Year 2016 news highlights |30 December 2016
As we come to the end of 2016, Seychelles NATION presents its readers with a month-by-month review of some of the local news that have marked this eventful year.
January
The local civil aviation authority and the immigration open a two-level building which will cater for prohibited immigrants or inadmissible persons at the Seychelles International Airport.
The principal secretary (PS) for immigration and civil status Michel Marie and the chief executive of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) Gilbert Faure sign a memorandum of agreement to provide the basic framework to ensure the effective management of this facility.
Under this agreement, SCAA will ensure provision for security, housekeeping, utilities, internal transportation and maintenance services, while the immigration will oversee the inadmissible persons basic needs in terms of food, non-alcoholic beverages, baggage, medical attention and also liaise with other agencies should there be a need to do so.
A fast interceptor boat that India had promised to Seychelles and which arrived in the country earlier this month, is formally handed over to the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG).
The boat has been named Hermes, one of the fishing banks of the Seychelles, just like the other ships in the coast guard fleet which are used for surveillance, assistance and defence of the Seychelles maritime zone and combating maritime crime.
Hermes is the third vessel from India to join the SCG after PS Topaz and PS Constant.
Seychelles and the World Health Organisation (WHO) sign another two-year cooperation plan which will contribute to the achievement of the health-related millennium development goals (MDGs) and the sustainable development goals (SDGS).
Under this Country Cooperation Strategy, which WHO provides approximately US $1.02 million (R13 million), the government will invest in priority programmes related to non-communicable and communicable diseases, in reproductive, maternal and child health, in disease surveillance, preparedness and response, in emergency and crisis management, in health promotion and in strengthening leadership and governance.
It also includes working across sectors to address the determinants of health.
Madanm Nancy Marie, dimoun pli vye dan Sesel, i selebre son 107enm lanniverser (le 26 Zanvye).
17 nouvo zenn solda, parmi trwa madanm, i pret serman dan en seremoni kot Lakademi Ladefans, Ile Perseverance, avan ki zot zwenn ran Lafors Defans Pep Sesel (SPDF).
Sa 17 zenn solda ti parmi en group 32 zenn ki ti konmans lantrennman an Out lannen pase e ki’n persevere, tenir e reste for dan zot konviksyon e arive termin zot 5 mwan formasyon entans.
Prive Leroy Larue i ganny rekonpanse konman meyer akademikman tandis ki son koleg Dylan Renaud i meyer parmi meyer.
The Seychelles Pension Fund (SPF) opens the first multi-storey car park and offices in Victoria under the name ‘Maison Collet’.
The event coincided with the 10th anniversary of the SPF which started operations in January 2006.
The building, which has cost R140 million, was constructed by Allied Builders and designed by Tirant and Associates.
At a rate of R400 per sqm inclusive of service charge for the offices, the SPF expects a 9.15% rate of return on this investment with a payback period of 11 years.
President James Michel co-chairs the Second Blue Economy Summit in Abu Dhabi under the theme ‘One Ocean, One Future’, as part of the 2016 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The Sustainability Week is an annual platform to address the interconnected challenges impacting the widespread adoption of renewable energy and the acceleration of sustainable development.
With the support of the United Arab Emirates, Seychelles held its 1st Blue Economy Conference in January 2014. The Second Blue Economy Summit is yet again being organised by the governments of Seychelles and the United Arab Emirates, and this time in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of Unesco.
The Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA) is now accredited as ISO 9001:2008, a milestone not only for the academy but also for the Ministry of Education and Seychelles.
The accreditation follows a six-day process of Quality Management System auditing in September 2015 by external auditor IRQS from India.
The University of Seychelles (UniSey) launches a brand new programme – Masters in Business Administration (MBA) – in collaboration with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).
Launching the degree programme, the vice-chancellor of the UniSey, Professor Dennis Hardy says it will offer opportunities for graduates to achieve higher level in their professional lives and where management is part of their everyday experience. It will also assist the nation in the development of capacity.
A first group of 18 students start the programme, with a second and third batch to start in May and September respectively.
