WHO BENEFITS FROM TOURISM ON FARQUHAR?

The Island D e v e l o p m e n t Company (IDC) has signed another deal for tourism on Farquhar Island. A company based in the UK specialising in fishing holidays, FlyCastaway, is now advertising packages offering a week’s stay on the island together with fishing, for the coast of US$7000 per person. These are offered for groups of 10, putting the weekly turnover at $70,000.

Prices have increased

These offers are being made to prospective clients all over the world, putting Farquhar tourism on a larger scale than it has been. How much the IDC will get out of this is not known yet but it can be expected to beat the $30,000 per week it has been getting from Mauritian tourists for years.

The new arrangement starts in February 2011, according to the advertisement. But this comes without the questions on Farquhar tourism being answered.

The first question is whether the island’s tourism business is legal and compliant with standards in the industry. IDC chief executive Glenny Savy has admitted that the establishment there does not have a licence. He has said this is not necessary because it is primarily a rest house intended for government officials or even other Seychellois who want to spend time there. But, we have never heard of such guests for Farquahar while groups of Mauritian tourists paying $3000 each have been regular.

After the mysterious disappearance of Mauritian Felix Maurel last year, the IDC has not come up with any assurances on the safety of visitors. Should it expand its activities without better safeguards?

FlyCastaway obviously intends to enlarge the scale of fishing that tourists can do. It offers both fly-fishing from the flats and sand bars and also fishing in the waters of the lagoon for grouper, tuna, sailfish and marlin. It will bring in four motorized skiffs for, in ots own words, “unleashing the offshore opportunities that await there”.

Obviously, this is on a much bigger scale than has been going on. But who gets the money? IDC executive Glenny Savy has never given any clear answer on how the money collected from Mauritian visitors over the past years has been accounted for. Auditors are supposed to be looking closely at the accounts of state-owned companies, but this part remains obscure.

If IDC is to engage in tourism on the islands it manages, it must do so within the rules and standards of the industry and with full transparency. Until it does that, its dealings will remain questionable.

Source: Regar 7-9-10

Amnesty Newsletter; SEYCHELLES EXILED LEADER KILLED

The murder of exiled Seychellois opposition leader Gerard Hoarau outside his home in London, England on 29 November 1985 was the latest in a series of incidents in which at least nine opponents of the government of President Albert Rene are reported to have been murdered or have "disappeared".

The current Government of the Seychelles came to power following a coup d'etat in June 1977. The following August, Hassan Umarji Ebrahim, a 45-year-old businessman and known government critic, "disappeared". He left his house after receiving a phone call from an unknown person. His empty car was discovered an hour later with the engine still running. His shoes were found nearby. Amnesty International (AI) later received detailed allegations suggesting that Hassan Umarji Ebrahim had been abducted and killed by members of the security forces because of his political views. A former police officer told AI that police files on the case had vanished from the archives as a result of an intervention by senior officials.

STRANGE

In October 1982 and July 1983 a further four people died in strange circumstances. The two victims in 1982 were Simon Desnousse, a Seychellois student leader, and Mike Asher, a South African, said by the authorities to have blown themselves up with a homemade bomb. In July 1983 Michael Hoffman, a former policeman, and Tony Elizabeth, were killed after their car was attacked at night by unknown assailants. A third man, Brian Victor, was left for dead hut subsequently recovered and claimed that he and his companions had been attacked by members of the security forces. Al has received reports that all of these killings were carried out for political reasons by members of the security forces who had tried to disguise them either as accidents or as the work of common criminals.

VICTIMS

The latest "disappearances" reported in the islands occurred in August and September 1984. The victims were Jean Guillaume, a 22-year-old labourer, and Alton Ah-Time, a known government opponent. Al again received reports that both had been abducted and killed by members of the security forces because of their actual or suspected political activity. Their bodies are said to have been dumped at sea.

On 3 October 1984 Alton Ah-Time's mother, Simone Ah-Time, wrote an open letter to a local newspaper in which she claimed that her son had been followed and intimidated by security officers on several occasions in the previous eighteen months. Since then, at least two members of the Ah-Time family have been detained and allegedly beaten by security officers.

AI has appealed a number of times to the Seychellois authorities to establish an impartial inquiry into this series of deaths and "disappearances" but without response.

LEADER

Shortly before he was killed, Gerard Hoarau, leader of the exiled Seychelles National Movement, claimed that the Seychellois Government had planned to kill him in France. He alleged that the French police had been informed of the plan: that it was to have been carried out by a professional gunman hired by an associate of President Rene, and that the weapons for the assassination were to have been smuggled into France in the diplomatic bag.

Gerard Hoarau was a former immigration officer in the Seychelles. In November 1979, he was one of about 811 people detained on suspicion of organizing an underground opposition movement which had circulated literature criticizing the government. The authorities also claimed that Hoarau was involved in a plan to overthrow the government by force, although he was never charged with any offence. He was released untried after eight months' detention. In March 1980 Hoarau was one of several detainees visited by an AI delegate, Kenyan lawyer Amos Wako, who recorded a conversation with Hoarau in prison.

This echo from the past is brought by the Voice, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) focused on Human Rights in Seychelles and defending victims of fundamental rights abuses. The launch of the NGO is imminent.

https://www.facebook.com/thevoiceseychelles/

“VICTORY IS OURS” LDS

Linyon Demokratik Seselwa held its first public meeting in Victoria yesterday.

The Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) or ‘Seychellois Democratic Alliance’ which brings together four existing political parties, held its first public meeting yesterday to outline its strategies particularly for the forthcoming National Assembly elections. The meeting was also aimed at reassuring party supporters that the LDS remained united despite speculation that various groups were at odds with each other over a common list of candidates for the elections. Leaders called on party supporters to give their unconditional support to candidates presented by the LDS in each district.

The leader of the Seychelles National Party, Wavel Ramkalawan announced that the LDS will put forward new candidates from all groups within the movement. He mentioned in particular, the LDS candidate for Perseverance, Mr Wavel Woodcock. Lawyer Clifford Andre will stand in the Anse Aux Pins constituency. Ahmed Afif of Lalyans Seselwa will represent the LDS in the Anse Etoile district and Godfra Hermitte will stand in the Port Glaud electoral area.

