St. Ange Resigns - Seychelles Tourism in Limbo!

The jolly smiling minister of Seychelles Tourism from La Digue has resigned abruptly as Minister of Tourism. Mr. Alain St. Ange has tendered his resignation to President Danny Faure, before the New Year, just after  he announced breaking the arrival records and increasing tourism by near 20% this year. At the time of his resignation, Tourism Arrivals blew the dream mark of 300,000.

St. Ange Leaves BIG SHOES to Fill

The departure of St. Ange now leaves a pair of huge shoes to fill at Tourism, Transport and Aviation. St. Ange was a tenacious minister, working every resource he could to bring visitors to Seychelles. He worked his friendship with e turbo founder to put Seychelles on the world tourism map digitally with initially over 100,000 email addresses of key players in the trade world wide. These numbers must have double and triple over the years, as his digital address book, combined with his jolly personality, would usually be key tools to negotiate numbers for Seychelles, most of the time over ice cream in stead of cognac.

St. Ange Philosophy Broke The Norm

Deeply rooted in La Digue as a son of the island, St. Ange grew up on an island that saw the transition from a plantation economy based on vanilla, cinnamon, copra, to tourism industry driven economy. With that, it was obvious to him, that when everyone participates in the effort to promote Tourism, we all benefit from it, and therefore, take ownership of this Golden Goose, that lays the eggs that have resulted in Seychelles now being a high income developed nation. 

With this mind set, he set out to license small establishments giving Seychellois a direct interest in tourism. He licensed over 600 little houses initially, then another 1000 . While traditional operators complained, who could deny that Seychellois had a right to participate directly in the Tourism economy. For St. Ange, big hotels, small hotels, handicrafts, food vendors, all have a role to play in Tourism, and all should cooperate.
This was the dream, empower Seychellois, make them part of the Tourism equation, grow the industry.

Growth Spectacular Under St. Ange

Growth was spectacular under St. Ange, while he was being critic at home, governments in Africa were offering him contracts to manage their marketing of their destinations. They were offering him silver, gold, all the trimmings to come to their country, play his magic that turned around the Seychelles Tourism story from a mediocre performer of being reputed to be a " 5 star destination with a 2 star product" to being " a 5 star destination with any product, your pocket book can afford".

The numbers are daunting 12% growth, 13% growth, 15% growth 18% growth per year. St. Ange was the key to government of Seychelles sense of assurance, that the money will always come in, he was their cash card above and beyond Khalifa.

What Now?

As we enter 2017 uncertainty looms. The Tourism Trade has been given a left hook. The winner is the world, as St. Ange makes his move to head the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The UNWTO could not have a better spokesman, Seychelles could not have lost a better Son who promoted tourism day and night, communicated with the world day and night, while other ministers take 1 or 2 years to reply a mail, if ever.

Good Luck Alain, if no one said it , thank you for all you tried to do for us, though you did not always succeed.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Seychelles Budget Season- A Legacy of Rene Scams!

It's Budget Season again. The Seychelles national budget exceeds SCR. 7 Million. What is evident after the first reading and general principle readings, is the legacy of taxing if not abusing the public combined with budgetary scams of the finances under Rene lingers as a sub culture in the government. For President Danny Faure, who has vowed transparency, accountability as under pins of his administration, cleaning up this mess will not be easy, unless he spreads his political base in a genuine manner, reaches out to traditional opponents, to mop up.

SBC Scam

The first apparent scam is the SBC budget. It has been revealed that SBC is legally mandated to operate and function independently. Based on that, it open separate bank accounts at Nouvobanq, and does not draw off the consolidated fund. Wild. Since when has SBC been " independent"? Managing Directer Mr. Antoine Onezime has obstructed the independent mandate under the Seychelles Constitution for years on years. While it raises 9 Million per year in adverts, it should be able to stand on its own, finance itself, it receives money from Consolidated Fund.

The second scam at SBC is the Capital Expenditure of 6.8 Million, for a new SBC building at Union Vale, which we have already been told, PRC will fund by grant 100% and it will include studios, equipment and helicopter plus helicopter pad, like " any ordinary media house any where in the world". There is only so much bull shit a people can take. This 6.8 Million capital expenditure is a scam, it is not a normal or acceptable matter.

State House Five Secretaries Need Five Cars
In the State House Budget Five Secretary of State require Five new cars worth SCR. 5.5 Million. Wow! These Secretaries did not have their own cars? They cannot be given a fuel allowance instead? In modern countries, people drive their own cars to their jobs. They fight hard to do a great job each day because they must pay for their house mortgage, pay for their car loan. If you give them a car, they will slack off and mis treat the car.
While State House needs a budget to run, it does not need Five new cars. I personally find this hard to believe. The money of the Public must be expended in a fiduciary manner with the utmost of care and accountability. This budget gives me the sense it is being spent as if Christmas in Seychelles is EVERY DAY for some and not even once a year for others.

