Seychelles Economy in Trouble!

Alain St.Ange of SAINT ANGE CONSULTANCY I start this edition with a quote I really appreciate from Winston Churchill – "You cannot reach your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks." Whether the masses realize it yet or not, Seychelles is facing challenging economic times. The latest commentary from key individuals about the state of our country’s economy is that we are, "on the road to a recession".    In a recent edition of the 'Today' Newspaper of Seychelles, the respected financial personality, Malika Jivan, took the trouble to address the situation on hand. She was quoted stating, "…our economy has been contracting. A slowdown in various sectors, no FDI, has had a domino effect on the economy. In text book terms, we are in a recession. Consumers cut spending, business cut payroll to cope with falling earnings." No Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in the country is a serious problem. Construction companies have confirmed the lack of big projects at the moment in Seychelles. At the same time, our cost of living has not been adjusted to improve the lives of those in the lower wage bracket. On the contrary, the cost of living is increasing. This year our Nation’s budget was approved by the National Assembly, after a series of drawn-out and exhaustive debates. For the first time in Seychelles’ political history, the majority of seats in the Assembly is held by members of the Opposition. The budget for 2017, therefore, has had the blessing of our elected representatives. We are now midyear and patiently waiting to see results. Malika Jivan proposes a series of measures, including a commitment to business, to stimulate FDIs, and for Government to be a facilitator of business. She notes that FOREX earning businesses and exports should be encouraged. One such FOREX earning business in Seychelles is undoubtedly tourism. Are we ensuring they have their needed staffing contingent? Are we running to ensure the marketing of the islands is receiving all the budgetary assistance required? The goose that lays the golden egg needs to be nurtured with care and attention. Negative political agendas must be left out of tourism if we want this vital industry to succeed.   Last week we saluted the youth of Seychelles for being committed to saving Seychelles from itself. The positive feedback we have since obtained from the youth has been overwhelming. You are a force to be reckoned with and must continue to make your voices heard. We also need to acknowledge the efforts of those who have launched campaigns to collect accumulated rubbish from Grand Police and the beaches. You are not just talking, which is easy to do, but you are actively striving to protect and preserve our environment, and to keep our beaches as pristine as the holiday brochures say they are. The tourism trade fair season is just around the corner once again, and as visitor arrival figures show, Italy and France need special attention. The tourism industry’s survival in Seychelles largely depends on air connectivity, but it also depends on our efforts in tapping into key markets. We may find ourselves witnessing sporadic cancellations of flights or discontinuation of air services if our target markets start fading away. The French Tourism Trade Fair will need a special push with private sector participation now that French elections are over and done with. The ball is very much in our court. Finally, we once again say thank you to all who are reposting the Saint Ange Tourism Report. Our humble Report has travelled Africa-wide, to the Americas, to Australasia and to the Middle East. It is very clear that our direct mail-out is being really strengthened by the reposting being done by all the online NewsWires. Together, we are doing a real service for the tourism industry. This week Saint Ange Consultancy has been taken to new heights; this Issue is coming to you from beautiful Indonesia.