Mr Ramakalwan said it was vital that the LDS secures a majority in the National Assembly to carry out the changes that is required in the country.

The four parties that make up the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa are the Seychelles National Party (SNP), Lalyans Seselwa (LA) the Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy (SPSD) and it also has the support of the Seselwa United Party (SUP). Roger Mancienne of the SNP is the leader of the party. Lalyans Seselwa’s Clifford Andre is the Secretary General whilst Roy Fonseka of the Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy is the treasurer.

Source: Today in Seychelles

TON PATS COLUMN; BRAVO TO THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Following the tirade that James Michel hurled at the health and education professionals; at least one of the two ministers concerned met with her ‘Waterloo ‘ in the afternoon of Monday 22^nd February, in the Ministry of Health. The woman whose wardrobe seems to consists of anything and everything red, had called a meeting of all health professionals, seemingly to follow-up on the litany of instances of alleged malpractice and mismanagement, which were levelled against her ministry, by her boss during his SONA last week.

One health worker opined that she suffered from a Freudian slip and started off addressing what she thought was a gathering of party faithfuls from Marie Jeanne Estate on Baie Ste. Anne Praslin!

Not only have the health professionals been ridiculed about their performance; but to add insult to injury, they have also been accused of politicking while on duty. What is ironic is that the person the most guilty of abusing her position to politicize and campaign in the Ministry of Health, is Madam Mitcy Larue herself !

She has her team of foot soldiers at all levels in the ministry, who before and during last year’s presidential election were campaigning for the ruling party. Perhaps the most glaring and objectionable incident was when Michel Faure got the Cuba trained doctor to don his ‘kitenge’ and address the crowd at the rally, where he denigrated the opposition’s supporters, particularly the Lalyans Seselwa Executive Committee Members!

How can the general public have faith in the health system when health professionals who are supposed to serve without fear nor favor, openly show allegiance to a party that has a record of victimization of the Seychellois who are political dissidents? Interestingly enough while his colleagues health professionals openly and candidly expressed their outrage and frustrations to the Minister, the doctor who was kitenge clad during the rally of the reds, sat and listened in muted silence.

Whispers doing the rounds in the hospital have it that State House has not kept its promise to the good doctor to elevate him to the rank of minister. He had allegedly agreed to come out and speak in favour of Michel on the understanding that he would be replacing the ‘lady in red!’ Perhaps you should stick to your scalpel dear doctor. Politics are for the rough and tough and many have been used and discarded after they had served their purpose for Michel and co.

It would appear that Mrs. Larue had dangled some obscure promise before the health professionals, to be delivered on health workers day, but this cut no ice with those who had had enough of being unappreciated while giving their best. When a leader fails to understand and appreciate the challenge, frustrations and low morale of his or her troops, then he or she is no more a leader and should step aside in the interest of the organization and in this case, of the Ministry of Health and ultimately in the interest of the Seychellois patients who are its clients.

One thing is clear,- the professionals in this country have found their voice. Gone are the days when the Seychellois workers do not question the shenanigans of the ruling party. If Madam Larue is to seriously start on an audit of MOH, she should start with the dialysis unit which has been the subject of much controversy over the last year. The only way to clear all the accusations around the Abu Dhabi backed company managing the dialysis unit, is to bring in an independent firm (from South Africa for example), to carry out a comprehensive audit of this unit. That is if the CEO would give his blessings to such a development!

Finally, I have spent four very fulfilling years at the Ministry of Health and I have witnessed just how devotedly and how hard the health professionals work to keep the service delivery at an acceptable level.

For a leader and a supposedly Head of State at that, to publicly berate, criticize and scold the health professionals the way Michel did, is to lower their worth in the eyes of people whom they serve. That is a sign of a weak leader and at the very least a leader who has not grasped the basics tools of organizational management and inspirational leadership.

I therefore salute all health professionals who gave the minister a good dose of home truth! I know that home truths hurt. Perhaps she will do the most honourable thing and find an exit where she would not lose face.

As for the other professionals in the public service, my advice to you all is to stand up for your rights and for the respect that you deserve. Do not give in to incompetent and under- qualified leaders who are supposedly running government without knowing their -sides from the hole in the ground.

Long live freedom of speech.

Source:Seychelles Weekly

MEMBER GOES NUTS AT MARCO FRANCIS

Dear Editor,

I refer to your article on page 2 in yesterday’s newspaper and wish to make the following observations.

 As a member of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) for over a decade, I find it disrespectful to all members that the SCCI Chairman Mr. Marco Francis has gone on record to make several comments in regards to the 13th paycheck or end-of-year bonus that was introduced last year by President James Michel as a populist measure in order to woo the electorate to vote for his party.

Firstly, the SCCI should have consulted with and should have asked the views of all its paid members. According to Mr. Francis, the majority of businesses in the private sector are already giving a 13th month salary and that most of the companies agree with the President’s proposal. Can Mr. Francis please provide the members with the survey that he has done personally, or perhaps one that SCCI has done to prove this? In reality, no such survey was done and therefore, Mr. Francis’ comments do not reflect the views nor the will of its members. Lest we forget, Mr. Francis was an avid supporter of President Michel in the last election and he is once again showing that his allegiance lies not with the SCCI members but with the President instead.

Secondly, Mr. Francis states that “we cannot have two systems whereby one group is having a 13th month salary and a few is (sic) not getting it.” Why not Mr. Francis? If our already bankrupt Government wants to waste more taxpayers money by dishing out election favours in order to win votes, does that mean that the private sector has to bankrupt itself as well?

Thirdly, “we cannot have an unfair system in Seychelles”, Mr. Francis tells us. Has it not occurred to Mr. Francis that we already have an unfair system for housing, for land allocation, for welfare, for jobs, for pensions, for security clearance, for licenses, for GOPs, etc...? All condoned by the same corrupt Government I might add. Therefore, if STC pays out 15 paychecks each year or SPTC gives out 2 bonuses, do we in the private sector have to agree with this madness?

Fourthly, Mr. Francis now wants certain companies who cannot afford to pay the 13^th salary or companies in financial difficulties to be exempted. Seriously? Please tell us who will approve or disapprove such exemptions? Or shall we see the creation of another “13^th Month Bonus Commission” by the President, which will probably comprise of some familiar board members, with Mr. Francis himself appointed to chair the board?

