While the National Assembly was bickering and haggling over the 2017 Budget, which finally passed, with an incredible list of programs for everything imaginable, even a dog hotel, a transgender Trust, a Bible reading group, the key icons, of Seychelles tourism, that bring visitors to our shores ( and money for the budget) , had been delisted from the Top 10 prestigious position it they enjoyed for years on years, and provided an automatic source of national revenue, that surpassed the expectations of the IMF and even ourselves, in the face of a world recession.Anse Lazio DelistedTop of the list to be delisted from the No. 1 Best Beach in The World year in and year out : Anse Lazio. The once prestige beach of magical beauty has turned into a bit of a ghetto beach. The visitors have noted. Thefts on the beach are common. Trails along the path to Anse Georgette are unkept. A German national was recently lost. It resulted in countless cancellations for February, affecting hotels badly. Seychelles News Agency run by dumbos or morons, I am not sure which one, ran stories of this incident over and over again and again, basically killing the image of the destination to digital savvy potential visitors. Trash is common strewn along the beach and some of it comes in from overboard debris tossed by catamaran yachts, a 20 foot metal container greets you at the entrance of the beach and shacks along with run down buildings greet you as you wander down to the beach. The swimming net is un maintained. There are no toilets, yes we are in 2017. Showers are non existent. The restaurant is expensive and a rip off for a visitor. But the operators will tell you, it is the cost of goods and other subsidiary costs like staffing in Seychelles.Anse Lazio drops from No. 1 to No. 11, not even in the top 10.Anse Georgette Does Not ExistIn the top 10 Anse Georgette is usually number 2 or Anse Source d' argent in La Digue. This year, it did not make it even to the top 25. Gripes on Tripadvisor by travelers recount the story well. " Lemuria, Constance Resorts has a monopoly on the beach access. Not worth the walk through the jungle." A German man went missing this year along the route. Last year, another man died of cardiac arrest to take the jungle route. Numerous people have been lost into the night, when found, they had been sunburnt and dehydrated, one child was found near death, required medical attention last year.Anse Source D' Argent- La Digue Does Not Exist!Neither did Anse Source D' argent - La Digue make it into the top 25. It did not exist, replaced by beaches in Costa Rica, Cuba, Tortuga, Dominican Republic. Wake up folks!Source D'Argent has a lot of issues. Feces in the rocks where visitors sun bathe not far away. Rastas hustling coco nuts, the harassment is constant. Theft, entrance fee is a joke. Now the joke is on us. The beach is badly maintained and cleaned. Nano plastics now common from ocean pollution. We need to wake up!Intendance Beach MaheThe beautiful beach Intendance was non existent on the list. Owned by George Harrison, later Banyan Tree set its foot print on the beach. In adequate security on the beach has resulted in a husband and wife drowning last year, leaving two children without parents. Currents pulled them out. Where was the life guard? Jet ski for rescue? It did not exist.Other sites are losing their valor on tripadvisor. These include Curiesse Island, Vallai De Mai, Anse Major, Beau Vallon and others. It's time for authorities to wake up to the problem and remember, to make money, you have to maintain the assets that attract visitors here. If government cannot do the job, it needs to think out of the box, get Seychelles Tourism back on track, because she has now officially been derailed!Sesel Pou Seselwa!May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!Sent from my iPad
This week, the President of the Republic of Seychelles took time off his schedule to visit Fond Ferdinand a reserve that produces between 50- 100 coco de Mers per month, every month and the Vallai De Mai that buys new cars every 3 months. These coco de Mer retail for SCR. 5000.00, without the kernel, which sells for $750.00 per kilo. No one knows what happens to the kernel money.The Nation caught an appropriate photograph of President Danny Faure lifting a 25 kilo coco de Mer, as Mr. Michel Gardette looked on. As if the numbers ran through the new presidents mind: $750.00 X 25 kilo = $ 18750.00 per kernel? Add 100 kernel extractions X 25 kilo X $750.00 per kilo = $ 1,875,000.00 per month ?1200 kernel extractions X 25 kilo X $750.00 = $ 22,500,000.00 per year?Lord, the President must call for a full audit of Fond Ferdinand and Vallai De Mai. We can pay off all our debts if these numbers are market representative. Zimbabwe has been destroyed by the evasive corrupt diamond. Surely, the Coco De Mer has not gone the same path to destroy Praslin and Seychelles.Sesel Pou Seselwa!Co Co De Mer Pou Seselwa!
