Minister St. Ange clears his name!

Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister reacts to corruption allegations before the National Assembly

                  

The Tourism and Culture Minister of Seychelles Alain St.Ange has refuted allegations made towards him in the Seychelles Weekly newspaper last week in regards to him being involved in corruption.

The newspaper wrote an article saying Minister St.Ange had received a cheque for R100,000 from the former general manager of Beachcomber Sainte Anne Resort and Spa Norbert Couvreur.

Minister St.Ange said the payment of R100,000 issued in his name by the Beachcomber Sainte Anne Resort and Spa is official payment.

He was in the National Assembly yesterday morning to answer a private notice question tabled by the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Francesca Monnaie was asking for an explanation following an article which was published last week in the Seychelles Weekly newspaper, stating that a cheque amounting to R100,000 that was addressed to the Minister St.Ange could be seen as an act of corruption.

“I am happy you have taken the decision to ask this PNQ. As a minister in this government, this does not worry me because we have just adopted a proposition to have an anti-corruption commission and transparency is always vital for our country and our people,” Minister St.Ange said.

“I am happy that the leader of the opposition has brought this private notice question in the spirit of transparency and this will serve as a platform for us to address those who spend their time maliciously attacking others in newspapers, in political speeches delivered during rallies and on social media where we see keyboard warriors hiding behind their computers.”the Minister said.

He added that there are many living in corruption and they are the same people who see the actions of others as corrupted.

Minister St.Ange gave examples of corrupted actions which have taken place in the country.

“Collecting large sums of rupees in paper bags at night from a businessman’s private residence, thinking nobody is watching is a first definition of corruption, and not a cheque legally issued,” he said.

“That collection of millions in darkness is indeed the biggest corruption in the country, and the Seychelles Weekly has never dared to write about it.”                                                                                                                                       

“But when Nancy for example from the Beachcomber Sainte Anne Resort and Spa was encouraged to share confidential information from his workplace, the Seychelles Weekly immediately wrote about it.”

Minister St.Ange said on May 10, the resort issued a cheque numbered 001128 for a sum of R100,000. This he added, followed an accord between the tourism establishment and eTurboNews, an international online newswire, distributing  news and information relevant to the global travel trade.

He said Mr Couvreur wrote the following statement on the payment :- “Cette Societe de presse en ligne, avec laquelle nous avons passe un contract en aout 2015 portait sur la couverture en plusieurs reportages de la Beachcomber Adventure 2016, notre événement phare en matière commerciale. eTurbo news nous avez demande d'effectuer le paiement de la somme convenue de Scr 100,000 a Monsieur Alain St.Ange, en l'occurrence vous, son represent aux Seychelles.”

On its part, eTurboNews wrote the following on what the minister has termed as the Seychelles Weekly saga:-

"You have been our agent in Seychelles, referred to as eTN Ambassador, for many years. Initially you covered our successful Indian Ocean column in the mid 2000. It was known also as the St.Ange Indian Ocean Report. Due to your effort eTN is now rightfully regarded as a source and expert on issues relevant to the Indian Ocean region.

Due to your effort also many tourism enterprises were able to get worldwide recognition and visibility through our extensive network.

The incident referred to by the press in the Seychelles was for a payment of $ 7650.00 or Seychelles Rupees 100,000.00 invoiced by us on September 2, 2015. The invoice was generated after a negotiation with Mr Norbert Couvreur of Beachcomber Hotel to use our extensive partner network in Europe to get awareness for Beachcomber worldwide with a focus on France and Belgium and in accordance with an agreement we made at the France Tourism Fair. The project was for the 2016 Beachcomber Adventure campaign. Thank you for collecting a payment for this invoice. It settled invoice Number 1381 for Sainte Anne Beachcomber Hotel. I am attaching a paid invoice copy for your record.

eTN's concept to work with Tourism Ambassadors like you and all over the world is key of our success. It allows us to truly operate on a global marketplace.”

Minister St.Ange also spoke on the Bel Air Basketball Academy which is being supported by Mr Couvreur, the new Culture Ambassador and that was also written about in the Seychelles Weekly article.

“Mr Couvreur has completed his contract here in Seychelles as the general manager of the Beachcomber Sainte Anne Resort and Spa. I was among the many who knew where his future posting was going to be and I did not want to let a good chance for our young Seychellois go to waste. It is all about opening new doors for our young sportsmen and women,” he said.

Mr Couvreur is going to head a hotel in France which is highly affiliated with a sports training facility for top professionals in the world of sports, he added.

“At the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, we thought of the joy that our youngsters would feel when meeting a professional sportsman whom they only see on television.”

“This is what we all want for our young sportsmen and women. This is all about bringing more opportunities for our young people for them to develop professionally, thus letting our country progress.”

“With a group of sportsmen from the district of Bel Air, we have initiated the idea for Mr Couvreur to use this new Basketball Academy of Bel Air as a liaison between sportsmen and women, and the Ministry responsbile for Sports to choose candidates who will go to France when the professional from a particular sports discipline will be in that hotel where Mr Couvreur will head. The government as a facilitator aims to offer opportunities to its people.”

Minister St.Ange also gave more details on the title of cultural ambassador, which has recently been given to Mr Couvreur. He said this is for foreigners who can open doors of opportunities for our people. This is not a paid job but rather on a voluntary basis.

“We also have tourism ambassadors, which is for Seychellois living abroad and to date we have around 80 tourism ambassadors in all the four corners of the world. Their aim is to promote Seychelles, help our islands to remain visible and to defend its position as the best destination in the world for tourists.”

Minister St.Ange said more explanation was given on an eTN invoice dated September 2, 2015 which states :- Local Seychelles Representative authorized to receive payment in Seychelles Rupees as discussed. Please pay eTN Tourism Ambassador Alain St.Ange.

He said these are facts and not what the newspaper has written, an article which he has described as encouraging rumours and lies.

He added that it creates hatred and at the same time an atmosphere of division which makes Seychellois people suffer.

“What we need in Seychelles is sincerity, unity and an atmosphere  which creates vast opportunities for its people. We have one Seychelles and we remain as one Seychellois people. There is no place for division and hatred in our society .