Fifthly, Mr. Francis contradicts his “unfair” statement by wanting expatriate workers in the construction companies exempted as “this will adversely affect construction businesses in the country”. He also wants to exclude people above managerial positions from receiving a 13th month salary, stating that the proposed 13th month salary “is to help ordinary people and not high earners”. I assume that Mr. Francis considers all management staff as “out of the ordinary” and undeserving of such bonuses. Thus, here we go again in creating an unfair system for workers in our country, all courtesy of a President who by the way has never owned nor managed a private business in his life. He did manage to bankrupt the country as Minister of Finance though, so I guess he now qualifies to bankrupt most businesses in Seychelles as well, all with the assistance and wisdom of Mr. Francis, a man at the helm of SCCI who ironically is supposed to work on behalf of the private sector.

The appalling business decisions taken by President Michel in the run-up to the election and the additional measures announced during his State of the Nation address only serve to underline the weaknesses of this Government, one that can only be seen to be grasping at straws in order to hold on to power. Giving away taxpayers money so frivolously will only serve as a short-term pacifier and while welcomed by many, will come back to bite us all in the medium term as companies curtail investments and cut back on employment in order to keep their heads above water. This country is already bankrupt, courtesy of an inept Government. And whoever coined the term “intellectually spent” prior to the elections when referring to the Government in power should receive one of those fake, honorary degrees. And both Mr. Michel and Mr. Francis are experts in that domain.

 In the end, the 13th month salary would not require a discussion if it had been publicly debated first before any announcement was made. It is clear that this is yet another misconceived idea that will have serious impact on employment in the years to come if it becomes law, and one that could force certain businesses to close down. Simply put, the private sector cannot be made to pay for the folly of James Michel and his irresponsible Government, and Marco Francis should know better than to misrepresent the views of the SCCI members.

A.L.

Source:Today in Seychelles

TON PAT’S COLUMN; AFRAID TO ASK FOR ‘PARDON’?

The sad demise of Adalbert Denousse on the streets of Victoria has brought back memories of some of the saddest and darkest hours of our post-independence history. I am thinking here of the murder of Simon Desnousse, a young vivacious student with courage and obvious leadership skills.

 However, he was one of the sacrificial lambs who were used to instill fear and obeisance in the Seychellois people, as the authoritarian rule of post 1977 became entrenched and fear spread like a dark cloud over the population. Many of us will remember photographs of the scene at Anse Forban in the south of Mahé, where he and his friend the South African national -Mike Archer had been blown apart by a car bomb.

The unfortunate accident.

Word spread soon after of how they had been tortured before being put back into the vehicle and a bomb set off seemingly from under the car. We should never allow ourselves to forget that such real heroes like Simon Desnousse, Alton Ah-Time and Gerard Hoarau actually lost their lives as a sacrifice for us to move on to the road to multi-party democracy. It may not have been obvious at the time, but their lives were a sacrifice which started the slow process of creating an awareness in the minds of our oppressors that the time was to come when we will stand up to them and show clearly that those lost lives have not been in vain. At the right time when the so called liberatorsturned oppressors are gone, we, the Seychellois people will find a fitting way to remember those who were brave enough to stand up to the bullies and in so doing, lost their lives.

Was the Policeman riding recklessly?

It is time for us to revisit the past to bring healing to the nation. Time waits for no man and there are those in our society who are waiting to hear the truth, to forgive those who have committed these atrocities and to get closure. There is no need here to advance any moral, intellectual or political arguments. There are so many documented examples in countries around us where healing and reconciliation have taken place, because there was political will and political courage to bite the bullet. In the case of Simon Desnousse there is talk that one of the perpetrators of this horrendous crime, hallucinates often and cries asking for a chance to ask for forgiveness from the family of the victim. Once again the question that begs an answer is- why can we not set up a healing and reconciliation commission to enable those who have lost their loved ones to know exactly what happened and thus find closure?

Equally important is the need for the perpetrators to be afforded an opportunity to confess their crimes and ask for forgiveness! Although nobody talks about it the individual cases openly in most of the cases, the perpetrators are known to the families of those who were tortured, killed, and disappeared.

 It takes a brave and courageous leader to take a concrete decision to let the truth be told and forgiveness to take place. As a Christian society, we are a forgiving people and do not to belong to a culture of revenge. Time is running out and those who should and must take the lead in creating structures for healing for the sins of the past, are though alive; not in the best of health.

24 hours after the accident, markings are sprayed down

 Are we going to be bold and set up a commission which will facilitate things for whosoever needs to ask for forgiveness and atonement, to actually depart from this earthly existence to knowing they have made peace with themselves and the people they were meant to have served? Whether we like it or not, truth liberates!

I know that what frightens everybody is the possibility of criminal prosecution. This is where the mandate and terms of reference of the commission has to be well defined beforehand and the emphasis being placed on forgiveness and healing. The programme called ‘restorative justice’ which has been started in the Montagne Posée prison, is a good example of such a programme where if possible, good faith and trust is the bedrock of such an initiative.

 It will go a long way towards bringing about real and meaningful healing amongst the nation so that we can move forward to the next level. We will not be able to keep what happened in the post 1977 years, under wraps forever!

Meanwhile for those of us who believe in an afterlife and in God, we live in the comfort that the Desnousse father and son will be reunited in radiant love.

R.I.P.

SEYCHELLOIS OVERSEAS IN UPROAR AT UK PRIME MINISTER

Rt Hon David Cameron MP - UK Parliament

10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA

 Dear Prime Minister,

It is with regret that I have read that you have recently sent a message to congratulate James Michel on his election victory as the President of the Seychelles.

As you are well aware, the last presidential elections that were held on the 18th of December 2015 in the Seychelles have been contentious and are disputed. Following allegations of widespread vote rigging, bribing of voters and intimidation of opposition voters, the opposition parties have referred this matter to the courts in the Seychelles. The case is ongoing. The government of the United States of America has raised serious questions about the validity of those election results and has called on the regime to address the concerns raised by the opposition.

James Michel; the illegal President

 These elections as with previous ones have followed very much the same pattern of irregularities by the ruling regime, ever since Prime Minister John Major played a major role in forcing the return of multi-party democracy in 1992.