SEYCHELLES TOURISM MOURNS THE PASSING OF MR. LOUIS D'OFFAY

By Alain St.Ange of SAINT ANGE CONSULTANCY SEYCHELLES TOURISM MOURNS THE PASSING OF MR. LOUIS D'OFFAY Louis D'Offay Louis D'Offay, the well-known and highly respected hotelier from Praslin, died on the 18th July 2017 on his island home, leaving the industry he led for many years in shock and dismay. Louis, the much loved tourism personality, was a father and grandfather, a partner and a brother to some, and a cherished friend to so many.  For the last two or so months he fought bravely against the cancer he had been diagnosed with, with the support of his beloved children, family members and friends. Louis D'Offay was 73 years old. Today he leaves behind five children, namely Jean-Paul, Simon, Jean-Marc, Lucas and Caroline. Who was Louis D'Offay? The sea and everything related to the sea was very much his passion, and he derived great joy from studying and working on ships for many years. He was a keen and avid fisherman. Louis D'Offay with a Red Snapper on one of his many fishing trips Louis D'Offay from a painting by his friend and renowned artist, Raymond DuBuisson. Silhouette Island Louis D'Offay lived on Silhouette Island and managed it for many years. He established himself as a hard worker who showed that he had the tenacity required to make this big island work and to make it profitable. It is during his time on Silhouette Island that he helped coin the song 'Grand Barb' together with the well known singer and compositor, Patrick Victor. This was the song Louis D'Offay would sing loudly and happily at social evenings and in the company of friends. The Hotelier He was a self-taught hotelier, as he loved to say, and after the many years he owned and managed hotels, the verdict is that he was a very successful one. He began his journey with the quaint and charming 'Village du Pecheur' situated right on the beach at Cote D'Or, Praslin. This little establishment made its mark with its good food and the homely atmosphere. Painting of Louis D'Offay's Village du Pecheur of Praslin The successful years at 'Village du Pecheur' gave Louis D'Offay the confidence to move into something bigger and better. He built, together with Cecile Hodoul, the famous L'Archipel Hotel of Praslin. Photo of L'Archipel Hotel of Praslin L'Archipel Hotel was a purpose built hotel which Louis D'Offay saw as his baby. He spent his life at this property which was renowned for its good food, the ambience and the Creole flair. Louis D'Offay never stopped investing in his property and the hotel welcomed faithful and repeat guests who saw Louis as their Seychellois friend. His son, Lucas D'Offay, worked in the hotel with him and Eddie D'Offay, his brother, was responsible for all Sales and Marketing activities.  L'Archipel Hotel is known as a "Home Grown" property and is regarded as a success story of the Seychelles Tourism Industry. Opening night of Le Bamboo Guest House on La Digue Louis D'Offay wanted to see the Seychelles tourism industry succeed. He also seized opportunities and was never known to shy away from a venture if he thought it would help the industry. The business acumen of Louis D'Offay pushed him to take over a lease for the Bamboo Guest House of La Digue and, in partnership with Daniella Payet-Alis, the Cote D'Or Apartments. Both small properties worked well and he personally visited them frequently to ensure his personal vision was guiding the show. Cote D'Or Apartments Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association (SHTA) The leadership qualities of Louis D'Offay were recognised when he was appointed as the Chairman of SHTA. Louis D'Offay as Chairman of the SHTA The Tourism Industry's Association became one of the most important groupings of professionals and it was very fast acknowledged by the Government as the spokesman for tourism. The SHTA was vocal on matters affecting the tourism industry. It had its own Newsletter that ensured the Private Sector Trade and the Government were always well informed on matters of importance. It was under the Chairmanship of Louis D'Offay that Seychelles really opened the Tourism Public / Private Sector partnership. Discussions on budget with Government, as well as labour matters to ensure an adequate expatriate workforce, became possible for the tourism industry. Louis D'Offay the Chairman of the SHTA Louis D'Offay was one of the longest serving Chairmans of the SHTA and will be remembered for his dedication to the industry's association. He led by example and gave time and money to make the association work.  Politics Politics is in the blood of most Seychellois and Louis D'Offay was no exception. He was a notable candidate for the Baie Ste Anne Constituency for the 1979 general Elections.  Louis D'Offay, Candidate for Baie Ste Anne, Praslin 1979 elections Louis was not successful in this election but continued to play an important part as the Branch Chairman before running again in the 1987 elections and winning the seat by a large majority.  Louis D'Offay elected as the member for Baie Ste Anne, Praslin 1987 elections Louis D'Offay continued to be very involved in politics and was a serious member of Parliament. On the ruling party structure he was pushing for the return of multi-party politics before associating himself with Jacques Hodoul in the MSD Party (Mouvement Seychellois pour la Democratie) for the 1992 Constitutional Commission Elections. Louis D'Offay at an MSD Political Rally Louis D'Offay continued to give advice on the political affairs of the country, expecting nothing in return but a better Seychelles. Thank you Louis I was fortunate to have known Louis D'Offay for many, many years and consider him to have been a wonderful and very cherished friend of mine. My re-entry into Government was very much at the insistence of Louis D'Offay who wanted a representative of the private sector to lead the tourism industry. At a private sector meeting at the Tourism Academy at La Misere, Louis D'Offay went as far as to iron out the salary I was to earn as a Consultant to market Seychelles. Before taking up employment at the Tourism Board and later assuming a Ministerial Office, I spent time with Louis D'Offay at the L'Archipel Hotel and was privileged to oversee the property when he was absent from the country. Louis D'Offay and Alain St.Ange at L'Archipel Hotel Louis D'Offay was a friend anyone would want to have. During the final days of both my own father and mother, he travelled to La Digue to spend time with them. The final trip to the hospital on La Digue for my father was with Louis D'Offay and myself after we had lifted him into the ambulance in his wheel chair and maneuvered with difficulty to get him out at the hospital which prompted the old man to give both Louis and myself a few choice stern words.  The time I spent with Louis at the hospital in Victoria and at his Anse Boudin property marked me deeply. He had wanted to see me alone and had said so to many who visited him. Yes we spoke alone at Praslin and his words were appreciated and well understood. Knowing how difficult it was for him to lift his arm last Friday, I am deeply touched by his insistence on giving me a final hand shake as we said goodbye. Goodbye Louis, my dear friend. I am honoured to have known you. Seychelles will miss you. I will miss you. Alain St.Ange  Saint Ange Consultancy