February
Air Seychelles’ non-stop inaugural flight HM888 from Beijing, China, touches down at the Seychelles International Airport (February 3) with 208 guests on board following a long haul journey.
Describing the event as another milestone in the history of Seychelles and Air Seychelles, the chairman of Air Seychelles, Minister Joel Morgan, says the arrival of that inaugural flight is in line with the airline’s policy of diversification of our markets ensuring that we have more robust industry in tourism sector by helping to bring in more people from different markets to make us less affected by different economic situations as occasionally occur in different parts of the world.
Seychelles and China sign an agreement aimed at consolidating the high level of cooperation in the field of tourism and culture and the friendly ties that the two countries already share and enjoy.
The agreement is signed by the visiting Chinese Vice-Minister for Culture Ding Wei and the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange.
The Health Care Agency and BriefEye (BE), a South Korean ophthalmology organisation, sign an agreement which will provide for eye care and treatment opportunities to Seychellois citizens and the training of Seychellois health care workers in eye care together with the transfer of ophthalmology skills to young Seychellois eye doctors and several other ophthalmology training procedures, techniques and equipment.
The agreement also offers ophthalmic consultation, eye treatment of both surgical and non-surgical nature, cornea transportation, post surgical reviews and medication.
American actor Leonardo DiCaprio donates US $1 million to the Nature Conservancy for the Seychelles’ debt-for-nature swap initiative supported by the Paris Club.
The US $1 million in debt relief is being given in exchange for ocean and coral reef conservation off the coast of Seychelles.
Seychelles gets €2.2 million through the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) to support its sustainable development programme and help to formulate new projects to attract new financing for development.
The money will be used as financial development assistance to help the country address its institutional capacity constraints to ensure Seychelles policy-makers have sufficient information, technical resources and capacities to achieve the objectives of sustainable development.
Sultan Kösen, who holds the Guinness world record for tallest living male, arrives in Seychelles as part of a delegation from the Magic Circus of Samoa.
A Turkish farmer, Mr Kösen stands at 2.53m and was born on December 10, 1982 in Mardin, Turkey.
His growth resulted from a tumour that affected his pituitary gland. His stature is such that he must use crutches in order to walk.
March
Air Seychelles enhances its non-stop regional service to South Africa’s largest city with a fifth weekly frequency.
The new service operates on Thursdays, increasing the already existing four-per-week service (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and offers a greater travel choice to guests travelling between South Africa and Seychelles.
A South Korean tuna fishing vessel named Oriental Kim runs aground at L’Ilot, Glacis.
The fishing vessel, carrying around 700 tonnes of tuna and 250 tonnes of fuel, hits a cluster of rocks in the L’Ilot, Glacis area, requiring her 26 crew members, among whom a Seychellois, to be evacuated from the vessel.
Japanese Oil Gas Minerals Exploration Company (Jogmec) will continue conducting geological and geophysical surveys for oil in Seychelles' waters following the extension of its license.
The extension agreement is for a further 24 months.
Jogmec had requested an extension of its license to acquire more data and reprocess existing information, now that the petroleum industry is going through tough time.
Jogmec has been conducting geological and geophysical surveys including seismic surveys with PetroSeychelles since August 30, 2013 under the exploration license granted by the government of Seychelles.
Vice-President Danny Faure and the Minister for Education Macsuzy Mondon inaugurate the newly constructed primary school at Glacis after Minister Mondon and the Chinese ambassador to Seychelles Yin Lixian had signed documents to mark the official handover of the school to the Seychelles government.
The new school, which has cost R60 million, was built by Shenyang Construction and sponsored by the government of the People’s Republic of China under the China Shenyang International Economic and Technical Corporation Limited. It caters for pupils of Sorento, Vista do Mar, l’Ilot, Machabée, Carana and part of North East Point.
The Minister for Education Macsuzy Mondon and the Minister for Land Use and Housing Christian Lionnet lay the foundation stone marking the start of construction work on a new secondary school on Ile Perseverance.
The school which will accommodate 900 students, is expected to welcome its first batch of scholars in January 2018.