President Danny Faure addressed the People of Seychelles in the traditional State of The Nation Address, presented each year by the standing Head of State. Immediately after the Speech, before the National Assembly could reply to the speech, Mr. Faure called the first ever, first ever, open press conference at State House accessible by all media houses, be it state or political or commercial in nature. The entire press corps was allowed to question the President.
Seychelles had made history, but even more important, her executive branch embraced transparency, accountability, welcome the free press, and Mr. Faure fit unite well in his new shoes.
Background
We have to take this State of The Nation Address (SONA ) in the right political context it rests. Noteworthy, at the turn of the New Year, President Faure went on the SBC , national radio and television, standing in the eloquently manicured gardens of State House, stood before the cameras and proposed June 5 th of each year, will no longer be LIBERATION DAY ( holiday) but instead, will be a REGULAR working day.
This historical declaration immediately severed Faure from the past, and effectively, set the course, for " Changing the Conversation" at a national level. Not everyone has been alert to the historical significance of the declaration. Those who are, have also changed the conversation. Those who are not aware, have dug into a fox hole of extremism and emotional rancor when Faure speaks. We must adjust.
Mancham State Service Full Honors
The sudden passing of First President James Mancham was met by President Faure with his response, " announcing full honors to Former President Mancham" plus a final resting place at State House gardens. This single act buried June 5th, 1977 in the doldrums of history as a final mea culpa . The man deposed on June 5 th, 1977 was returned to the grounds of his presidential office.
Weigh Words With Action
No serious opposition can allow these two historical acts to be taken with a grain of salt. It is incumbent of any serious opposition to respond in kind. The President deserves credit for these deeds two historical moves, both of which are grand steps away from " Doing it my way".......control freak without a imagination or bone of decency for his fellow man. What a bad dream if it all was not true.
Help Faure Clean Up The Mess
I suppose no one ever really loved him, so he took it out on Seychellois for 12 years and enlarged the divide between the Seychellios Nation when he could have ended it. For that he thinks he is a success, after milking CSR tax for himself and charging government ( his own government) rent for his own building, parastatals likely built through Corporate Social Responsibility Tax (CSR).Dreams built in the sand, finish in the sands. LDS should pass a motion asking Michel to donate ESPACE to government of Seychelles for much needed office space. What a national disgrace.
Cadre Must Give 100% If Leaders on Right Track
Today, the time is now, to narrow the divide, foster dialogue,compassion, and work for a better Seychelles. President Faure and Speaker Pillay and LOTO Wavel Ramkalawan are all on the right track, over all. Their party line up needs to kick up the dust with their boots. Cohabitation can lead to a better result for all of Seychellois, so long s it is genuine. This situation has been decided by the people, for good reason.
Faure - Ferrari Walk Corgat Estate
As a prologue to the SONA, President Faure who has dismantle June 5 , 1977, met the invitation of Honorable Jean Francois Ferrari ( who ironically was in the coup of June 5 , 1977 with his father Dr. Maxim Ferrari, now oppose the " liberating " party) to do a walk about to see how bad the situation had become under the 12 years of James Michel. Immediately, a joint task force of executive and legislative member was created to deal a better deal for Corgat Estate and Mont Fleuri. Hon. Ferrari has positive reports on the joint effort. It would be nice if the whole Nation could work together to solve the numerous hot issues strangling us.