Seychelles Government Drops Fee Increase For Parks

Government of Seychelles, specifically the Ministry of Environment tasked with administering the national parks system around Mahe,Praslin, have back tracked on a horrendous proposal made by another expert recruited from newspaper adverts, and unfortunately, hired.

The Proposal
The proposal entailed charging all hotel establishments touching a national park a rate of € 21.00 per bed single occupancy, based on 60% annual average occupancy ( annual occupancy is really 48% large hotels, 38% small hotels, both mean all hotels are generally in financial dire straits.

The Impact
A hotel like Ephelia Hotel in Port Launay will pay nearly € 2million in additional expenditure to the Seychelles National Parks Authority. In case the Seychelles National Parks Authority did not add this up, it works out to SCR. 30 Million in payments from Ephelia Resort, per year.  The people from environment are trying to increase the lease payments for the land once owned by Bill Pomeroy. Not good! bad, bad, bad idea!

La Reserve

La Reserve Hotel on Praslin will be expected to fork out another SCR 250,000.00 per month for being in the national park. Nuts! Makes one wonder what these environment guys smoke or snort?

Land Fees Proposed To Go Up SCR. 100.00

To land on Curiesse island, these environment  technos  want to hike landing fees by SCR. 100.00. This will make a day on Curiesse Island cost SCR. 300.00 from the current SCR. 200.00. Currently, we do not see a line of Tourist rushing to pay SCR. 200.00 to land on Curiesse Island.

Cousin Fiasco Landing Fee SCR. 500.00

Cousin Island run by Bird Life, charges SCR. 500.00. Bird Life pays no VAT on this fee. It pays no taxes. Excursion operators are already boycotting landing guests on Cousin Island because the fees make a sale difficult, and give the visitor the impression they're being robbed. The tour last one hour and a half, you have to pay your own way round trip to and from Praslin.

Sister Island

Sister Island charges landing fees illegally. The practice has been ongoing for years. The government receives no revenue, the public is out raged, and I will say, pissed off.
Sister island is one island which the government of Seychelles should be brave, acquire it, turn it into a national park, continue to charge the fees. An audit ought to be conducted, apply all the illegal undeclared revenue over the past 35 years to the settlement price. I assure you, it will be the last time a queer from Paris kicks a Seselwa off an island.

After much discussion, government agreed to withdraw these proposed fees in the national cross sector, which Seychelles Chamber of Commerce attended, kept the flag flying, thanks to his right good and decent, Mr. Pierre Quatre attending, while his Chairman ( Defacto ) Wilson a Nancy was absent, in mind and body, as usual....from Seychelles, but he was here.

Figure it out folks!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seycllois

Seychelles Abandons Environment Ideals With HYBRIDS

The Ministry of Finance has announced outrageous excise taxes to be applicable on environmentally friendly Eco vehicles or HYBRIDS which reduce consumption of fossil fuels, burn cleaner, emit less co2, cost less then fossil fuel vehicles. The public is outraged over the issue.

One Party State Mental State on Taxes

Excise Tax on HYBRIDS was 5% flat to encourage protection of the environment and to show Seychelles commitment to the environment. As of June 16 th, 2017, a one party state style tax ladder on HYBRIDS will take effect: 1. 1600cc - 12.5% tax , 2. 2000 cc - 37.5 % tax, 3. 2000-2500 cc 75% tax, 4. Above 2500 cc - 100% tax.