The school, which will have all the modern facilities including library, computer rooms, laboratories and other specialist rooms, will come at a cost of R50.7 million.
The first ever video evidence system which will ease video link calls between the correctional facility at the Montagne Posée Prison and the Palais de Justice at Ile du Port, is officially launched by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mathilda Twomey.
The system will allow the court the burden of physically bringing people to court for administrative and small matters such as remands, hearings and mentions. It will also allow resources to be better allocated both between judiciary and within prison services.
Konsey Nasyonal Lazenes (SNYC) i selebre son 18enm lanniverser avek en seri aktivite ki demar avek en prezantasyon lo letid nasyonal lo lazenes ki ti fer an 2014/2015.
South Africa opens a consulate in Seychelles, with Rod Thorrington installed as the first consul.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan describes the opening as a historic occasion in the ties between the two countries while the South African high commissioner Dr Nomwyo Nokwe believes that the diplomatic presence in Seychelles will reinforce regional and multilateral cooperation within organisations such as the Indian Ocean Rim, South African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU) as well as the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
The Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) adds 29 new buses to its fleet in its on-going plan to replace old buses and improve commuters’ comfort and safety.
The SPTC is at the same time calling on commuters to help the corporation maintain the standard and quality of the services it offers them by respecting the buses and conduct themselves appropriately when onboard.
SPTC plans to introduce 71 new buses to its fleet between 2016 and 2018 in its effort to continue raising the standard of its services to the public.
April
The first Afro-Asian International Expo opens to promote international manufacturers, exporters and importers and at the same get exposure for their business.
Companies present at the expo come from India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Seychelles and Mauritius.
The products on show range from jewelry, textiles and home furniture, to cosmetics, handicrafts, shoes, food products, among others.
Air Seychelles is awarded four prestigious accolades at the 2016 World Travel Awards, including the title of ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline’ for the second year running.
In addition to winning the coveted title, the Seychelles-based airline is presented with awards for ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline – Business Class’, ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’ and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Cabin Crew’.
Seychelles hosts the world premiere of the much talked-about new 3D film on Aldabra titled ‘Aldabra – Once upon an island’.
Directed by Steve Lichtag and produced by Peter Keller Czech of film company Starlite Pictures, this impressive family film made in breathtakingly clear 3D offers an amazing aperçu of the creatures which inhabit the atoll as it plots their lives, antics and struggle for survival.
The 73-minute long film which showcases the talents of US writers involved in the making of such prestigious offerings as Lion King and Finding Nemo has been crafted from some 30 hours of raw footage and with a production crew of some 40 people.
Outer island Farquhar is hit by tropical cyclone Fantala, destroying all the buildings there.
Glenny Savy, chief executive (CEO) of the Island Development Company (IDC) which manages the island, describes the situation as “catastrophic” as he confirms that most of the infrastructures including the guest house, workers’ quarters and health centre have been destroyed.
As a measure of precaution, IDC evacuates 20 out of the 34 workers who were on the island while the 14 others were left behind to monitor the situation or are those responsible for essential services on the island.
Thirty employees from 28 different organisations in the private sector are rewarded in the first national private sector Employee of the Year Award ceremony.
The award launched in February last year aims to recognise the skills and performances of exceptional employees in the private sector.
Seychelles joins the majority of the States Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in signing the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.
The agreement aims to enact policies to effect greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance as from the year 2020.
A total of 176 countries including Seychelles have heeded the call of the United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, and signed this agreement which reaffirms the strong commitment of governments of the world to deliver on the promises made when the agreement was brokered in Paris in December 2015.
May
The Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) announces that it will as from October this year start construction work on a new reservoir at Bel Ombre. The new reservoir will be in operation by June next year.
The project will consist of transferring water from multiple rivers in the Anse Major and Mare aux Cochons areas and stock it in the reservoir before distribution mainly to the northern part of Mahé.
Seychelles Breweries Limited opens a new refrigeration plant which will significantly minimise the risks of exposure to ammonia, the primary refrigerant used for cooling in the production process.