My family is of Seychellois descent and my husband was exiled from Seychelles by this very regime that has held an iron grip in the Seychelles since they usurped power in the Seychelles on the 5th of June 1977. His brother, Gerard Hoarau, who was the leader of the exiled opposition was gunned down in the streets of London on the 29th of November 1985. This case has yet to be solved by Scotland Yard. Previous to that agents of that regime had illegally bugged his house on British soil. The current regime in the Seychelles has changed very little from the one that usurped power in 1977. James Michel was one of the ringleaders in that coup that eventually led to the imprisonment, forced exile and disappearances of many political opponents.

James Michel; the terrorist

 Frankly we are deeply dismayed by your congratulatory message to James Michel and his regime especially as those election results are still being contested in the courts. While I applaud the stand of the US government in this regard, we feel that your message, which is tantamount to one of support and recognition for such a regime was ill timed and is a complete betrayal of the conservative values of democratic, responsible and accountable governance that is the very essence why we vote Conservative. This regime and its supporters are now using your message, pasting it all over social media as a ringing endorsement of them and their methods.

US Ambassador Vilarosa with Linyon Sanzman leaders

We wish to express our disappointment and urge you as both a Conservative and Prime Minister of Britain, one of the world’s oldest democracies to be more critical of that regime so as to help in the ongoing struggle to establish real democracy and transparent governance in the Seychelles.

Yours sincerely,

 Josette Hoarau

Source:Seychelles Hero: Gerard Hoarau Group

DISAPPEARANCE OF FRANCIS MONCHOUGUY

Francis Monchouguy was only 19 years of age when he disappeared mysteriously and to this day there is no trace of his body. At such a young age he had not had been given the opportunity to live his life as a teenager and although he did not enjoy the use of a lap top or a mobile phone his pleasures were no less enjoyable as a teenager growing up in Pointe Larue.   The skull recently found in Bel Ombre, which the police is hiding the revelation of its DNA until after the Presidential elections is a shameful act on the part of the Commissioner of Police who is no doubt taking his orders from the big house on the hill.

Francis Monchouguy

One afternoon on 20 December 1991 Francis told his mum he wanted to go and buy something in the shop and at 19 he did not require to be chaperoned especially in a country like Seychelles where we know each other.  He went to the shop but he never returned and when his father Paul Monchouguy, who was the Democratic Party Representative for Pointe Larue went to the police station, they told him they had to wait 24 hours before they could consider Francis a Missing Person then they will act. 

That night his father went round the District of Pointe Larue making enquiries and he was told by several people that they saw Francis being asked to get into a car but they did not have the description of the car nor could they see the driver but they were of the opinion that there was a woman in the car whom Francis appeared to know and she was talking to Francis beckoning him to come into the car.  In those days people feared for their life and even if they knew who took Francis away and killed him and disposed of his body they would not give any names. Such was the barbaric state of Seychelles in the years following the Coup D’état and today the same people who took part in taking the country at the point of a gun have the bloody nerve to come on TV and smile at us telling us they have saved Seychelles and we are doing very nicely when our country is bankrupted and we cannot repay our International Loans and our national debt stands at 65% of our GDP. Who do they think they are kidding?

They got away with murder and now they want us to idolise them and thank them for our current economic turmoil. Francis had nothing to do with politics and if they were real men they would have tried to deal with his father but instead they chose a weak target because they are cowards and they will burn in hell for what they have done to Francis.  The Chang Tave and the Monchouguy families want to know what really happened to Francis so that they can bring closure to their loss. Until this happens a curse has been placed on those who took Francis’ life away and the perpetrators including those who gave the orders will perish a slow death as their punishment. They have no shame and no integrity and so far they have not shown one iota of courage and seek forgiveness for their misdemeanours.  We are ready to forgive but we will never forget.

Francis is my nephew and I have promised my sister, who has now passed away, that I will do my best to find out what really happened to her son. Nowadays one lives in hope and retaliation is not an option because one bad deed to try make up for another bad deed is not the answer and revenge can be avoided if the truth is told and forgiveness is exercised. Francis’ father, like all Seychellois, have the right to belong to any political party because this is one of our fundamental human rights guaranteed by our Constitution and by International Human Rights Treaties. Gone are the days when Seychellois would shiver in their skin at the sight of a few army people exercising along the road in their uniforms carry guns or a few boats in the harbour moving around aimlessly trying to show their presence.  This kind of intimidation belongs to days gone by and does not instil fear in the people who now uses the Social Media to get their message across. We do not need SBC.

This year Francis would have been 43 years old. We hope that soon a new Government will be installed and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be created and we will know the truth about Francis and his soul can rest in peace. The same can be said for all the souls whose life was ended prematurely following the Coup D’état and the years that followed.  

Contributed by: Barry Laine. barrylaine@hpcgroup.sc   

Ton Pat’s Column; STANDING UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT

In the last three decades, we as a nation have been living in fear. We are coming of age. We will not give in to victimization tactics. We are following our hearts, to be guided by our hearts, to steer us in the right direction, the bottom line is to ensure that we treat others the way we want to be treated.

A lot of blood, sweat and tears from our fathers, mothers and other compatriots got us to where we are at today. We cannot take lightly what they sacrificed to make us what we are today as a nation.

 One of our principles in Lalyans Seselwa is to encourage our citizens to be more active and engaged in the affairs (in all spheres) of the nation, especially where it concerns a government which treats us as morons. It is for this reason that I am this week writing about the Baie Lazare MNA saga.

 It is a fact that the petition asking the MNA to resign emanated from two lead activists from Lalyans Seselwa in Baie Lazare. Before they went around with the petition, the issue was discussed in our weekly meetings of district representatives. We all felt that they should go ahead and get the inhabitants of Baie Lazare to sign the petition.

There are different ways of making one’s concerns heard, as in a protest march and other tools. A petition is probably the tool that is most likely to not to end up with silence, arrest or even incarceration. The bottom line is that we have to speak up when it comes to our rights and freedoms.