Add The VAT 15%

In addition to these taxes, VAT of 15% will be added to the vehicles. The policy will penalize Seychellois trying to buy a car, to improve their quality of life, and protect the environment. The super rich docked at Eden Island will remain un scathed as usual. Government officials who drive in new vehicles every three years will be unaffected.

Dealers Hurt
Dealers of vehicles will be hurt badly by this initiative, and it will be a negative on the business climate. Those who have invested dearly to set up dealer ships will be at a loss due simply to more bad policy, not market forces. The regime will add even more unpredictability to the Seychelles government and how they do things under the coco nut tree at Ministry of Finance. Last year, MOF scrapped Trades Tax, implemented Excise tax system to divert and nullify the Tourism Incentive Act, providing concession to the Tourism Industry, since they are the main hard currency earners in the country. Again, many business relied on TIA and trusted the government, they were let down in classic one party state style.

Keep Your Word Challenge

A government that cannot keep its word, is a government that cannot be trusted. Simple!

Sesel Pou Seselwa! 

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Top Seychelles Persona In Alleged Land Scams!

The heat in the kitchen is rising. Seychelles society, under President Faure is under going a purge of corruption and illicitly obtained land and properties. Expectedly, land is much sought after in Seychelles, more valuable then gold, to some, sweeter then honey, to others sweeter then the honeycomb.

L'Espace Tenants Booted!

Numerous tenants at L' ESPACE the grand commercial center built by Former President Michel. The parking lot is on a plot with no lease. The consideration for the plot where the grand commercial center sits was not fair market value. In addition, the source of funding of this building complex remains under investigation by the National Assembly. Recently, numerous tenants were booted including Seychelles Tourism Board. They were told to leave the furniture.  How much of the marketing fund is used to pay rent?

Dolor Bends Over In A Vice!

Dolor Ernesta, former Minister and Vice Chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce (SCCI) is under investigation by the Anti Corruption Commission for acquiring on his name, 52 plots of land allegedly, then selling 26 plots in a systematic manner. Mr. Ernesta was a infamous Minister of Lands, a former sanitation inspector on La Digue, came to own numerous plots on La Digue, Beau Vallon, San Souci. Was he clever or crooked? The Anti Corruption Commission will give us its position.

Sarah LTD Scam

Last month a company called Sarah LTD was cajoled by President Faure after tough negotiations to give back numerous plots of land to government of Seychelles situated at Beau Vallon. The case registered the first concrete action taken by the President to undo malpractice in land acquisition. However, no further criminal case was brought forward, while the company was named, the individuals behind the company have been shielded in the Seychelles official press and opposition press.

International Prestige Ltd Scam With SCR. 1 Million Deposit!

International Prestige a company unknown in Seychelles commercial life, has obtained six plots of land at Providence Industrial Estate, with a deposit of only SCR. 1 Million. The Opposition submitted these details to President Faure, he has ordered immediately, the cancellation of the leases. No party or person has been named from government for facilitating the fraud and the individual tendering the payment on behalf of the shelf company has not been named or charged with a crime.

The lesson thus far is clear, better off stealing land in Seychelles, then breaking into houses to steal flat screens.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Seychelles Called to Combat!

James ( in Irish Jack, oh, remember the Irish)  Michel has resurfaced after a prolong absence from the Public eye since resigning as President of The Republic of Seychelles, and handing over to Mr. Danny Faure. Faure has been a step ahead all the time, and has done many good moves, to Jacks discontent.

Jack surfaced at the June 3 rd Le Pep party congress to establish order in his party after Faure shunned his request that he stand as President of the Party. Jack therefore had to take the helm as President Honorary ( to shield him from political irrelevance), place numerous cabinet members of Danny Faure Administration in his Central Committee, that was giving orders, but the machinery was not following through.

Times are changing, but not everyone is keeping up with the change, they would rather be content in the historical cages of the past. Jack, time waits for no one, you cannot scare time into submission.

Jack Has Big Problems

It is evident Jack has big problems. Leader of The Opposition is investigating the SCR. 150 Million building L'Espace built for Jacks Foundation, JJ Spirit, which according to the mistress of all ceremonies, is at the forefront of fighting drug addiction in Seychelles. Really? I did not know that.