The new R50 million plant is one of the most important investments for Seychelles Breweries Limited (SBL) in terms of health and safety of its employees and people residing and working within the vicinity of the brewery at Le Rocher.
SBL has also complemented the opening of the plant with a new boiler which has cost approximately R20 million.
Both machineries are in the commissioning stage.
The Seychelles National Youth Council’s (SNYC) Youth Centre at English River marks its 10th anniversary with a host of activities.
To mark the occasion, the principal secretary for youth Alain Volcère presents tokens of appreciation to three people who have contributed a lot to make a difference in the lives of the youths. They are Neddy Padayachy, Ghislaine Belmont and Clarence Confiance.
Ms Belmont, who is the deputy chief executive of the SNYC, also launches an ICT Club and Discovery Club.
June
The Grand Anse Mahé primary school holds various activities to commemorate 15 years since its inauguration.
The highlights of the day are the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to mark fifteen years since the school was inaugurated in June 2011 and the opening of literacy centre for early childhood children called ‘Rainbow’.
Other activities on the programme include a reflection by a group of children of different religious denominations, blessing of the school by the parish priest, presentation of tokens of appreciation to long-serving staff and sponsors of the school’s projects, cutting of anniversary cake, flag raising ceremony and traditional dance performances.
A large crowd from Mahé and Praslin brave the rough seas to join their compatriots from La Digue in the first agricultural and horticultural show to be held on the archipelago’s third largest island by population.
The event, which has been organised as part of activities to mark 40 years of Seychelles’ independence, showcases a large part of La Digue’s rich cultural heritage.
On display in the show are exhibits in areas other than agriculture and horticulture. Those include arts and craft, gastronomy, garment as well as the Diguois traditional style of living.
Air Seychelles signs up to the Buckingham Palace Declaration, a milestone agreement committed to shutting down the transport routes used by illegal wildlife traffickers as well as protecting iconic wildlife species.
The Declaration of the United for Wildlife International Taskforce on the Transportation of Illegal Wildlife Products is signed by Roy Kinnear, chief executive of Air Seychelles, at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Dublin.
The Declaration includes eleven commitments developed to support global efforts to prevent illegal wildlife smuggling, which encourage the transport industry to help close down the routes exploited by wildlife traffickers. Airlines are able to support in a number of ways including increasing passenger awareness, providing capacity building at airports and working closely to support the efforts of customs and law enforcement authorities.
New Supreme Court Judge Melchior Vidot and new Police Commissioner Reginald Elizabeth are sworn in before President James Michel.
The two new appointees say they are ready to face the challenges ahead of them and are confident that their experiences in the judiciary and police respectively will help them bring a difference in the two departments.
Mr Vidot, who is 51 years old, was called to the bar in England in 1990. He served as assistant state counsel upon his return to Seychelles, before moving into legal private practice. Between two spells as a lawyer, he has also occupied the posts of Master and Registrar of the Supreme Court and Registrar of the Court of appeal.
As for Mr Elizabeth, 62, he joined the force in 1973.
The Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change Didier Dogley visits two new projects which will allow residents of parts of west and south Mahé to benefit from better water and electricity supply.
The two projects involve the construction of two new water reservoirs — one at Upper Caïman in the Anse Boileau district and the other at Mont Plaisir, Anse Royale — and the installation of a high voltage cable, also at Mont Plaisir.
The two reservoirs to which water will be pumped from Port Launay and nearby rivers will permit more homes in the two areas to be connected to the treated water supply system. A total of about 130 families are expected to benefit from the two projects.
As for the new high voltage line, it will provide the Mont Plaisir area with higher electricity voltage.
The Pointe Larue primary school marks its 20th anniversary with a ceremony under the theme ‘Consacrons Notre Ecole a la Vierge’.
During the ceremony all staff who have clocked 20 years of service receive a token of appreciation. They are: Gemma Joubert, Darisha Hoareau, Achille Andre, Lisette Tamboo, Monica Zialor, Bernadette Didon and Mirenda Melanie.
The whole day of activities to mark the occasion comprise praise and worship, poems, testimony by past students and head teachers, and also a tree planting.
