation payments for La Misere residents over pollution of their water supply keeps dragging on. Now, with the Covid-19 emergency, it is unclear if Government will be able to go ahead with the payments promised for this year and next.

But the real shame is that the whole matter could have been settled if not for abuse and political manipulation. The list of payments made in 2011 reveals many such cases which amount to over R5 million rupees.

What has become clear is that the scheme for payment of compensation was used a slush fund to pay some people who did not qualify and in many other cases just as a means of securing votes.

The typical example is the household of former President Albert René, who was paid R250,000 although his water supply was in no way connected to the polluted source. What’s more, his brother-in-law Kamal Zarqani, also received payment of R250,000 as a separate household although living in the same house as René.

A number of other households also received double payments, usually to each of two partners living together. An examination of the list by La Misere residents has revealed at least 17 cases of this kind. In another notable case, the couple concerned did not even live at La Misere but at Grand Anse Mahe, in an area with a totally different water supply.

The compensation in 2011 had a fund of R 113,925,000, of which R99 million came from ASCON, the contractor on the building site which caused the pollution, and around R14.9 million from an anonymous private donor.  Payments were made to 457 households altogether, including the double payments. In addition, another 53 ‘secondary households’, usually am offspring with a family in the same house, received R 44,335 each. People connected to La Misere school and the Seychelles Tourism Academy also received some compensation.

If the payments had been properly administered, clear and transparent all the way, the people who were affected could well have seen more justice. But if the Head of State abused the system, what do you expect? Many payments were no doubt calculated to win votes in the Presidential election of the same year.

As the Government struggles to find the money from taxpayers to make another round of payments to individuals, it is to be hoped that things will be done properly this time.

Source: Seychelles Weekly

LOZE & US ATTEMPT TO SHIFT BLAME ON HON. AFIF FOR THEIR FAILINGS

Kakayonyont

United Seychelles and Johan Loze(Known locally as Kakayonyont) attempt to blame Hon. Ahmed Afif for their failings which have resulted in sanctions by France and the EU. In the Assembly on the 26^th of February Loze knowing he has immunity attempted a personal attack of fake news and lies. The lies are as follows:

1.      In an amendment to the IBC Act in Nov 2018, that section 390 was deleted by Hon Afif and LDS. Section 390 deals with filing of information and was NOT deleted as can be seen in the final amendment act that was assented by Danny Faure.

2.      That the clause that was amended in Proceed of Crimes Act (POCA) on frozen funds was motivated by vested interests of Hon. Afif.

This intentional misinformation is totally false; outright lies! As can be seen section 390 of the IBC act still remains today as it was not amended. As for the POCA claim, the Minister of Finance at that time confirmed that they released all the funds because there were no charges against any of the fund holders, some of which had been frozen for over 8 years.

Loze has been challenged before and now, that if he still believes this to be true to bring a motion in the Assembly to raise these issues. Alternatively, he can take what he thinks are facts to the Police or the Anti-Corruption Commission. So far Loze has failed to do either.

Loze, the desperate man, and his desperate party have nothing to go on and are just inventing lies.

ELIMINATION OF PIT LATRINES: MONUMENTAL FAILURE BY US GOVERNMENT

If there is one area in which the current government has failed miserably, it is in the campaign launched more than a decade ago to eliminate the use of pit latrines nationwide.

Before we were ushered into the new millennium, government had vowed to rid the country of pit latrines and subsequently funds were allotted in the national budget on a yearly basis for the same. A yearly average of SR 500 000 was earmarked annually for the project and an army of the ruling party’s activists under the guise of District Administration staff trotted uphill to identify and eliminate the latrines as part of the district projects.

Apart from the obvious discomfort of odour, pit latrines have the potential of leaching into underground water and threatening human health through contamination.

Only last year in Cabo Verde, the recently retired Minister for Health, Mr Jean Paul Adam, while addressing the African Health Forum, gave credit to the government of which he was part. He lauded Danny Faure’s government for its sustained investment in the elimination of pit latrines in attaining sustainable health security for the country. He was certainly aware of his government’s failure in that respect.

Sadly, pit latrines still form part of our landscape and unless government is truly committed to alleviate poverty, pit latrines will be there to stay. In a country where district projects are subjected to political interference, massive failures are bound to be the order of the day.