Oh Question Time!

Allow me to ask any MNA to ask the following question: " what has JJ Spirit done to fight drug addiction in Seychelles?" "How much of its budget is used on drug addiction ?" When will JJ spirit be audited? " what office space at L ' ESPACE is dedicated to fighting drug addiction and rehabilitation in Seychelles?

The list of problems goes on and on. How much was Desroches island leased for? How much was Ile Platte dumped for? Grand Police? Was it market value? I doubt it. The Arab investors we talk to tell us under Jack, they pay less then market value, and will not budge on any venture. Jack has spoil them, now no one can deal with them.

Vincent Meriton President of Party"

Vincent Meriton has been elected President of the Party. The young energetic Meriton, is fast on a Samsung, has been brought up through the ranks. He has a clean slate, without the baggage of Jack. In the hotel business, people regularly turn up with their baggage, and they want you to carry it for them. My advise to President of Le Pep, politely advise Jack he must carry  his own baggage, because when he had the chance to unload June 5 th and be a hero not to killers, but all of Seychelles, Jack declined a golden political opportunity, chose to carry June 5th on his shoulders, all by himself.

This is why everyone says Jack is in a JAM, regardless of the stage show.

Jack Is Gone Danny Is President No. 1

Le Pep supporters called me for advise. So many Presidents now, Danny, Jack, Vincent. Who do they follow? What do they do?

For the moment, Jack has hit a Che Guevara tone, calling on his supporters to be aggressive, combative, and hold nothing back, be ready for turbulence, he snorts. Jack of course forgets Tourism is 21% and we can do 25% this year, to pay for all the vehicles he  had signed off to him from the State House ledger.

Jack forgets Savoy Hotel must pay its bills, Kempenski must pay taxes, Four Seasons needs a profit after investment, Seychellois need to eat, live, pay their way, from their own pockets, something Jack has never done himself, and will not know what it feels like to build something from his own honest sweat as inferred from the LOTO statements on L ' ESPACE.

Well, I hope the LOTO brings forward the facts, nothing but the facts, so far we have one car park, taken, not paid for. STB has vac

In the mean time Jack, Danny is still the President, not you. The country should work with him, since he says he wants peace and genuine national reconciliation, not combat, aggression, or anything else espoused with a dose of vile mixed with bile.

I heard in the hall ways some murder saying, yes, more murder, more mayhem, bring back torture, yes...................long live the revolution! Jack is Back!

See what I mean Jack? Better see a shrink, would you not say?

With such erratic banter in the halls of ICC, President Danny Faure, best start dealing with the Che Guevera extremists left in the Army, the Cabinet, and Districts. You never know what these people can do after a few drinks at the "harbor bar".

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

The Time Is Now To Privatize PUC Praslin!

This week the National Assembly dragged PUC Praslin through hot coals over the noise level and emissions of its generators. The PL and LDS were all over PUC on these issues that affect residents in the proximate area where the loud smoke bulging generators are run. But the National Assembly missed the most important point: PUC Praslin has failed!

Line Diversion Request

Last week, a official of PUC turned up after 15 years to inspect a request for line diversion, accompanied with other request 25 years old. It is a joke. The visit came only after the matter was referred to legal counsel for prosecution. PUC has no vision. They only operate on a reactionary basis, and treat consumers as problems not as opportunities. I trust Minister Dogley is reading this:" consumers are not problems".

Failing Service

The service on Praslin is horrendous, if there exist a worse word, it is that. Electricity cuts are common tough out the night, while tourists are eating in restaurants. As the electricity cuts, a mad house ensues, Seychelles takes on the image of a banana operation, caused by PUC failures.

Food in freezers rot, compressors break, equipment from flat screens, fridges, freezers break from power surges not expected in the ordinary course of business. The Amitie dump site is full of electronic and kitchen equipment from restaurants and hotels. In the face of such hazardous loss, PUC refuses to pay for the loss, deny having caused it, yet electricity voltage flows like high tide and low tide.

New Cars, New Trucks Less Work

It was interesting to see Mr. Morin worm over the generator and proposals for a new one, as he fed Minister Dogley with information to field questions before a teething National Assembly. PUC does not have money to replace the generator causing all the noise, smoke, vibrations, but it has money to replace and add to its fleet of vehicles.