We in Lalyans Seselwa have taken a pledge that we will not be silent when we see and witness gross violation of our rights and freedoms by the ruling party. I have been asked why are we targeting Wilby Lucas? As leader of Lalyans Seselwa I have to categorically state that it was never our intention to target Wilby personally, or his immediate family! In my time as a member of the SPPF, I got to know Wilby well. Both he and his wife served the country as true professionals in Anse Boileau and Baie Lazare.

I am well aware that Mr. Lucas has helped many a client and common person in legal matter, where and when said clients were unable to afford usual legal fees. In that sense he must be commended for putting his professional creed and his Christian compassion before his own financial gain or self-agrandisement. In that sense he is quite different from many in the legal fraternity.

 I am also aware that Mr. Lucas is currently facing grave health challenges and on that aspect, both on my personal behalf and on that of all activists and supporters of Lalyans Seselwa, we wish him God Speed and a full recovery to normalcy.

That said I would like to explain that the aim of the petition was more importantly to awaken the ruling party (to which Mr. Lucas belongs), the executive and the legislative to the plight of the Baie Lazare residents who have not had any representation in the National Assembly for more than two years!

Surely this cannot go on indefinitely. Normally, when a Seychellois worker goes on medical leave for more than 15 days, does he continue to get paid by the government or the private sector indefinitely? What is good for the goose must also be good for the gander!

Furthermore it is obvious that the ruling party did not see it fit and fair to assist Mr. Lucas and get him to vacate the National Assembly seat and hold a bi-election as was the case in Anse Aux Pins two or three years ago. After all Mr. Lucas has been a conscientious and devoted supporter of the SPPF for many years. This is one example of the ruling party abandoning its generals in their most dire hours of need!

It is surely a good sign that committed and engaged citizens are now standing up for their own rights and freedom and also boldly taking the executive and the legislature to task, where they are seen as failing in serving the very people they are being paid to serve!

This is particularly significant for a district in the South of Mahé which has traditionally been SPPF/Lepep. A sure sign that the winds of change are blowing in the south and the once mighty and fearsome ruling party, may be crumbling. 2016 is surely going to be a year of change. The time for fear of victimization and intimidation may well be behind us. We in Lalyans Seselwa will continue to fight and bring enlightenment and freedom for all the people of Seychelles.

In conclusion, may I once again wish Mr. Wilby Lucas and his family every good and God’s blessings for a full recovery.

THE IRRESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT OF JAMES MICHEL

The Seychelles ministry of tourism and culture did not take necessary measures to rid the building of the fungus 

Just before the last elections, a large number of books were moved out of the National Library to make space for Mr Hendrick Gappy, the Electoral Commissioner. The books were put in hired leaky containers outside the building and later moved to Providence. It has now been discovered that the books have been damaged.

Archives documents loaded on a lorry to take to Providence

Loading in the container.

Waiting for the fumugation

More than 20 years ago, a Seychellois made a report on the serious situation at the National Archives. Since then the government has spent over SCR 5 million to try to remedy the situation without any result. Local laboratory technicians inspected the building and found out that it was infected by fungus. Then the authorities decided unethically to use “Ozone” and since then, many staff members have become sick. A few months ago, they were advised by a wellknown Seychellois Conservator in Australia to stop using ozone. The Seychelles National Archives could not provide him a copy of the building plan for him to study, and they could not find money to get him to Seychelles. However, they managed to find over SCR300 000 to import three French people and also provided them with a copy of the plan. Before the arrival of the three French persons, they decided to clean the Archives for the first time and use Ozone to the maximum to kill the fungus so that the French experts would not be able to detect the fungus. However, the experts also found out that the ozone was too high and told them to stop using it. The last person in Seychelles to have studied archival restoration has meanwhile summited his resignation, and apparently the French experts will submit their reports in three months’ time.

Benjamin Rose Principal Secretary for Culture and the highly paid French expert Marie Dominique Parchas 

The people await the change of government before it’s too late.

To be continued..

A Seychellois

Ton Pat’s Column; DARE WE HAVE THE AUDACITY TO HOPE?

January 12th 2016 will be a date to be remembered by many of us landowners who have literally been at the mercy of the Minister of Land Use and Habitat in the ruling party and his predecessors when it comes to the planning authority and the right to build on a number of properties.

I must first congratulate Mr Talma and his daughter for having had the audacity, courage and perseverance to continue the battle for 20 long years to have the right to build his hotel on land that belonged to him at Anse Lazio, Praslin. I have held several posts in government for decades and am well aware of all frustrations that the Talmas have had to endure over all those years. How many of us would have continued fighting this evil government for such a long time? Many would have given up and sold to some rich foreigner. For sure there were many patiently waiting ‘in the wings’ for the Talmas to give up the fight for Anse Lazio, one of the most beautiful areas that would fetch a handsome little pot of gold with all the…….. We all know what happens behind the screen!!!

In talking to friends, we all felt we have hope in the judiciary. First of all, I must say ‘chapeau’ to the, CJ Mathilda Twomey, for having boldly and in no uncertain terms declared Christian Lionnet’s Land Use Plan invalid. For far too long some in the SPPF/ Lepep government have acted as if they are the arbitrary decision makers as far as land use and planning authority is concerned with little regard to the constitutional and legal rights of many Seychellois. How many of us have been refused permission to build on our own property for reasons that are not only unreasonable but border on the ridiculous.

I have experience of this senselessness when in 2011 my youngest son requested permission to build two chalets on my property at Port Launay and we were told that the request had not been approved because the project would spoil the natural beauty of Port Launay. I was working in London at the time and when I returned to Seychelles and made some discreet enquiries, I was informed that the order had come from the minister who is well known in local professional circles as the ‘High Priest of Lies’

I am well aware that the AG will be asked by he whose mother asked him “pour kit ou lanmen prop” when he was sworn in as minister to appeal against the decision of the CJ. It will be interesting to see how things pan out. Meanwhile all of you who have a story to tell about being frustrated and victimized by the Lepep government with regards to property development to come out and tell their story. It is only in naming and shaming those corrupt high government officials will we see change in the way the machinery of government operates. Mrs Alexia Amesbury’s revelation of the corrupt land deals of Lionnet and Morgan at Glacis and Praslin has put tremendous pressure on James Michel to the extent that the rumour mill seems to indicate that they will be dropped from cabinet. We will continue to push for an inquiry into the disappearance/ loss of $4.5 million under the watch of Morgan.