President James Alix Michel launches a new book entitled ‘Rethinking the Oceans – Towards the Blue Economy’.
“My book tells the story of the Blue economy to date; how the concept has come onto the world stage, the many aspects it embraces, and what it can offer for all of our future and running through this is the theme of sustainability. We must learn from the errors we have made in the past; we must ensure that the beauty and the riches of the oceans are there for the benefit of the future generations. It is no coincidence that I have dedicated the book to all of our children, to those who will inherit the oceans for they are the sentinels of nature and the guardians of our oceans,” President Michel says at the book launch ceremony at State House.
The book has been published by Paragon House in the US.
Students from ten schools on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue receive glasses from the Lion’s Club of Seychelles.
Following the screening of 3000 students from 28 schools by the Lion’s Club of Seychelles in February and March this year, 1800 of them were found to need glasses.
The glasses, which have been sponsored by Lion’s Club International, comes from the Lion’s Eye Hospital, Leresho, Kenya.
Seychelles is elected as vice-chair for the AIMS region for 2016-2017 by the executive council of Sids DOCK, the global sustainable energy and energy efficiency initiative for small island developing states (Sids).
The chair is Dominica in the Caribbean and the vice-chair for the Pacific is Samoa. The AIMS region comprises the Sids of Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and the South China Sea.
Ambassador for climate change and Sids issues Ronny Jumeau represents Seychelles on the executive council and will fulfill the role of vice-chair.
July
Ethiopian Airline’s Airbus A350 makes its maiden flight to Seychelles with 120 passengers on board.
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates four weekly flights to Seychelles after it resumed services to our shores almost two years ago.
Government, after discussions with the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), reviews the current employment fees as well as GOP (Gainful Occupational Permit) rates.
This follows an amendment to the Employment Act and the Immigration Regulations after which the new tariffs which are already in force stand at R500 for employment fees and R6,000 for GOP per year. If paid on a monthly basis, GOP will now cost R500 per month.
Le père Edwin Mathiot célébre son Jubilé d’Or sacerdotale en l’église du Bon Pasteur de Mont Fleuri pendant une messe animée par des chants en français, en créole et en anglais.
Le père Mathiot remercie l’évêque, Monseigneur Denis Wiehe, pour sa co-célébration de la messe et de sa confiance depuis tant d’années.
En présence de multiples paroisses, de prêtres, du diacre Louis Agathine, de religieuses, il remercie, aussi, les paroissiens pour les cadeaux et leurs beaux messages. Il profie pour rappeler que le prêtre est un cadeau de Jésus-Christ à son église.
Local brewery, Seychelles Breweries Limited, goes live on the Trop-X Stock Exchange.
Bobby Brentley Jr., chief executive of Trop-X, says SeyBrew forms part of the fabric of the Seychelles society and therefore is very fitting to be on Trop-X.
The brewery’s managing director Nick Cook says: “It is very exciting to be on Trop-X for three big reasons. For the shareholders it’s good for them, for the value and the flexibility. Secondly it is a big performance indicator for our business and I have a strong passion to make it one of the best performance businesses which I know we can do it and thirdly is about supporting Seychelles.”
August
Air Seychelles has two new Seychellois captains. First Officers Christopher Lespoir and Charles Elizabeth are promoted to captain after undergoing simulator training at the Etihad Academy in Abu Dhabi and practical flights on the Airbus A320 which they are now going to command.
They are presented with their captain badges by Air Seychelles’ chief executive (CEO) Roy Kinnear.
Captain Lespoir, 38, joined Air Seychelles in 1998 as a Twin Otter pilot before moving as co-pilot on the Boeing 767.
Captain Elizabeth, 34, followed the same path since 2004.
After accumulating 500 hours flying time on the A320, Captains Lespoir and Elizabeth will be able to obtain what is known as a cross crew qualification which will permit them to also fly the A330.
Three persons – two women and a man – lose their lives following a boat accident off Round Island, about half way between La Digue and Praslin.