Faure Speaks on Poverty For Material Base
President Faures address focused keenly on the lingering poverty, in Seychelles, the lack of material necessity for our people. While some drive up and down Providence Highway , or make rounds about the clock tower a few times a day between meetings, in luxury BMW's, the reality is for many Seychellois, the LIBERATION has kept them as in- chained as ever their forefathers, were, tied to poverty, with no way out, no way to even know where to start......to get out.
Drugs Alcohol Fills The Void
Chemical dependency in Seychelles is not a new issue. It has been with us for generations. It is just worse after years of neglect. Hard drugs is now the norm, not kalou. We can neglect the issue no more.
Education Void
Education has so many problems one wonders if any one has been running the country all this time. With so much resources put into education, why has it failed? The issue will not be resolved unless all sides come closer, to deal with the core of the problems, prejudices, bias, that make Seychelles Public education fail. It will start with one voice for some tough love.
Volcere and Hon. Flory Larue Ask About Stolen Land
In the Press Conference Ralph Volcere for Independent ask what is being done to deal with stolen government land by public officials. The President referred such complaints to the Ombudsman. A nice answer, but not s satisfactory answer,perhaps. President Faure must be brave to address this issue with a comprehensive plan of attack. He will earn the respect of the Opposition and all Seychellois.
In rebuttal, Hon Flory Larue raised the issue about 40 plots sold to SPPF ruling party. There must be closure on these issues, there can be no turning back. What is wrong is wrong, what is right is right. Without June 5 th 1977 as a Public Holiday, the pendulum on right and wrong has shifted dramatically on these " purchases" of government land from the ruling party.
As the conversation shifts, we must support President Faure. After all his actions have shown great decency at key moments. Now the Opposition must show its decency in this key moments. This is no time to propel extremists to the front line. Keep them in the back kitchen, at least, keep them masked.
Oh Fragile Seychelles!
Little do we realize how fragile Seychelles is until one of us shatters her . What was done 40 years ago, what has been done everyday since, by our leaders, has impacted our people. While many celebrated in a good life, many became poor, many resigned themselves to only bad news, day in and day out. We must do better towards each other. After all, we are all Seychellois!
Good News Brings In A New Fresh Air
Today, we all see some good news coming out from all corners, keep up the good work all sides, keep the respect between each other, so our people will emulate you.
Dialogue will heal our Nation as it has others. Conflicts are resolved in the hearts of men, not with guns of men.
Sesel Pou Seselwa!
May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!
One Seychelles, One People, One Destiny! Work it Out!
The situation of Tourism on Praslin is getting out of hand, as monopolistic strong hold of the Two major DMC suffocate the island business community to death. These two Destination Management Companies, have now grip locked the economy of Praslin, holding it at their mercy. Only intervention by the Government of Seychelles can undo this generational disaster at this time.
126 Charters Going Bankrupt
Over 126 excursion - charter operators run out of Praslin island. These operators base out of Côte D'Or or Grand Anse. Boats are being dry docked, after multiple seasons of non usage. Numerous have already gone bankrupt. Debts linger on. On Grand Anse Praslin, 25 boats are up for sale, sporting Yamaha engines 4 stroke. On Côte d'Or, many operators over the years have folded, drugs has infiltrated, killing some operators, a few have turn to trafficking to pay bank loans. The DMC, Mason's and Creole, have turned a blind eye to the social ills, impact on the community, preferring to focus on bigger numbers, efficiency, profit for their own excursion boats. Profit,profit, profit.
The SPPF and Le Pep have remained silent on legislation, silent on course of action, they have listen now to the community for three (3) years.
LDS has been silent, without pushing the anti monopoly agenda. It does not make it to the next 32 pieces of legislation to be tabled in agreement with Le Pep. The residents of Praslin are outraged.
Hotels For Sale
Numerous hotels on Praslin are now for sale. The likely buyers are the DMC or sister companies. Indian Ocean Lodge, was owned by the Adam family. It was swooped up by Mason's . They now have hotels on Mahe and Praslin, Denis Island.
