President Michel expresses condolences to family of late Marlène Lionnet |24 May 2016

President James Michel has expressed his condolences to the family of the late Marlène Lionnet who died on Sunday in a car accident at Anse Aux pins

The President said that Mrs Lionnet had rendered valuable services to her country. He recalled that Mrs Lionnet had served with distinction on the Constitutional Appointments Authority (CAA) for many years and, in that position, had contributed significantly to the development and strengthening of Seychelles’ democratic institutions.

President Michel described the late Mrs Lionnet as an “exceptional lady, an amiable person of great integrity and a role model for many Seychellois, who always put the interests of her country above her own”.

The president said the whole nation is united in grief with the Lionnet family as they mourn the tragic death of Mrs Lionnet, which has profoundly shocked and saddened the people of Seychelles.

"This is a tragedy not only for the Lionnet family but also for the nation,” said the president.

The president added that the people of Seychelles will remember her with fondness and respect as a person of great moral courage, an inspiration to Seychellois women and a patriot who never betrayed her principles.

In his message to the Lionnet family the president said: “We shall all remember Marlène as a kind, caring and compassionate person, devoted to her family and to her community and a person who was also very much involved in public life.

“Our country owes a debt of gratitude to her,” added President Michel.

Mrs Lionnet was a member of the CAA since 1993 and was reappointed several times.

She also served as secretary on the district councils in Plaisance and Mont Fleuri before being elected as a member of parliament.

According to her colleagues, it was in 1964 that Mrs Lionnet joined the SPUP (Seychelles People’s United Party) which later became SPPF (Seychelles People’s Progressive Front) and Parti Lepep. She has since been a fervent supporter of the party.

Mrs Lionnet was a passenger in a Kia Picanto, driven by her 35-year-old grandson and they were heading south when the accident happened on Sunday.

Apparently the driver lost control of the car which hit a tree just outside the fence of the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) bus depot in the junction leading to Reef Estate.

She was certified dead at the Casualty unit of the Seychelles Hospital at around 4.30pm.

Postmortem result carried out on the 77-year-old established that she died as a result of lung and heart injuries caused by broken ribs and also hemorrhage in the head.

She leaves behind her six children – Nan, Gilles, Genevieve, Guyto, Achille and Christian who is the Minister for Land Use and Habitat. She is also survived by her spouse Guynemer Corgat.

Meanwhile, the Linyon Sanzman leadership has expressed its “profound sadness’ upon learning of the tragic death of Mrs Lionnet.

“Linyon Sanzman recognises the immense contribution Mrs Lionnet has made towards the country as a businesswoman and during her tenure as a member of CAA. Seychelles has lost a professional, a devoted and caring patriot who always put her country first,” writes the communiqué from Linyon Sanzman.