Military Budget Fiasco
Brigadier Leopoldo Payet who spends over SCR. 478,000,000.00 in the people's money each year, has declined to answer questions on how he spends these funds. Mr. President Faure must be wise. Use this opportunity to retire this gentleman before the opposition starts a commission of inquiry into his assets, his children's assets, his extended family assets and take the matter further and do a forensic audit on his acquired wealth.
Immediately suspect was the 190,000,000.00 used for Presidential security for FORMER Presidents. This subtitle corresponds with a similar subtitle found in Presidents Office emoluments, security for Former Heads of State. That is a lot of financial abuse.
Those people and businesses struggling to pay taxes, have been taken for fools all along the way.
I trust President Faure will take the high ground, be wise, address this matter as a true leader.

Opposition Still Weak on Budget
The LDS when faced with these incredible abuses have been pretty quite and indifferent. Exception has been the leader Mr. Ramkalawan who has stepped up to the box, called the subventions in the military budget FRAUD. It is what it is. We expect the other members to be more serious and to the point. Do not get too comfortable in those fat leather chairs. Le Pep will knock you off those chairs if you break your promise, drop your political metabolism. Hon. Farrari has tried to live up to this challenge, but he gets too personal, too sauvage as the French say. They did say that did they not?

Keep it civil, but get the job done. Victoria is a small town, three streets.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Hire Craft License Being Abused in Seychelles!

A French businessman met with me over the week and lectured me on how the government of Seychelles has fallen victim to a cumulative fraud on the tax system, resulting in evasion of Hundreds of Millions of Dollars over the years. Government has stayed silent, ignored the issue, allowed the clandestine money washing to go on under Hire Craft Licenses, without a peep.

Bareboat Charters Bank Overseas, Anchor on the Coral

The most numerous of these clandestine operations ignored by Government  of Seychelles, quite possibly because some of the boat owners are Le Pep party members he says, is the bareboat charter industry. The French- Informant advises me these companies do not own the he boats they bring to Seychelles. These boats we see plying between Eden IsLand- La Digue- Praslin with a little BBQ on the back, ice machine on board, are owned by individual investors who agree for a set monthly base payment paid over seas, free of Seychelles tax, to place their yacht in Seychelles. Money paid by the guest is paid to a reservations - booking company overseas. These funds are transferred prorata to the owner, then a small portion into Seychelles accounts.
Very little of the actual booking revenue reaches Seychelles, perhaps as much as only 15%.
In turn, the government sees this as the main revenue from the yachts anchored in Seychelles, on our corals. We collect the trash thrown over board by the Sunday Captains, we deal with crushed corals, and they throw the BBQ coals unused into the sea, and BBQ fish heads. Then we have to deal with sharks and we blame the Arabs for it. While the shark incident with the Arab was a one off, the shark issue with bare oats is a constant issue at Prominent beaches.

No Way To Control Them
The government of Seychelles has issued 1200 licenses. A few hundred charter boats are already in Seychelles. The French - Informant advises me there is no way government can control this issue, if it does not put money and resources on it.

I told him, government can change its approach. Instead of licensing the business, it can license each yacht. Then, knowing it will be tricked by these economic pirates each year, it can simply fix a high license fee valid for 12 months. Example-SCR. 200,000.00 per yacht. If the yacht owner does not pay each January of the new year, a letter must be sent to remove the yacht from the fleet, then it cannot take any more bookings. It loses its HC license, the abuse ends. Compliance will increase. Is SCR. 200,000.00 reasonable? Of course it is. It works out to only € 12,000.00 per yacht, per annum, for these floating BBQ grill.

What About Larger Yachts?

The French - Informant advises me we must be smart. Larger yachts contribute big money into the economy. For these, we benefit directly from them, they are also private in nature. These types of yachts, rent apartments, do dry docks, spend money in restaurants, hotels, and generally do not light up the BBQ grill unless 50 miles off shore. We should be more lenient with them, because they do not come here to suck us dry, and call us stupid!

I have more to write on this. However, the French- Informant advise me to keep it short, not everyone reads English well and Google translation from English to French does not always work well.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

" Yo Le Pep.......Follow The Law on 13Th Month Fiasco!

The proposal for the 13 th Month Salary ( a Fiasco already) has been thrown out by the National Assembly in a very non shallot manner, like a dirty bag turning up for a wedding badly dressed.