Source: Seychelles Weekly

A FAILED COMMANDER IN CHIEF

Danny Faure stated in a speech immediately after his inauguration in October 2016 that his presidency will be a start of a new chapter for Seychelles. However, evidence since shows that it was not a new chapter but just a continuation of a chapter that began on the 5^th of June 1977. In his Presidential oath he solemnly swore to uphold the Constitution and the laws of Seychelles.

At one of last weeks hearings at the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC), it was revealed by Hon. Larue that approximately 4 years ago Mr Brian Victor and his lawyer requested a meeting with Danny Faure. In the meeting Mr Victor informed the sitting President of the incident in 1983 where Sonny Elizabeth and Michel Hoffman were murdered by soldiers from Seychelles People's Defence Force (SPDF). The soldiers had also attempted to kill Mr Victor but miraculously he survived to be one of the most important eyewitnesses in Seychelles history. An affidavit was presented to the sitting President.

Brian Victor and Hon Larue in 2016

It was expected that as one of the accused was still an army Captain in the SPDF that the President would take immediate action and open an inquiry as expected by a Commander in chief when a soldier is accused of murder. The sitting President failed to take a decision and no action was forthcoming. At the time former president Albert Rene was still alive and instead of putting his citizens and Seychelles first, did Danny Faure decide to protect his hero? Danny Faure talks about correcting the “errors” of the past but when this opportunity presented itself, the sitting President failed to deliver.

Source: Seychelles Weekly

IS THERE A SECRET SAFE AT LAND REGISTRAR?

Exposing the land grab reveals that certain documents are being kept out of the public records.

Honorable Flory Larue was requested by the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) to appear before them on the 6^th of February 2020 to give evidence on the abuse of state land by those in power who gained financially. In an extensive presentation Hon. Larue provided facts and documents exposing the abuse.

Many examples were cited including that of former President Albert Rene. It was revealed that Rene had as far back as 1971 secretly acquired 2 parcels at Sans Souci in the national park from the Colony of Seychelles when acting as chair of Lands Committee for SCR 9385. In 1991 Rene increased his land grab by selling himself 3 parcels of Government land (B542, B765 and B767) at Barbaron which totaled 33,764 square meters for the sum of SR65,000. This was later amalgamated to be part of B1854. More abuse was shown with Rene leasing over 80,000 square meters through a company called Capricorn Estate which was owned by Katiti properties, a company Rene had 99% shares. Evidence that former Land Minister Dolor Ernesta had 52 parcels registered in his name were also provided.

A shocking revelation came after Hon. Larue provided evidence of the abuse of state land by the political party United Seychelles and their more than 40 parcels of land grab. United Seychelles was formerly Parti Lepep and before that SPPF and SPUP. It was revealed that parcel B2565 did not belong to the political party anymore but was owned by former president James Michel.

Parcel B2565, which is 12,218 square meters in size, is a parcel which was amalgamated from parcels B499, B500 and B502; by the then President of SPPF. No date was recorded on the document. The huge parcel which has 5 constructions with a swimming pool was thought to belong to the Anse Polite branch of SPPF.

Evidence shows that whilst investigating parcel B2565 on the 13th of July 2016 as part of an overall United Seychelles land grab investigation, the certified copy that land registrar provided indicated that this plot belonged to SPPF.  Even on the 10th of September 2019 Minister Pamela Charlette confirmed to the National Assembly that B2565 still belonged to SPPF now United Seychelles. This was in response to a private notice question by the Leader of the opposition to list all current land that United Seychelles are still the owners.

Hon. Larue provided a document that she recently received to TRNUC that now reveals that on the 1st of August 2012, B2565 was actually transferred to James Michel for the sum of SCR 2Million. This document is not on the file of B2565 at land registrar that is available to the public. This raises many questions. Is there fraud at the Land registrar? Are laws of the Land Registration act being broken as registrar maybe intentionally concealing and misleading the public by giving false and incorrect information as was the case on the 13th of July 2016 which certified that B2565 belonged to SPPF? There are many rumours and even hints from the staff at land registrar that there is a secret safe that conceals certain sensitive documents that would embarrass certain individuals. If this is correct, are they concealing documents like the B2565 document from even the Minister herself?

Source: Seychelles Weekly

SIMON GILL ACCUSED OF TRYING TO INTIMIDATE AGENCY WITH LAND GRAB

MNA Simon Gill is accused of trying to intimidate a government insitution, the Industrial Estates Authority, and force his way onto a plot of state land even without the approval of the Authority.