Virtually every truck and car of PUC is new. It shows you where managements priority is. Instead of maintaining their vehicles, which will teach them how to maintain their generators, they sell the vehicles to their own staff, buy new ones and hence, do not have to change tires, gaskets, or break pads.

Privatize PUC

Electricity production will never work on Praslin with management based on Mahe. It's like have the casings of a engine on one island, the pistons of the same engine on another island. The situation has gotten so bad that even when there is a break down, if after 3:15 pm, they stop taking the phone, you call Mahe, they give you a number manned by a security guard at the gate, where the breaking dying generator is located.

Government must consider seriously  a privatize scheme for PUC, before any more money is wasted. Plug the leak!

Give the head aches to the private sector, organize a back up generator for the hospital, connect it, don't leave it in the rain to rust, set a acceptable rates scheme, commit 12-15 megawatts to take into consideration growth, raise La Digues rates since they have a free ride, have no power cuts, since their lines are all underground, take that money, compensate these families on Praslin affected monthly, place all lines underground, so the fruit bats do not look smarter then PUC management.

So there you go, problems highlighted, solution proposed, costing Government of Seychelles nothing, everyone paying their fair share, those hurt, compensated reasonably.

If you have other national crisis that need a plausible solution, do advise.

If you want to know the name of the company that can do this operation, hint, it is not Vijay, he may swipe the diesel judging from the last hotel contract that went down the dumps.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Ministry of Lands Pushes UCPS To Near Shutdown!

UCPS boss Joseph Albert has alerted all press, that UCPS is facing shut down of its impressive state of the art quarry material, block production site that has delivered construction material, to build Seychelles to what it is today, since 1970.

Lest We Forget

Albert took over UCPS in an era wherein rocks were broke by hand, collected by Seychellois men and women with gunny sacks and bamboo hampers, stacked manually, loaded manually. This is how building works started. After substantial investments and a strategy of modernization in place, targeted to deal with Seychelles tough granite boulders, convert them to dust, stones, blocks, fully automated, UCPS evolved from being a slave like operation, to a full fledged state of art quarry and construction materials service provider. A Seychellois saw a problem, he also saw the opportunities, concluded, " we can do it" and with his team, they did.

Get The Job Done

When SBC showed a Chinese contractor digging with an old machine on the South East island for quarry product, the Seychellois public lost patience with the Ministry of Lands.  This Mickey Mouse operation looked like a office joke. One only ask, what did the Chinese pay under the table for this concession, while UCPS ran out of rocks?  It just does not add up.

Drop Prices
UCPS responded to Ministry of Lands confirming it will drop prices, in spite of an increase in cost to quarry rocks from red dirt. The gesture is applaudable, but likely makes no business sense. Seychelles leaders, need to get back to some reality checks. 

No Quarry No Building 

Reality is upon us. No quarry, no building. UCPS has ask for alternate site for Fifteen years, at Au cap. In reply, Minister of Lands, Mr. Charles Bastienne says environment has yet to express a position on the matter. Fifteen years is a long time to file a report. It exposes also what generally, most Seychellois are coming to understand, the selective prosecution of individuals and companies, using the environmental card as a raison etre to bar projects and development. This strategy is a defeatist strategy, because in the end, we destroy Seychellois " can do initiative", when government should be doing all it can, to push Seychellois to " do everything , they can do".

The Goose and The Gander

The saying goes like this: " what is good for the goose, is good for the gander". This is a famous English saying, made popular in Seychelles, by Mrs. Sarah Rene.

While government has traditionally play the environment card on Seychellois maliciously, it has ignored the environment card when foreigners invested in Seychelles. Case in fact, Savoy Hotel, Raffles oil spill ongoing into a marine park, Lemuria Hotel, where they buried hundreds of Takamaka trees under neath the golf course, Eden Island where dredging of the coast and destruction of that Eco system was justified. The list is really endless. But the point made. The Goose had its time on us.

Today, the Gander ( Seychellois public) has protested, petitioned the death of the Cap Ternay Emirates Hotel Development. Now, most recently, a petition to stop the mega hotel,Marina development on Grand Police was submitted to State House. The Gander is biting back. 