Private Sector Ignored!

The draft bill was circulated to the private sector numerous times. But the Ministry of Employment did not register all the issues of concern. The Faure Administration insisted on presenting this Bill, hoping to make political gains on it, but that too back fired, as the more political experienced Wavel Ramkalawan and in house economist Ahmed Afif from LDS buried the Bill in its poor form, and hit a political jackpot at Le Peps expense, but due to their own fault......all the way.

Emergency Meeting To Drain Sinking Ship

Immediately, the next day, Minister of Finance Peter Larose, Minister Wallace Cosgrow was called to State House to meet the President, to brain storm the 13 th month salary to redraft a new Bill. It seems President Faure is defiant in the face of a big political defeat. But he cannot blame LDS, they played their cards very well. The blame rests with the Le Pep MNAs who are not up to speed to the level of politics in the National Assembly today, and of course, the Principal Secretary of Employment, Veronique Bresson who did NOT advance some key legal points we raised in Praslin when discussing this hair brain proposal, which will not only destroy the economy, but it violates the Seychelles Constitution above all, neither Le Pep or LDS took note of.

Missing from the meeting was the Attorney General, who can do some research to confirm that property rights, are not limited to land, but extend to possessions, assets.

Article 26 The Right To Property

Article 26 guarantees as a fundamental human right the Right To Property. The state may not interfere with the use and enjoyment of property, but for a compelling state interest. Le Pep, the money in the commercial bank accounts, of companies, you anticipate will pay for the 13 th month salary, is " Property", in the form of moveable, transferable, credit, bank notes belonging to the commercial entity a particular employee works for. This money, in the case of some companies will exceed SCR. 2 Million as pay out or more, above monthly salaries, is  a " Property" interest. You cannot give away, arbitrarily, capriously, what has not entered government coffers.  When you attempt to do this, you will be violating the rights of these companies, under the Seychelles Constitution, and so the rights of their shareholders.

What Allows A 13 th Month For Public Employees?

9,000 public employees benefit from Le Pep largess in government and they receive a "13 th Month Salary". How is that possible. Well, government raises revenue from taxes. From that, subject to legislative approval, it can do what it likes with that money. It can buy new cars for each new minister, while students risk their lives in old Tata buses and drunk drivers,, it can buy a plane, when a dingy would do, to get to an outer island, it can buy new furniture for State House, while desks in schools rot underneath the students. Basically, a government can do anything almost, with money it raises unless the legislature questions it, or the Public questions it. A government cannot do what it likes with money or " Property" belonging to another, which is being used and enjoyed by the other, as it chooses, within the law.

Article 27 Right To Equal Protection

Once again, Le Pep has great trouble swallowing the " Right To Equal Protection". Again, a little research into " Equal Protection Cases" will reveal clearly to the "Le Pep" that they CANNOT bring a BILL before the National Assembly that discriminates against ANY class of citizens, or entities of society, and overtly, openly, favor another class of citizens. In the case of the Employment Amendment Bill,et al, Le Pep literally attempts to steal monies of companies, force them to give it away to another class being workers. This CANNOT be done under the Seychelles Constitution. Again, it CANNOT be done.

The permission Le derogation under Article 27, is the amelioration of the condition of disadvantaged persons or groups [ Article 27 (2)]. Workers as a class cannot be considered to meet the bar of being a disadvantaged group in a socialist- communist state, historically. Perhaps, given our history, persons who were known members and supporters of the Democratic Party and later parts of SNP and LDS could be considered  a disadvantaged group, but not all workers across the board.

We Need Serious Bold Leadership 

The 13 th Month Salary Fiasco has been a political football at election time kicked on the pitch by SNP in the first round. In the second round, Le Pep got the ball, kicked it about, thinking it would guarantee it goals and goals. It has not, it never will. Nor will it ever give LDS any goals, save the embarrassment caused to Le Pep players mishandling it on the pitch. We need to deal with serious issues in our country. I appeal to President Faure and LDS Team, lets sideline this proposal. It is going no where, let the Nation focus on serious matters, and build a solid co habitation with the other by building yourself a reputation of seriousness, reasonableness, action.

Let's leave the judges out of this one.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Le Pep Does Mental Masturbation in Public on 13th Month Salary

The debates are on the the 13th month salary. The mental masturbation by the third bench of Le Pep in the National Assembly, is an abuse of responsible, serious public speech. The influx of communism over the years, while these third line benchers were in school, is just sad to watch as they come to an intellectual climax on the 13 th month salary, releasing nothing but sophistry or words of " Bull shit"!