 Another breaking news that allows us to hope is the story around James Michel’s personal friend, the Indian Seychellois businessman, Mr Siva who was given precedence over James Mancham some years back and made Ambassador- at-Large. Nobody has asked what he has to show in terms of tangible benefits that he has brought to Seychelles after he was conferred such a high profile title other than provide his private plane to his friend from the house on the hill for trips overseas. Rumours abound about politicians; including high profile civil servants at National house having collected bags of cash from the gentleman in what has been labelled the ‘house of sins’.

One eye witness relates how members of the legislative have collected cartons of alcohol to organize parties for party faithfuls in the run up to the presidential elections. Whatever may be the given details of Mr Siva’s bankruptcy status (or lack of it), a number of high profile officers stand to lose substantially’ while many of us, observers of the unfolding saga, have the audacity to hope that we are witnessing a judiciary that is manifesting its independence from the executive. We should all keep the faith alive that perhaps we will be moving towards a truly democratic process faster than we expected.

To all of us Seychellois (opposition and Lepep supporters) I have two messages for you. The first is never to give up; the Talmas is an example for us to emulate. The second message is to come out into the open and tell your story. The time to fear repercussions and victimizations is well behind us. We can only stop the calculated frustration techniques and the victimization by coming out and telling your story by naming and shaming those who are retarding the development of freedom and justice. We will be all be helping our beautiful country to move faster on the path of true democracy.

‘Nou lizye in ouver; in tro tar pou fer nou dormi boner”

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Linyon Sanzman leaders met this morning at 10 am with the board of SBC to discuss the grievances of the opposition with regards to SBC’s bias in favour of Parti Lepep and the exclusion of the voice of the opposition or divergent views.

The meeting which lasted 2 hours discussed several pertinent issues including:

•  Linyon Sanzman’s disappointment at SBC’s total disregard with respect to its obligations under the constitution in particular section 168 (1) which states that “the State shall ensure that all broadcasting media which it owns or controls or which receive a contribution from the public fund are so constituted and managed that they may operate independently of the State and of the political or other influence of other bodies, persons or political parties.” The board was further reminded of clause 168 (2) that “the broadcasting media referred to in that clause shall, subject to this Constitution and any other law, afford opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views.”
•  Linyon Sanzman’s disappointment at SBC’s total disregard with respect to its own act which stipulates the Board’s role under section 9(2)(b) in “safeguarding the citizen's right to be informed freely, truthfully and objectively on all matters of public interest, national or international, and presenting a fair and balanced flow of information including contrasting views without advocating any opinion or ideology of its own” and that it will ensure that its programmes “generally do not outrage public feeling or create ill-will between different public groups” – under section 9(2)(n)(2).
•  the lack of any progress with regards to implementing reforms proposed by the Reilly report since 2007 including some which were to be done forthwith and remain unimplemented to this date
•   the total bias in favour of Parti Lepep on a day to day basis especially when it comes to “news” and “news extra” citing several examples where no divergent views were sought on matters of government policy, allegations of arson and in fact in almost every aspect of daily events which are reported by SBC.

The SBC board noted the above concerns and admitted that they have several weaknesses to deal with and cited that they also have some resource constraints.

Linyon Sanzman asked SBC to show goodwill immediately by airing the views of Linyon Sanzman leaders tonight in the national news on the issue of SBC’s impartiality. Linyon Sanzman also asked that SBC should adopt a fair approach in future by ensuring that all future news and programmes should fairly reflect divergent views. It was suggested that there should be regular programmes such as “Face a Face” programmes featuring opposition views in an objective manner.

Linyon Sanzman also asked that SBC make an effort to provide live coverage of the forthcoming constitutional court petitions on the election results. SBC stated that they could not provide live coverage but will consider airing regular reports on the case proceedings.

Both parties agreed to meet again on Thursday Feb 4^th 2016 at 10 am in order to further pursue the case of ensuring that SBC’s bias towards Parti Lepep stops forthwith. 

JOEL MORGAN ARE YOU LISTENING?

Dear FB friends,

I am referring to Mr. Joel Morgan’s publication made on Facebook page “Lari Bazar” in regards to my speech on the Lalyans Seselwa PPB (Party Political Broadcast) the night before the first round of Presidential elections.

I have a clear and loud message for Mr. Joel Morgan. I have never been and will never be afraid of my own shadow. The least I expected from Mr. Morgan was a formal apology for not doing his job as requested by President James Michel after my visit with him at the State House. Mr. Morgan, you are a public servant and you are earning your fat salary from the tax payers money. You failed to deliver and please do not come back to me to tell me that you are going to sue me. You have the right and please check with President James Michel and prove me wrong. It was in the presence of Mr. Alain Butler Payette that President James Michel confirmed your name as the Minister who would come to Praslin to follow- up on my request of land exchange in lieu of money for the land acquired by P.U.C. for reservoirs at Mont Plaisir, Praslin.

I do not want to believe that President James Michel would have mistaken you for Mr. Jacquelin Dugasse as you claim.

Mr. Joel Morgan, my advice to you is that you attentively listen once again to my speech on the Lalyans Seselwa PPB because I never confirmed at any instant during my speech that you stole the land, I did say that you came to Praslin as I was promised by the President James Michel to meet up with me for finalizing the land exchange.

To the contrary, you came to Praslin and got yourself a property at Marie Jeanne, Praslin where you have built yourself two blocks of flats which you were renting to La Reserve Hotel and now to Le Domaine de La Reserve. I quoted that I heard but do not know whether it is true that Mr. Joel Morgan paid only one Seychelles rupee for the parcel.http://seychellesvoice.blogspot.com/2015/12/morgan-corruption-laughing-all-way-to.html

I also said something else which was not broadcasted. I emphasized that my land was not a state land and that I went to work in Kenya to pay for my land. It was in Nairobi that I almost lost my life when I was attacked by carjackers. When I was there working in this dangerous country to settle the payment of this property, the P.U.C. took the advantage of my absence to take my property for building reservoirs without my consent. “ You all people that commented negatively against me after that Mr. Joel Morgan published his post in Lari Bazar find it normal that I am still begging on my knees to the government to exchange a piece of state land in lieu of financial settlement. I was offered only one hundred and thirty eight thousand rupees for the said land which I refused. My property is in the vicinity of Le Lemuria five-star Resort with an eighteen-hole golf course. I find the offer inappropriate and I will never accept it.