La Reserve owned by the Pomeroys was swooped up by Joe Albert, the largest monopolist in the Industry. Word is out he is looking at taking Castello and a few other hotels. Combined with Orangine Hotel in La Digue he will soon seal the Four and Five star market, lock in day trip lunches, along with ferry ticketing, and excursions.
Pundits in Le Pep affected by this are mumbling that President Danny Faure should resign, hand over Le Pep to Ton Joe Albert. Ton Joe was recently named to the Board of Directors of the " James Michel Foundation".
Le Pep Holds World Bank Report
Le Pep has yet to make public the World Bank Report submitted by Chris Coles, December 5 th, 2016. Vice President Meriton promised in the last meeting before 40 businesses at Lemuria Hotel that in Four weeks, he will be back on Praslin, with the full presentation. Two weeks has passed, Praslinoise are counting the hours.
Protests at Port Imminent!
The business community is now organizing placards, to start to regularly protest this situation, unabated by the government. They do not blame the operators, they blame the government and the opposition for remaining silent on the matter.
If things keep up as they are, we will eventually run placards that say " Joe For President". After all, no matter what side of the political spectrum one may be, their children have to eat.
Sesel Pou Seselwa!
May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!
The Tourism Industry of Seychelles is exposing deep weaknesses that if left unfettered over the next three (3) months, it will derail the Archipelago's number one earner of hard currency. Let's look at the issues.
Seychelles Too Expensive!
Costly Food
Seychelles number one problem in regards to its image is that it is simply too expensive. Visitors cry while on holiday here. The cost of food is astronomical, due to lack of any consumer protection in place. This allows Dubious Indian store keepers to rip off operators, who in turn pass the high outrageous costs to Visitors.
Costly Transport and Fuel
Fuel costs are too high. government imposed an excise tax on fuel recently, on top of other taxes, making fuel now SCR. 17.41 per liter. This high cost affects the price of excursions, and make use of a car rental outrageous when combined with the € 60.00 rate per day. Car hire companies pay 150% on vehicles imported, along with 15% VAT plus and an excise tax on imports. A vehicle safe life span in a high salted climate is 5 years. Tires are replaced every three months because roads are so,so pitiful. Road tax is SCR. 1.50 per cc. Imagine.
Room Cost Nuts!
One night in a five star hotel in Seychelles will cost you the same as Five nights in a five star hotel resort in Mauritius or Maldives. Simple.
These astronomical costs are a result of high bank interest rates, 15% is common, high imported labor cost, which include housing and meals, uniforms for staff, transportation externally and internally, high VAT at 15% for a micro economy. The unproductive, lack of discipline in the young Seychellois labour force who are taught that a job is a price legs for the employer, augments costs of rooms.
Recently, Seychelles legislature passed a whopping 13 th Month Salary Scheme for private sector staff, dealing a 40% increase in input costs for the industry.
Death To The Industry
The Industry is facing a cardiac arrest. National room occupancy hovers at 42% a dismal performance. National yield is down -2 % load factor of planes in bound are -40%. Word has leaked that Air Seychelles will abandon the direct link flights to China. A no excuse to flop route, except for the prevalence of stubborn stupidity. If we lose the China market, we lose a key market that has huge potential, and the bottom line, is it kept the rooms full while European markets slacked off and opted for cheaper rooms in Mauritius and Maldives.
Mauritius , Seychelles or Maldives
One of the most popular questions today on travel forums is where to travel: Mauritius, Seychelles or Maldives.
The Le Pep government led by Mr. Danny Faure, the LDS run by Mr. Ramkalawan will both be happy to learn, that Seychelles is the last choice of the three destinations, but we have a 13 th month salary, free health care ( though a failing service), free education ( though the worse test scores in the World) , an incredible taxing scheme, though money is also incredibly mis spent across the national spectrum.
As long as Business has weak leaders, they will continue to take it in the pants.
Sesel Pou Seselwa!
May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellios!
The cost of goods and services in Seychelles has reached a breaking point.