Honorable Sebastian Pillay Takes The Cake
I listen for weeks on as Sebastian Pillay MNA proportional for Le Pep speak on an array of subjects in the National Assembly. This dude reminds me of Jim Jones of Guyana specifically " Jonestown". There Pastor Jones convinced everyone in his congregation from USA to sell their homes, farms cars, and give him their money, join him in Guyana. Once in Guyana, Pastor Jones convinced all the men in his town to give him their wives, daughters, since he was the chosen one. So eloquently, he guided These people of blind loyalty, he led the, to a barrel of mix powdered drinks laced with poison, to drink to their death. To their death, they went. So it seems Hon. Pillay wants us to drink his poisonous arguments advocating the 13th month salary.

Sabastian Says The Worker Is Entitle to the 13 th month

So Pillay says workers are entitle to this 13 th month salary because they make their companies make money. But Pillay does not say that in a civilized country as opposed to the jungles of Congo, you MUST own shares in a company to draw a dividend or profit.

Therefore, Hon. Pillay is encouraging that workers be allowed to steal from companies that have invested MONEY into a BUSINESS in a Communist Country, without regard, for the INVESTOR , who has invested his money, in a HIGH RISK country because of the Communist minority in the National Assembly.

In the end, Honorable Pillay, you are a liar. The worker is not entitle to any dividends in a company. Worse, their is no legal constitutional right to a 13 th month salary. Hon. Pillay tried to sound smart, convincing, intelligent. He comes across not more then a clown.
Honorable Pillay......stand up...laugh at yourself. You have made a royal ass of your self and likely destroyed your political career. See you in the streets. You are a disgrace to the People of Seychelles.

Hon. Simon Gill

Fidel Castro has died. But Simon Gill lives. Hon. Gill knows the Bill was not going to pass. He tried some cheap politics on the issue, and act irresponsibly, as expected. No further words are necessary to his empty political gestures.

Ramkalawan and Afif Talk Sense

Leader of the Opposition Wavel Ramkalawan and Hon. Afif talked sense to Communist - lost Le Pep. In a nutshell, the 13 th month takes money from the private sector when there is no link to productivity, no delivery of service, no program for punctuality, no program for discipline. Afif points out, it will cause inflation, devaluation, increase in cost of goods, over run GDP of 3.4% by -4%. Le Pep agrees with Afif. Well Le Pep third line bench, if you agree with Hon. Afif, why would you raise your hand to destroy the Seychelles economy? Because you are a bunch of dumb asses or what?

Sesel Pou Seselwa Wants Serious Policies

We who advocate " Sesel Pou Seselwa" we want serious policies to improve the lives of all Seychellois. We want our leaders to be sensible, and reasonable, stop being a bunch of ass holes. Work for your People, all of them, stop trying to fool your people, we will mess you up, man!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Seychelles Anse Lazio Public Hearing on Future

The Seychelles Planning Authority, headed by Chairman Hughes Adam, CEO Joseph Francois, Master of Officiate Patrick Nancy, held a meeting with the landowners of Anse Lazio and the Public of Praslin, to deliberate the future of Anse Lazio, " Most Beautiful Beach in The World", the last diamond, in the Crown Jewels of the Seychelles, as hotelier and Chairman Emeritus SHTA, Louis Doffay underlined for all present.

Talma Case Shakes Status Quo

The meeting was held as soon as practicable after the landmark property rights case of Talma et al, was rendered judgment by the Supreme Court, in a judgment written by Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey, which is quite possibly the best judgment she has ever written. The government of Seychelles rightfully decided NOT to appeal the judgment, and accepted the rulings as new " case law", reaffirming, strengthening property rights enshrined in the Seychelles Constitution, promulgated in 1993.

Since the Judgment, the Minister of Lands Christian Lionnet has been removed as Minister, Planning CEO, Gerard Hoarau has been sacked, replaced with amenable personality.


Article 26 Right To Property
Seychelles property rights are very strong, and protect the individuals rights rights of ownership, use, enjoyment. At no point in Seychelles history have property rights been so clear, strong and coherent.

Article 27 Right of Equal Protection
This section of the Constitution protects against discrimination of the state against the individual. It is designed after the Equal Protection Clause of the 14 th amendment of the USA Constitution, intended to stamp out discriminatory practice, arising from political nature, which has been prevalent in Seychelles past.

Have Your Say
The Planning Authority will meet with the landowners to have their say on the future of Anse Lazio. The Public is encouraged to also contribute their ideas and opinions on this important subject. In the end, it is aspired by all stakeholders, including a aspiring rasta fruit salesman that a balanced solution to a complex issue will be resolved in the near future.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!