When Europe Sneezes Seychelles Catches The Flu!

The winter is harsh in Europe. The Dunabe River has frozen. One would tend to believe, Seychelles is packed with tourist from Europe. She is not. 

In Seychelles, the load factor on inbound flights has dropped drastically. As Europe sneezes, Seychelles will catch a cold, the stage is set for a first quarter under performance as Tourism remains in limbo, without any firm footed direction after the surprise resignation of Mr. Alain St. Ange.

30% Hike Input Production Costs

The New Year brings insurmountable hurdles to the Tourism Industry. The sudden increase in cost for the 13 th month salary not only increases cost of employment subtitles for companies, but these costs, from operational input sectors increase cost of goods and services that support the Industry. 

For example, PUC has increased rates by 10% to cope with heavy salary demands. Yet no proposal has been presented to make inefficient PUC more efficient. The 13 month salary money could have gone to buying underground cables, to remove poles, make PUC more efficient. Instead, we will be stuck with same bad service at a higher cost.

Insurance charges for hotels will increase this ear as well, adversely affecting heir bottom line, and to cope, hotels will be left with no alternative then to hike, already high rates for the new season.

Online Rate Hikes
Online booking agents are indicating that as much as a 40% hike in hotel rates in Seychelles. Four star and Five star properties represent the highest hikes. Smaller hotels register average a 20% hike in rates. Unless government takes action to drop the input costs in Tourism, increased rates for rooms will translate into lower load factors for inbound flights. Eventually, airlines will cut flights, use smaller planes, finally abandon the route if the input costs are not addressed.

Why Snow but Europe No Go?

Mauritius just registered a 11% increase in Tourism, and arrivals blew the 1.3 million mark. This means Europeans go to Mauritius. But not to Seychelles. Why? Cost! A Mauritius five star hotel week stay with meals is the same cost as one night in a Seychelles Five (5) star. With the increase in input costs, the same Tourist money that is spent for one week in Mauritius, will get you a Day Room in Seychelles.

As the snow falls, the river of Danube freezes, planes come in empty,I trust the leaders of Seychelles will ask: " what did we do wrong"? Then try to undo it, before the second quarter turns to mayhem in the economy.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

James Mancham Passes Away!

It is announced from Glacis Surmer James Mancham the First President-Republic of Seychelles died peacefully in his sleep last night. The post was made on Gossip Corner by his son Alexander Mancham. 

Mr. Mancham had suffered from a stroke previously about 8 months ago and was confined to bed for some time. He made public appearances for the inauguration of the President after elections and the passing of Michel Administration to Faure Administration. This aside he had significantly reduced his travels and public agenda.

Mancham was a lead politician in the 1960's after returning from law school in London. He formed the Democratic Party, campaigned for " Free Association" with the U.K. 

The other side of the pendulum dur not the 1960's was the campaign for Independence led by France Albert Rene under the banner " Sesel Pou Seselwa" which was a spin off of the independence movement in Kenya : " Kenya For Kenyans" at that time.

As history chart its course, Mancham became the First Chief Minister of Seychelles government. Then in 1975 at Malboro House in London, on invitation of the Crown government, both Mancham and Rene along with their respective teams were called to the table, handed a Constitution for Independence and a Westminster style parliamentary system. Mancham would become the first president, Rene would become the Prime Minister, as the UK was bent on cost cutting and reducing its commitments to its colonies around the world, in spite of Mancham convincing Seychellois to remain " Freely Associated" with the United Kingdom.

The life of James Mancham has been tied intricately to the history of modern Seychelles. 

While Mancham fought for a international airport to open these once isolated and beautiful islands to the world, Rene opposed the airport. He would later change his stance after seeing the fruits and benefits of this critical move for Seychelles.

In the early 1970's Mancham travelled Europe, asking people he met, to come to Seychelles and invest their time, know how, money, to develop the lands. The Dutchman came, he open the Flying Dutchman hotel and restaurant, serve us the best ice cream in the world until he too passed. Many others came, Bill Pomeroy, Mario Ricci, Claus Meitimeir,they are too numerous to name. Seychelles was open to business.

On June 29th, 1976, a new flag was hoist with a new anthem. Eleven months later, another flag was hoist with another anthem, by this time Mancham was deposed while on a Commonwealth Conference in London by his Prime Minister France Albert Rene, a now self groomed leftist following Fidel Castro as his prime mentor.

In exile, he distant himself from the troubles of Seychelles, keeping in touch with occasional contacts  within the growing opposition exile as things got worse in Seychelles. As the exiles grew, the contacts grew, within the exile community and the international world as well. But as he would always say, " there are no free lunches out there".