Hotels, operators, visitors, residents are crying foul. The price of a meal or a drink in a restaurant is astronomical. The price of one five star room with breakfast in Seychelles, will get you one five star room in Mauritius for Five nights. What is government doing about it? What is the National Assembly doing out it? Nil.
Tomato Fever!
Two weeks ago the Minister of Agriculture announced a total ban on imported tomatoes from South Africa, where the price is very competitive, allows STC a fair mark up and sells for SCR. 40.00 per kilo . Local tomatoes retail for SCR. 35.00 a kilo, have less water, are firm and meaty, if you permit the expression.
ISPC sells tomatoes imported from Europe for SCR. 140.00 per kilo. The quality is "A" Grade preferred by chefs, but it kills the profit margins of restaurants, turns the to,to into a speciality, that will offend any French or Italian guest.
When the Minister of Agriculture announced the ban on Tomatoes, he did not set a date, nor set a plan to encourage farmers to plant tomatoes. Based on STC declarations and other importers, this is a 20 Million rupee business per month for Seychelles. Farmers could pick up the slack,if government was a bit more business minded and focused on solving the issues that prevent tomato production.
As the Ministry of Agriculture fails, the opportunity to resolve the expensive tomato crisis fails.
Corn Mania!
Corn is. Basic staple, used to produce pork, beef, chicken. A chicken produced locally sells for 65.00 per kilo. Corn in Seychelles retails for SCR. 95.00 per kilo. Nuts! Why has government not instructed IDC to take Farquar island to produce corn? High quality corn can be sold for our tables. Lower grade corn can be sold to the meal factory for chickens, pigs. This simple move, will reduce the cost of pork, chicken, beef, and yes, corn.
Instead what are we doing? Importing corn from Mauritius, from Mauritian companies, who are producing corn in Mozambique. Come on guys, sort out these basic problems that have solutions.
Pumpkin Tips!
A Pumpkin sells for as much as 45.00 per kilo. A pumpkin. My Son saw this amazing cost of pumpkins, he started a patch. In no time he was making SCR. 1500.00 a week from the local Indian shop keeper. He sold the pumpkins for SCR. 25.00 a kilo. The shop keeper ticked the price up to SCR. 45.00 a kilo. That is a crime. The pumpkin does not use air conditioning. It sits in a box on the floor of the shop, it's self time is a turn around of no more then 3 days.
The masters of the 13 th Month Salary who caused the cost of a hotel room to shoot up by 40% should come up with some serious solutions to reduce the cost of food items in Seychelles, never mind about expensive clothes and cars. We are use to being screwed into a kicanto for the cost of a BMW.
Sesel Pou Seselwa!
May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!
In 2010, the Ambassador on Climate Change Ronald Jumeau went around New York City telling everyone " the Seychelles is sinking". He said 90 % of our coral formations were dead. Our Coral islands were facing disappearance. Earlier about 25 years prior, it was announced Ile Platte was sinking.
Consequently, 22 inhabitants were evacuated to other IDC islands or Mahe. Some born on Ile Platte have asked to return to die there, as it is their home island. Ile Platte has not sunk yet, IDC has been trying to sublease it for years, though it has only a small supply of pit water.
If sewage is mixed with the water source, becomes contaminated, life on Ile Platte will not be sustainable.
IDC subleased the island to a UAE group. Glen you Savy says they want to build 75 five star rooms. With a 5:1 ratio for staff, for five star and island resorts 6:1 ratio, Ile Platte will house : 450 staff, 150 guests at any given time, with numbers like that, Savy should have reserved the contract to supply fresh water, haul the sewage and excrement off the sinking island. He has master public waste at Star has he not?
In any case, I wonder if the sublease has a " sinking -provision". Can we get a copy please? I said please Mr. Savy, second only to Jesus on these shores.
Sesel Pou Seselwa!
May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!
Two female Russians on tourist visas over extended have been caught stealing numerous items from poor Seychellois families at Roche Ciaman, Mahe, across from Eden Island a jet setter multi millionaire base for super yachts that beats Monaco hands down for a yacht basin.