 Mr. Joel Morgan, please let me remind you that this has been going on for the last fifteen years and I am still here waiting to this land exchange from the government in vain. I know for sure multiple same cases which have been dealt with in no time and accordingly. How much patience can a man have? Is it not a shame for PARTI LEPEP to turn people into beggars for their own legitimate rights. I woke up daily and “ debrouye “ as you all often say to buy my land. It is a real disgrace....

It is not a favour that I am begging for; it is simply my right as the legitimate owner of this land acquired by P.U.C. I pay all my P.U.C. Bills well on time monthly. P.U.C. is a profitable corporation and I am pretty sure that in the event that I do not settle my bills on time, disconnection will take effect.

To cut the long story short; it is crystal clear in my mind that someone is looking for sympathy and mercy here. Please whoever it is do your utmost to get your point right and clear.

 Mr. Morgan, for your information as stipulated in your post I do not have any records for being a liar, nor defame and lie through my teeth. I have no intention to be one any time soon. Mr Morgan, I hope that you find a little time to read my note through. Mr. Morgan I have the impression that you want to justify your act of failing to deliver instead of seeing the real claim and my problem face to face...

I am shocked to learn from Mr. Morgan that there are several plots of land in the same vicinity that have been similarly developed. I personally cannot find any other development in the same area apart from the two blocks built by Mrs. Morgan. Mr. Morgan, please prove me wrong. Mr. Joel Morgan I had no intention what so ever to destroy your character nor of others. I simply said the truth.

 I do not know how you do it Mr. Morgan, saying that this is your wife’s business. You want to make me and the readers believe that you are unaware of your spouse business and you simply turned the blind eye.

 I have read all your comments of sympathy after your post was published and I have one and only message for them…..

 Not a single one of them could at least say to Mr. Morgan that this guy is right for having waited for 15 years in vain. They were all also deaf when I delivered my speech on Lalyans Seselwa’s PPB.

Hey guys “ your comments did not turn me neither hot nor cold.”

 I have a special mention for Mr. Gustave De Commarmond. Thank you for your comment of which I appreciated immensely. “Lock him up and throw away the keys.” You better keep dreaming.

 I earn my respect through my hard work and dignity. This no one can take away from me. I have got news for you....

Should anyone find the necessity for further clarifications, please do not hesitate to call me on 2516023.

I look forward to your phone calls.

Achille Savy

Editor’s note:The above was posted in Gossip corner in reply to Minister Morgan’s post following the author’s PPB but was sadly removed by the administrators of the group.

Source: Seychelles Weekly

TON PAT`S COLUMN; SENSELESSNESS, XENOPHOBIA AND PLAIN LOW EQ.

For many Christians, we started the New Year 2016 on a rather sad note. The virulent attacks on Bishop James, the Anglican Bishop, were absolutely uncalled for if not shameful for the majority of Seychellois. The attacks came principally from the Michelites who are self-styled bloggers in the social media under the name ‘Lari Bazar’. I am well aware that this page on social media was started by the wannabe first lady and her ‘bosom sister’. They were joined by like-minded activists particularly the two big shots in the National Assembly. In truth I do not visit this filthy page as I was well informed that the contents and comments by the activists were most times debased.

However, a few days ago, I was curious to get a feel of what was being said about the good bishop. Frankly, I was quite shocked by not only the violence of the attacks on Bishop James but also the xenophobic undertone of the comments To add insult to injury, at least two of the commentators hold high post in government/society. I am all for freedom of speech and have been actively encouraging our young activists in Lalyans Seselwa to write and express their dissatisfaction and disagreement where this so called government is treating us as morons as lately we have had to listen to a senior police officer attempting to explain the status of the investigation as for the Bel Ombre skull is concerned. Do we need a doctorate in psychology to know when someone is lying…? To go back to Bishop James, the men who obviously saw red after reading the interview in Today newspaper even brought in Bishop Denis and Bishop French for good measure rather than concentrating on the good that the Catholic and Anglican clergy have done to ensure a peaceful and civilised process during the 2015 Presidential Elections, they continued to harp on the fact that Bishop James and Bishop Denis are Mauritians!

As a Christian leader does Bishop James not have a right to say what he feels is good for the country in which he has been called to work in the service of Christ? If people are being easily bought left, right and centre, is it not the duty of Bishop French to remind them of their dignity, the need for them to remember that they have to live with their conscience thereafter? We have just been through the dirtiest and most unbecoming election process in the country’s history and it would be worth reminding the nation that if there is one organisation that is non-political and that has played a major role in ensuring that the whole process developed peacefully, it is the church. There was no scaremongering emanating from them. Rather, there were prayers offered for peace and homilies that called for calm, tolerance and civility.

As far as I can recall and I stand to be corrected, not once has James Michel gone on national television to call for unity, tolerance and peace prior to the Seychellois going to the polls. What was abundantly in evidence was the large number of hired vehicles presumably paid for by state resources that was part of an elaborate machinery to create fear amongst the population; especially the opposition activists and supporters.

Before I end, may I congratulate Bishop James for having had the fortitude for doing the righteous and speaking the truth. This is what a soldier of Christ has to stand for. I know that you will remain unfazed by those below-the –belt and cheap personal insults and attacks and I know that you will continue to lead your flock with characteristic faith and devotion. And to those ‘artists’ of ‘Lari Bazar’.. .. I do not read your diatribe but I take comfort in the fact that many of the young supporters of Lalyans think very poorly of you. This young generation of Seychellois are not only educated and with above average IQ; they are also well balanced with well above average EQ (Emotional Quotient). The misfits in our society are those who continue to indulge in insults, filth and diatribe.

LIONNET IS UNREASONABLE SAYS CHIEF JUSTICE

CJ declares land use plan “invalid”. Many people in Seychelles didn’t know that their land had effectively been rendered worthless.

On January 12, Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey issued a writ certiorari quashing a decision of the Minister of Land Use and Housing, Christian Lionnet, which restricted the Talma family to developing only 0.31% of their plot of land in Anse Lazio. But Mrs Twomey’s ruling also has far reaching implications for the country’s landowners, many of whom weren’t aware of a sweeping set of land use guidelines which were introduced by stealth in 2013.