Mr. Gill is said to have been furious after the Authority refused to give him the plot at Perseverance for his business. Answering his request, the agency told him that the plot had already been allocated to another entrepreneur with due process and that that he would have to submit a tender application like everyone else to be considered for another plot.

Dissatisfied with this decision of the IEA Board, Mr. Gill said he would move his equipment and containers onto the site anyway and that he would inform the Vice-President of what he claims to be a malicious, political, vindictive and disrespectful action.

Mr. Gill had been offered the plot in 2016 but had failed to pay the premium and had informed the agency in 3 years to express any interest in the plot. The decision of the Board reveals that as far as they are concerned, his claim to the plot had lapsed and was not relevant.

Source: Seychelles Weekly

A 72 MILLION CASH-IN!

Sarah Rene sells off Emerald Holdings

The widow of former President Albert René has sold off her share in Emerald Holdings, a company with major property assets on land leased from the state.

Emerald Holdings Ltd is a private company that as of 2013 was 67% owned by Sarah Rene and 33% owned by Kim Sun Kan, locally know as Sunny Kan. Gregoire Payet was previously a shareholder but his involvement with the company was removed due to internal disagreements.

Emerald Holdings got public attention in 2018 when Hon. Flory Larue tabled a motion in the National Assembly asking the Government to take back all undeveloped land Sarah Rene and her companies had leased or bought from the Government and to investigate why she  and her companies received so many parcels of land from the Government. President Danny failed to take this up, and did nothing to correct the the exploitation  of state assets by individuals close to the ruling party .

Emerald Holdings owns 9 parcels of prime land leased or bought from the Government of Seychelles. They also owned at least 2 other parcels through a subsidiary company called Onearn Company limited which includes parcel H6012 at Vacoa village that was also purchased from the Government in the year 2000 at a price of SCR250,000.

Onearn Company is wholly owned by Emerald Holdings. Sarah Rene had famously stated on national television that parcels she owns directly or indirectly through companies are very very small and almost insignificant (pti pti bout later). The 11 parcels total 29,893 square meters a massive land grab and abuse of state property. 

In 2017, the lease of 3 of the parcels was transferred from Emerald Holdings to Laxmi Trading, represented by Keshra Vishram Bhudia, for a reputed cool sum of SCR 11 million. The 3 parcels that are located at the Providence Industrial estate are V6795, V8948 and V6811. According to documents at the Land Registry Emerald Holdings also leases V8072 and V8073 which to this day are still undeveloped. The lease was signed in 2002, reportedly for a tourism project.

Four parcels also at the Providence Industrial estate where Airtel and apartment blocks are located were leased to Emerald Holdings in 2014. The 4 parcels are V18385, V18386, V18387 and V18388 and total 7576 square meters. The monthly lease for all 4 parcels is just over SCR25,000 per month. Although the buildings were constructed long before 2014 it is a mystery how the construction received planning approval.

 On the 24^th of May 2019, Onearn Company which is owned by Emerald Holdings transfers the 2 parcels at Vacoa village directly to Sarah Rene for the sum of SCR 8 million. On the same day, a resolution passed by the board of Directors of Emerald Holdings resolved that Sarah Rene transfer all her 67% in Emerald holdings together with all the rights attached to them to Kim Sun Kan and Jeannina Baptists Orr. 66 shares would be transferred to Kim Sun Kan and 1 share to Jeannina Baptists Orr.

In a document titled Instrument of Share Transfer also dated 24^th of May 2019, details that for the transfer of the 67% of her Emerald Holdings shares, Sarah Rene has been paid the astronomical sum of SCR 72,360,000! The Land Registrar’s office refused to give a copy of this document, however the document was seen and details from the document noted by two journalists from this newspaper. With the confirmation from the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) that assets from estates of perpetrators can be used for reparations to victims, it is apparent that Sarah Rene is cashing out her ill-gotten gains as the net closes.

Source: Seychelles Weekly by A.Pierre

Danny Faure Is The Past

The Present Too. But the Future, No Way!

For his campaign launch, Danny Faure has made the audacious claim that He is the Future. Honestly! The next slogan can only be Faure Forever.

Faure is the past. He cannot divorce his political career from the legacy of Albert René and the one-party state.

From his early days, Danny was a loyal henchman, serving the regime with enthusiasm. He is part and parcel of what has gone wrong in Seychelles, the oppression, victimisation, malice, and corruption. When people lost their jobs or were prevented from doing a business, Faure did not risk his position to object. When people disappeared, he did not ask why.

