President impressed with development on Praslin |16 May 2014

President James Michel has expressed satisfaction with what he has seen in the district of Baie Ste Anne and has described his visit undertaken yesterday as very fruitful.

“Praslin has developed a lot and this visit has helped me to apprise myself of the development that has taken place over the last year especially on Eve Island, at the seaport and the recreational infrastructure for the youths. Work has progressed well although not as fast as I would have liked it, but I have seen what has been done and what is needed to be done.

“I have seen progress at the commercial port being built on Eve Island as well as other projects such as proper quay for passengers as well as other commercial infrastructure in that area. The Eve Island and other parts reclaimed are an important component in the economic development of Praslin as it will be the main port where all commercial activities will take place, thus it will create business opportunities for many Seychellois,” President Michel told the media present at Moulinié Estate on Praslin at the end of his tour of the Baie Ste Anne district.

“It was also an opportunity for me to visit a few families and renew contacts with them. I have known them for a very long time. Overall, I am very impressed with the development that has been happening on Praslin. There are always things for us to engage ourselves in. I’m very happy we are moving in the right direction. The Praslinois know that a lot of development has been taking place and will continue to take place as they know how their island was some 20 years ago,” added Mr Michel whose previous visit to the island before the one undertaken yesterday was in early 2013.
He noted that it is important to place emphasis on building sports infrastructure.

"One of the components which I have visited is the construction of the swimming pool on Eve Island, which will be of use to both the youths on Praslin and La Digue as well as other inner islands.
 
So far, only the youths on Mahé have the chance to develop their skills in swimming, but now with this new swimming pool it will help the young people on Praslin to develop themselves and to take part at national level. There are other sports infrastructure that are important to develop on the island, for example, Praslin is very good in judo but judokas on this island don’t have a proper venue where to practice this sport and I feel that there is an urgent need to construct a proper facility that other indoor games can benefit from, as well as other sports activities. Developing the youths’ talents through sports help to keep them away from negative influences which can harm their lives,” stressed President Michel.

On Eve Island, President Michel and his delegation visited the new fire station being built and which is a priority project for the Praslin community.

The project will cost R21.5 million and is expected to be completed by November 2014. It will be manned by 21 officers and will have three fire engines. There will be accommodation for the officers and a lecture room. The project is being done by the Qingjian International Group – the same company which built the Palais de Justice on Ile du Port.

Still on Eve Island, the President went to see the progress work on the construction of an international standard 25-metre eight-lane swimming pool for short course races. This is a corporate responsibility project between the Seychelles government and Vijay Construction.

Seychelles Ports Authority chief executive, Lieutenant Colonel Andre Ciseau, briefed the president on two new seaport projects. The first one is a R6 million cargo port and the contract has already been awarded for the building of the infrastructure.

The second is a jetty and waiting area for some 600 people. The plan has been submitted to the Planning Authority and upon approval a tender will be launched. Three boats will be able to use the jetty at any one time.

Lt. Col Ciseau added that when part of the causeway has been reclaimed, Praslinois will be allocated plots to run their own businesses and this is thanks to the spillover effects of the development that will be going on at the two jetties nearby.

The President also visited the main road and drainage infrastructure on Eve Island being implemented by the planning and project unit. The project started in 2012 with Allied Builders in charge of building the road and Ascent Project working on the drainage system.

From Eve Island, Mr Michel went to visit the widow of Marcel Lesperance who died seven months ago. Mr Lesperance had made tremendous contributions in the Baie Ste Anne district before passing away.

The next stop was at the multi-purpose court in Côte d’Or and then at the Payet/Laurence family where President Michel talked to the mother and father of Andy Laurence who died in a tragic accident in the same sub-district last month.

Andy Laurence, 24, played as defender for last year’s Barclays league division two winners Revengers who are plying their trade in the top flight for the first time this year.
At Salazie, Mr Michel spent some time talking to Winnie Brioche who was involved in a car accident recently and is unable to work.

Mrs Brioche told the President that although she can still feel some pain in her back, she enjoys gardening, which is some kind of therapy for her.

At Mike Moosa’s garden décor business in Salazaie next to Mrs Brioche’s home, President was impressed with what the 37-year-old has been producing on his own for the past eight years.

A former employee with the L’Archipel Hotel for 11 years, Mr Moosa, who started the business in 2006, has benefited from a Small Business Finance Authority (SBFA) loan and regularly takes part in district fairs with his garden ornaments.

Mr Moosa told Seychelles Nation that business is very good and that demand exceeds supply as he is working alone.
As Mr Moosa is expected to move to a bigger working space at Marie-Jeanne, President Michel has promised him that he will visit him again.

The visit ended with calls on some families at the Moulinié Estate and President Michel assured all those he talked to that their concerns have been noted and necessary actions will be taken.

The President was accompanied on the visit by Joël Morgan, the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport; Lise Bastienne, the secretary general in the Office of the President; the director general for presidential affairs Doreen Arnephie; Nathasia Esther, the member of the National Assembly for Baie Ste Anne; Rannie Jeanne, the central committee member for Baie Ste Anne; and Kenneth Pointe, the district administrator for Baie Ste Anne.

The accompanying photographs show President Michel and his delegation on his tour of the Baie Ste Anne district yesterday.