It’s one of the country’s longest running legal battles. For the past 20 or so years, Alwyn Talma and his daughter, Elke, have been fighting for their right to develop the 64-acre plot of land they own at Anse Lazio. But despite having obtained favourable rulings from the Constitutional Court and the Court of Appeal, the authorities have continued to contrive to frustrate their efforts, at times using stealth and at others more blatant delaying tactics. On January 12, the Talma family was once again vindicated when they won a civil action they had filed in front of the Supreme Court in August 2014. Indeed, in a piquantly worded ruling, Chief Justice (CJ) Mathlida Twomey ordered that they be allowed to build a 25-room hotel on their plot of land and that the ministry of Land Use and Housing (MLUH) pay them the sum of SCR350 000 in “exemplary damages”. More importantly, in her judgment the CJ declared “as invalid” the ministry’s Land Use Planning Guidelines, an obscure document which, as Ms Talma stated in her petition, “purports to categorise and zone land in areas to be developed, partially developed and not to be developed at all”.

The unreasonable and corrupt Lionnet

 The latter point is particularly significant given that many Seychellois were never even made aware of the existence of the Land Use Planning Guidelines, a document which was penned by Florian Rock, a “land use planning consultant”, and surreptitiously gazetted in April 2013 (astoundingly, the plan is nowhere to found on the website of the MLUH). In consequence, many owners and indeed buyers were unaware that the plots they had sold and bought at market prices had been rendered virtually worthless by these guidelines, especially if the land in question fell in the “not to be developed at all” category. In addition, this ruling will doubtless come as a blow to the MLUH, exposing as it does some of the more occult practices employed by the ministry. CJ Twomey was particularly scathing in her remarks relating to the complete lack of consultations preceding the gazetting of the Baie Ste Anne Land Use Development Plan in April 2013:

“Notice of the Praslin Baie Sainte Anne Development Plan was indeed published. However, no plan was effectively available for public inspection. If it was, it was hidden in an inaccessible glass cabinet or some dusty shelf. At the very least as the Petitioner [Ed’s note, Elke Talma] was in negotiation with the Respondent [MLUH] it was incumbent on him to at least seek the views of the Petitioner whose land was clearly affected by the Plan. It does not wash with this court that the Petitioner’s land was not specifically targeted. Why was this plan when it was of national interest or at least when it concerned landowners of Praslin rushed through without so much as a national consultation? The property rights of Praslinois were to be affected. Did it not matter that they were consulted or even properly informed? And why was it and continues to be the case that this exercise was not extended to all Seychelles. Why was this particular area a priority?”

The Praslin Baie Sainte Anne Development Plan unilaterally declared the Talmas land as a “very low residential and tourism” zone, even though the MLUH was at the time in discussions with the family. This categorisation would effectively have killed the hotel project they were fighting so hard to develop Indeed, a few months before it  was gazetted, on November 15, 2012, to be precise, Mr Talma had received a letter from Vivianne Dubel, the director for sector development at the Seychelles Investment Board (SIB), informing him that he would only be allowed to develop a tiny sliver of his 64-acre plot. “It should be noted that given your proposal, a 4 000sqm area has been taken out of your parcel and classified as low density residential/ tourism industry. Further to the above, kindly note that within this area, you would be able to implement a tourism project of up to 20% plot coverage, which corresponds to an 800sqm footprint and/or covered area(s)”.

What this basically meant was that the Talmas would only be allowed to develop 0.31% of their own land, a stipulation which rendered their project all but irrelevant and which the CJ described as “not only arbitrary but also preposterous”. As if this wasn’t egregious enough, it’s important to bear in mind that, at this juncture, the Talmas had already been vindicated by both the Constitutional Court and Court of Appeal. As Mrs Twomey summarised in her ruling the former had found, on September 2010, that, “the Petitioner’s property right had been breached by the fact that the restriction on her property right was done not according to law but according to departmental policy which had not been formulated in accordance with the relevant laws. The restriction on her property right was in the circumstances both unconstitutional and illegal”.

But rather than heed the court’s unequivocal message, the MLUH upped the ante instead. Worse, the ministry failed to produce the relevant documentation in front of CJ Twomey despite the fact that she had issued an order to this very effect. “The manner in which this plan was prepared in the middle of negotiations with the Petitioner and after court cases decided and actions taken to enforce this court decision leaves a distinct impression that the creation of the Plan was not made in good faith and in the national interest but rather by stealth and other motives. I am left in no doubt after having reviewed the administrative files (with the knowledge that not all the files were submitted to the court after being so ordered) and the court cases linked to this review that the Minister has indeed been unreasonable in his decision”, Mrs Twomey observed in her ruling.

Ms Talma’s lawyer, Anthony Derjacques, is in no doubt as to the significance of CJ Twomey’s order. “You could write a book about this case. Many people in Seychelles didn’t know that their land had effectively been rendered worthless [by the Land Use Planning Guidelines]. There were no consultations or debates about the plan. But the Chief Justice has declared it illegal and described the Minister, Christian Lionnet, as ‘unreasonable’. If government implements this plan with respect to a plot of land you own, you must know that it is acting illegally. The plan is not legally enforceable. In establishing laws, even subsidiary laws, government must discuss them first with the population. This ruling concerns all landowners and potential buyers as it effectively serves to restore the proper market value of land in Seychelles”, he explained to TODAY.

The ministry has 30 days to appeal the judgment as from the date of the ruling. It will be very fascinating to see what course of action the authorities opt for next given that the Minister’s decision to restrict the Talma family to a minuscule portion of their plot was described by Mrs Twomey as “neither legal, reasonable, fair, rational or proportionate”. On top of allowing the Talmas to construct a 25-room hotel on their plot of land and the payment of SCR350 000 in exemplary damages, CJ Twomey also ordered the MLUH to foot the costs of the lawsuit. For the past 20 years, Elywn Talma and his daughter have been fighting for the right to develop a piece of land which is legally theirs. For how much longer will the authorities try to frustrate this right and expect the Seychellois taxpayer to foot the bill for their actions?

Source:Today inn Seychelles