Faure has occupied many positions of importance, in his political party and in Government. He has been chairman of state owned enterprises, minister and Vice-President. He was around when state-owned properties were stolen for the benefit of individuals or for the political party. In his campaign launch, Danny made accusation that an opposition challenge to his bid would be a desire for revenge. This is only his way of telling the Seychellois people

The not too enthusiastic old guard 

He is also the present.

Faure’s accession to the post of President was a result of a political system fashioned for one-party to hold on to power. This is what he did. After the resignation of his predecessor James Michel, Danny was handed power on a platter. This arrangement has been denounced as undemocratic. While agreeing to scrap it, he refused to step down.

 For the past three years Danny Faure has led an indecisive government which has gone back and forth over policies. Recent examples are the disruption in the Fisheries agreement with the EU and the turnaround on the R100 charge for express delivery packages.

On the key issue of fighting corruption, Faure has not once used the power of the executive but has left it to the LDS majority in the National Assembly to do what it could.

Meanwhile, Faure is trying to claim a record of achievement that he does not deserve. The economic development that we see today is only a result of the political freedom and respect for individual rights which has come as a result of the work of the opposition.

He is not the Future

Faure cannot be the future because he is too much a part of the past which has caused our nation much harm. As for the present, he is using it only to perpetuate his power.

In arguing that the country needs him, Faure could only raise again the spectre of fear. In accusing his challengers of being out for revenge, he is only trying to scare people away from looking too closely at the past and his own role in it.

The country needs a clean break from the past, and a new vision to take us into the future.

It is telling that his audience was left unmoved by his claim, with doubt written all over the faces of those looking on.

 Source:Seychelles Weekly

ILL-GOTTEN GAINS

Ill-gotten gains is defined as money that was obtained in an unfair or dishonest way. In a recent sitting of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) on the 14^th of January 2020 former Barclays Bank manager, Pat Barallon, argued that any compensation should not be paid by the present generation of Seychellois tax payers but should come from the perpetrators estate. He further stated that if the commission employed forensic accountants enough funds could be retrieved to pay the victims from these certain hidden investments. In many countries including our neighbor, Mauritius, a section called possession of unexplained wealth is part of their anti- corruption legislation.  In Seychelles, this part is yet to make it into the anti-corruption act. The Mauritian legislation describes part of unexplained wealth as a person who “owns, or is in control of, property to an extent which is disproportionate to his emoluments or other income”

Sarah Zarqani Rene started a secret affair in 1982 with Albert Rene and at the time was working in the department of Curriculum development. From 1990 when she fell pregnant for Albert Rene to this day, Sarah Zarqani Rene has not been employed. The two lived in sin until Albert Rene divorced his first wife in 1993. After getting pregnant Sarah Zarqani Rene went to live abroad in Malaysia and then Fiji until the divorce. Shortly after the divorce, she returned to Seychelles and married Albert Rene on La Digue in the same year. Kevin Shillington references this in the biography of Albert Rene.

Algagresu Pty Ltd was registered in Australia in 2001 whilst Albert Rene was still President and for obvious reasons his name could not appear on the company documents. The name of his wife would be the front for amassing overseas wealth. The assets held and businesses conducted included a business known as Emerald Lodge in Mareeba on a property, which was purchased in 2001. This property was sold under the name of Algagresu Properties Pty Ltd in February 2018 for $2 million. As of April 2018, the two shareholders of Algagresu Pty Ltd are Sarah Zarqani and Kim Sun Kan when these reports were obtained.

Emerald Farm Mareeba Pty Ltd previously known as Emerald Mangoes Mareeba Pty Ltd was registered in 2003 and the shareholder of the company was Algagresu Pty Ltd. It originally comprised of a mango plantation but later on turned to farming bananas; specifically “Lady Finger Bananas”.

Another company called Emerald Springs Mareeba Pty Ltd was created in 2003. The business operated on the same property in Mareeba and had a spring on it, which enabled the company to bottle the water. The owner of the business was also Algagresu Pty Ltd.

With almost the same name, another company was created the year after Albert Rene had retired as President named Algagresu Properties Pty Ltd. This company was tasked with conducting businesses of land subdivision and develpment of properties. As of 2018 the shareholders of this company are former Seychelles Ambassador to Australia Gaetan Barallon, Sun Kim Kan and Sarah Zarqani Rene.