The two female Russians it is reported were living on a luxury yacht whose owner was absent from the Republic. Apparently the yacht was unattended in the yacht Marina. The two lovely Russians entered, and took abode.
They enjoyed the ample stock of champagne, caviar, and a well stock whiskey and vodka bar for months.
When the stock started to run low, they ventured across Eden Island to Roche Ciaman, a public housing estate to extend their Lucky streak.
Roche Ciaman to two clad Russian lovely ladies from dreadful Moscow would pass for a luxury villa estate. But in Seychelles, it is a public housing estate that is home to our poor, and less fortunate. The ladies wasted no time to raid the houses while residents were away at work. Thy made off with cameras, phones, DVDs Flat screen tvs they attempted to take back to the super yacht to store with the eventual attempt to fence off for hard cash ( Seychelles Rupees) which has been pouncing the Ruble and the Euro in the same ring for 24 moths.
Walking around Roche Ciaman half naked in bikinis carry cameras around your neck, flat screens on your back is not a normal citing in Seychelles.
Neighbors alerted the quick to,respond Seychelles Police, in professional form apprehended these two international cross border sexy criminals.
They were handed to Immigration, given plane tickets out of Seychelles, their extended holiday in paradise came to an end.
The yacht owner is still absent.
Has anyone noticed the level of energy President Faure is releasing on the political scene? One moment he is in Abu Dhabi,meeting on solar energy, secures $8.4 million for alternative energy. Hopefully this money will come to Praslin, where we provide electricity for La Digue and these big five star hotels that make Seychelles the highest per capita income country in Africa.
The next moment the man is walking around with Hon. Jean Francois Ferrari in Corgate Estate where my grandmother lived and my great auntie Cokot lived most of her life. The area has become an inner city ghetto in paradise. Hon. Ferrari called him out in the National Assembly, he replied, turned up without much security and walked the talk.
The. He met in conference, with the opposition MNA, called for a Committee to be formed to deal with the very most urgent cases first, then work down the line. This is how democracy works when it works well. President Faure has set the example of leadership. So has Jean Francois Ferrari when he is not insulting people calling them names "pe tir zot Touney an publik, typik son papa "!
Double Dose of Cross Sector
President Faure has been advised that the situation on Praslin has gone beyond patience. The problems are now fermenting like wine in a barrel time bomb that he has tasked the Vice President to diffuse. Hence one cross sector is held on Mahe for the DMC and the other on Praslin. The DMC rely on SHTA to cover their backs. But the reality, is that the DMC and unfettered monopolistic operations in play have caused the time bomb on Praslin. It's not their fault, they only took advantage of the dormant Michel Administration, who loved to be complimented and loved to be loved. As the DMC acted like they loved James Michel, they got what they wanted. Now we have a serious problem to undo.
The Vice President V. Meriton has thus far demonstrated a strong willingness to deal with the issues at put Praslin back on track. The Opposition on the other hand, has been slow to get out of the " short break (45 days) bed. Ramkalawan has been preoccupied with enforcing a dubious court judgment against Christopher Gill ( me). Money,money,money, they say, is the root of all evil!
Delink All Offices
President Faure, much like Trump has given numerous directives. One is delink all government offices with Le Pep owned buildings. He is clearing office. His actions are earning him great respect, across all lines. This adds to the cancellation of June 5 th as a holiday, adding the first Monday after Easter Sunday as a day of reflection prayer holiday, officiating over the state services of James R. Mancham, which has earned him great respect among the reasonable and rational in the opposition.
State of The Nation
The country will now endure the longest two weeks of her life, as we all wait to see what course this President, who has surprised us numerous times in his last 100 days.
What will he tell us about the course and direction, he intends to take us.
We are willingly waiting to listen attentively..........that is a great success in itself considering when Michel would speak, we turned off the T.V. And read what he may have said in the Nation three days later since it would not matter any way.
Sesel Pou Seselwa!
May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!