Get Sensible and Serious

Seychelles must get sensible and realistic about the environment. Environmental extremism is a dangerous political tool. It is poison to economic growth, acid to investor confidence, and an accelerator to capital flight, inflation, devaluation, and divestment. It numbs Foreign direct investment ( FDI), freezes salaries, forces the population out of their cars, back into buses and on to bicycles to get to work.

Today, let us send a serious message to government: Seychellois want to live well. We want development., because that guarantees we will live well, if we work hard and fairly. We want Seychellois to be given Priority  AND encouraged Actively, to develop in their own country, for in China, we will all have to start by collecting tea leaves. 

I trust the point is clear.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Vijay Faces SCR. 300 Million Judgment on Savoy Hotel!

VIJAY Construction Limited has lost a monumental arbitration case facing Plaintiff Eastern European Proprietary Limited (EEL) the local investment arm of Savoy Hotel and Gupta Group of companies that include holdings in banking, retail, oil, gas. It is understood, Gupta may have links to the President of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Putin, but this could not be confirmed at the time of Judgment .

SIX CONTRACTS ONE PROJECT TRICK - TRAP

The Arbitration procedure fell under terms and conditions of the numerous contracts VIJAY awards to build and complete SAVOY Hotel, Beau Vallon, Seychelles, in 2012.

Under the numerous contracts, VIJAY agreed to submit to the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, France for arbitration and final resolution for any disputes that may arise in the course of the numerous construction contracts, which represented different phases of construction of Savoy Hotel, Beau Vallon,Mahe, Seychelles. There were SIX contracts in all.

VIJAY BLASTED IN PARIS

Arbitration Judgment was entered against VIJAY in the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, France for the breach of contract, and alleged persistence to commit bribery in the construction process. See below:

46 of Supreme a court Judgment:- " Vijay engages in bribery, clause 15.2(f) provided that if VIJAY engages in bribery,EEL may terminate contract," For Cause".

The key witness to the case was a Mr. Egorov of Russian citizenship, employed by EEL, to oversea the project implementation at Beau Vallon.

Once terminated by EEL, he went back to Russia. In Moscow he was called by Gupta group and ask why did he engage in bribery with VIJAY, he denied this.

TOO CLOSE FOR PROFESSIONAL COMFORT

Egorov, the Supreme Court  judgment written by Justice Robinson , infers, spent time at VIJAY s Cerf Island Five star hotel, and at one point, rented a house at La Misere, not far from Vijays private residence, to stay close to each other.

VIJAY REFUSES TO PAY

In court Vijay Patel said referring to the decision : " it is a decision of Vijay to not pay the award which Vijay considers ' a false award and now we ( Vijay) are restricted from telling the truth. So this is manipulation". However, at each stage of the Paris Arbitration, Vijay had the opportunity to submit briefs and reply to each accusation against the class "A" construction company.

CONTEMPT OF COURT

Perhaps VIJAY does not know, refusing to pay a judgment is " Contempt of Court" actionable by a motion to imprison the Defendant..........until such time....he changes his mind. When faced with the judgement, VIJAY should had also abstained from transferring any funds from the company account into any overseas accounts.

IMPROPER LEGAL DEFENSE

Vijay Claim of lack of Due Process, lack of Standing of the Supreme Court were Don Quiotte issues that had no place in the case.

It is quintessential red herring lawyering to make such a claim under a construction contract arbitration dispute.

SCR. 300 MILLION JUDGEMENT

As the gable dropped, Justice Robinson enforced the Arbitration award, with interest tacked at 8% going back to the date of the breach granted leave to EEL to register its award in Seychelles, judgment was entered, exceeding SCR. 300 Million.

WILL SEYCHELLES REVOKE VIJAY LICENSE OR ALLOW CLASS C

the question the Public want to know is given this judgment,will government of Seychelles revoke VIJAY license for construction, or allow it to operate under a class C Construction or be generous, allow Vijay to operate under a class B license.

What is clear, is VIJAY should not be submitting any tenders for any projects, be it private or public, until the Attorney General studies the prospect of bribery and fraud in this case and others.

Perhaps now, VIJAY can do the gracious thing, remove his name on all the National Heritage site signs Raffles paid for, he took credit for with his name embossed in cement. That was cultural fraud!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!