In October 1991, France Albert Rene announced the following year, Seychelles will move to a multi party democracy, under pressure from the USA, all of which Mancham was right there to press the buttons, in the back ground, with the help of his faithful right hand man recruited from MPR Paul B. Chow.

The advent of Democracy in 1992, was the return from exiles thousands of Seychellois. Mancham returned April 12, 1992, to a crowd of 10,000. If he had assumed his seat at State House that day, Rene would have taken his seat on the out bound British Airways. He did not, instead opted to play the field, according to Rene Rules. Under Rene's rules it was, but Mancham held steadfast to his cherished proverb from Ghandi: " an eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind".

As the rules played out, the funds tighten. The Democratic Party folded over time as she pulled in multiple directions. Mancham had no regrets, just less responsibility. 

As Michel took the reigns, he saw the deep rooted weaknesses, capitalized on it, embracing Michel, endorsing him, at times in irrational ways to the lay man' s eye. 

If his record on the local stage was questionable for his supporters, his opponents loved having him on the other side. On international scene, he was energetic, making contacts through out the world. No Seychellois has racked as many travel miles as James Mancham in history. That kept him busy, as he once said to me:" it does not matter what your destination is as long as you are moving"........I suppose he had a point.

Finally, James Mancham dined his opponents around the dinner table, he did not butcher them and plant them in the sands of Beau Vallon. 

The future of the Seychelles he leaves rest in the lap of dialogue and real national reconciliation.

A peaceful spirt has been called to rest!

Rest in Peace!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Christopher Gill

Seychelles Budget Unprecedented Blockade

The Republic of Seychelles has been debating the National Budget 2017 since the second week of December 2016 without a conclusion by January 6 th , 2017. At the start of deliberations at Committee stage Deputy Speaker Nicolas Prea announced, his staff is sick, some are demanding leave after debating and providing back room service to the National Assembly through Christmas Eve, New Years Eve. He said the strain had become unbearable for staff, they have had enough, they need to check on their children, see if their husbands still remember them. The Deputy Speaker then made an unprecedented announcement: " debate will terminate at 5:00pm irrespective of what stage and resume AFTER the State of The Nation Speech by President Faure is made in FEBRUARY 2017. " Blockade!

Tag and Release Program

Like expert fishermen, the Opposition MNA team led by Now well seasoned politician Wavel Ramkalawan, the LDS implemented a " Tag and Release " program throughout the Budget debates, all the while exposing fraud in the Budget, misappropriation of funds, corruption of the wealth of the Public. The numbers were just incredible.

As Leader of Government Business Charles De Commarmond tried his best to fight off the tsunami of opposition dominance over the process, his shirt collar flipped, his temper raised, in vain, his humor left few laughing around the country. Chains around your neck, are chains .......around your neck, no matter what you would rather have them be ( chains of rollo chocolates).

Tag and Release

The " Tag and Release" program implemented was to review the budget headings, ask questions, where there were questions, unresolved, the LDS approved a budget heading for only three months under strict conditions that departments, report back to the National Assembly in three months, by March 31, 2017 with answers or face further cuts.

LDS Absent

Many LDS members were noticeably absent from the debates. At times as much as Five (5). Clifford Andre was gone, Loizeau was gone, Flory Larue and Patrick Pillay were all absent. Ramkalawan and Afif, saved the day for LDS along with the veterans like JF Ferrari, Bernard Georges. The level of fight put up by JF Ferrari and Afif was a moment to savior. Ramkalawan remain on point most of the time, and demonstrated traits of a well seasoned political leader, not to be out smarted by Le Pep who many say are hiding possibly as much as SCR. 500,000,000.00 in mis appropriations in the Budget.

Danny Faure Man of The Moment Outside National Assembly

If Leader of Opposition W. Ramkalwan was the man of the moment in the National Assembly debates, President Faure was making his own waves outside the National Assembly. Faure for his part, took to Abu Dhabi to secure additional investments to benefit Seychelles.

Ile Platte we were told would be lease to a Abu Dhabi company. We did not hear how much.

At the turn of the New Year, President Faure took a bold step in the right direction for the Nation: he announced that 5th of June will no longer be a holiday, but rather, a regular working day. The chains of the past had been released from Faure's ankles, and that of all Seychellois alike. The announcement of the end of mental slavery had been made and nonchalantly welcome by all, from all sides.

Now, perhaps, the country can start to heal and move forward.......less all the corruption of course. These corruption fish we will have to fry!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

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!