It is not clear how funds for a person to obtain these properties and businesses came from that has had no employment since 1990. What is clear is that Mrs Rene loves the word Emerald. In Seychelles Mrs Rene and her three children own directly or indirectly through companies, many properties that was obtained from state land. Emerald Villa on La Digue, Emerald Holdings and Capricorn Estate are some of the names of companies that the public are familiar with.

Mr Barallon also alleged that $1 million per month was being channeled through some of these company accounts and claimed that if the TRNUC would request tax returns for these companies from Australian authorities’ evidence would be forthcoming. Whilst Albert Rene was busy violating the rights of Seychellois citizens, Mrs Rene was busy amassing a fortune. The public are now waiting to see whether TRNUC will seek the expertise of at least a forensic accountant.

Source: Seychelles Weekly

THE TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE

What the TRNUC means for our nation

It is simply the most important event for our country at this moment, with a profound significance for our future.

The TRNUC (Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission) is reaching back into our past and and setting the record straight about what happened in our country. Since it began work last year, the TRNUC has heard from victims, witnesses and perpetrators in relation to the coup d’etat of 1977 and its aftermath and consequences.

The TRNUC is not an easy undertaking. Confronting a painful past is not a smooth and pleasant journey, and many have said that it should have been left alone. But this would never have done.

In the past few months we have heard many harrowing tales, among them the stories of the people depicted in our photos here, Brian Victor in relation to the deaths of Sonny Elizabeth and Michael Hoffman, and the family of Marjorie Baker in respect of her murder.

In doing its work, the TRNUC is giving the victims of past injustices a voice which they have long been denied and some solace that at last they have been relieved of the burden of keeping their pain to themselves. This service to the victims is the first and foremost consideration because it fulfills a vital need for justice. No matter what the difficulties, the cause of truth and justice comes first.

In documenting the events of the past and gving our nation the opportunity to reflect on them, the TRNUC is delivering a vital lesson in how to govern. Simply everyone involved in or with the poitical process, which means every citizen, must learn from it. The lesson is that power is only right when it is legitimate and used within the law to serve people equally. It is not to be exercised for its own sake or for personal ends.

The revelations of the TRNUC mean that the history of our country for the past five decades has been made safe – it will not to prone to falsification and distortion.

We also believe that the truth will permit reconciliation and national unity. This has started but much lies ahead. Not everything is sure and certain because the outcome of the work of the commission, its actions and recommendations, are yet to be known. What will it take to deliver full justice? What kind of reparations will be possible? What will happen to the perpetrators?  

There are many doubts and uncertainties but there is no way forward except the truth.

 Source: Seychelles Weekly

WILL THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION DEREGISTER ONE SEYCHELLES?

Last week the Electoral Commission confirmed that its opening an inquiry into the One Seychelles political party after Treasurer, Vincent Padayachy, went public about the reasons why he resigned.

A senior legal officer at the Electoral Commission, Salina Sinon, confirmed to a local newspaper that under the political parties act, the law forbids Seychellois political parties to receive sponsorship from foreign individuals. Section 29A of the 2014 amendment to the Political Parties (Registration and Regulation) act states that “A registered political party shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any contribution or donation from any foreign individual or any foreign entity, whether or not body corporate”.

Subsequently Mr Padayachy has provided the following documents to the Electoral commission to aid their inquiry.

In a letter dated 9^th of December 2019 Secretary General of One Seychelles, Peter Sinon, writes to former Treasurer of One Seychelles requesting the transfer of shares of the Islander’s Weekly to the sponsor. This is a clear confirmation that One Seychelles has a sponsor that is donating to the party.

In a document for the share transfer, the sponsor is identified as Sacarac Establishment of Liechtenstein represented by Sonja Gram.

In another letter, the former treasurer confirms to the Secretary General of One Seychelles the transfer of shares to the sponsor that Mr Padayachy was holding for One Seychelles.

The sponsorship by a foreign entity or individual is a clear violation of the Political Parties (Registration and Regulation) act. Will the Electoral Commission deregister One Seychelles?

Source:Seychelles Weekly

ST ANGE; One Seychelles minutes

The minutes of a meeting of the One Seychelles ‘Adjudication Sub-Committee’ of the National Executive Committee that took place in October 2019. The minutes are self-explanatory and no further comments are needed.

Alain St Ange; the dishonest clown

Source: One Seychelles