The accident happens when the boat, named ‘Faith’ – a converted Mini Mahé with a 15 horse power engine and added cabin – is on its way to Praslin from La Digue with six persons on board.
Air Seychelles captain Aubrey Quatre dies after being involved in a fatal ground accident at the Domestic Terminal of the Seychelles Airport.
Captain Quatre, 27, was an experienced pilot on Air Seychelles Twin Otter fleet and had been with the company since October 15, 2012 and gained his command on the Twin Otter in April 2015. He was born on September 25, 1988.
Foreign Affairs and Transport Minister Joël Morgan orders an immediate investigation into the incident as per established protocols in place with the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA).
A contract is signed for the third phase of construction work on the new Corgat Estate Housing Estate project.
This third phase of another 32 three-bedroom units, which will start at the beginning of next year, is being financed by the People’s Republic of China at a cost of around R54 million.
En gran lafoul kretyen sorti dan kat kwen Mahé i ranpli Katedral Imakile Konsepsyon pour konmemor 15-an ordinasyon Monsenyer Denis Wiehe konman levek Dyosez Port Victoria.
I ti aze 61-an an 2001 letan i ti’n fek ariv Sesel konman en pret sorti Moris e son lordinasyon ti deroul dan en gran seremoni solannel ki ti fer Palais des Sport.
Dan en entervyou avek medya pli boner, Monsenyer Wiehe ti eksprim son senser remersiman a Bon Dye limenm pour sa 15-an ki i’n deservi legliz Sesel ki i ti ganny konfye 15-an pase.
Minis pour Lasante Mitcy Larue i devwal plak pour ofisyelman ouver en lakaz mor La Digue. Sa fasilite i sitie kot Lopital Logan, La Passe.
Seychelles signs a new agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation with China under which Seychelles will benefit from a 100 million RMB grant (approximately US $15 million).
The grant will be used to fund key infrastructure projects such as the construction of a new building (including purchase of modern equipment) for the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) and other priority projects earmarked by the government.
The International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco-Unevoc) has awarded the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) with the Unevoc plaque recognising the institution as the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centre in Seychelles.
This is the second time SIT is awarded the plaque. The first was in 2007.
Unevoc is the United Nation’s organ responsible for promoting technical and vocational education and training (TVET) globally. It recognises training institutions engaged in TVET programmes and skills development which lead to employment and entrepreneurship.
September
In a national televised address on Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation’s 8pm Creole bulletin, President James Alix Michel announces his intention to resign from his post on October 16, 2016, the same date Vice-President Danny Faure will be sworn in as the new President of the Republic of Seychelles and serve the remaining four years left on Mr Michel’s mandate. This is in line with Article 55(1) of the Constitution of Seychelles.
“I am leaving the Office of the President with a sense of mission accomplished. During these 12 years that you gave me the honour and privilege to lead our nation, I have completed my responsibility and my duty,” says Mr Michel in his address.
A new group of six Chinese doctors arrive in Seychelles to work at the Seychelles Hospital for a period of one year.
They replace the current group of Chinese medical doctors who have worked at the Seychelles Hospital since July 2014.
The new group of the Chinese doctors are specialised in acupuncture, orthopaedics, general surgery, radio-diagnosis, radiography and cardiology.
During their one-year working period at the Seychelles Hospital, the new group of Chinese doctors will provide medical services and also exchange expertise and experience with their Seychellois counterparts.
A third cohort of seven holistic therapists graduate from the Academy of High Performance Ltd (The Academy) in association with Transform-therapies (Sey) Ltd.
The graduates are ready to deliver holistic treatments in the various wellness establishments of the country’s tourism industry and in its domestic wellness clinics.
The aim of the Academy is to prepare as many Seychellois holistic therapists as possible in order to reduce the 80% dominance of foreign therapists from the Philippines, Bali and Sri Lanka who come to Seychelles to fulfil the need of the ever growing wellness industry in the country.
The Seychelles' authorities are investigating the deaths of two American women who were found “unresponsive” in their hotel room at the Maia Luxury Resort & Spa.
They were certified dead by the doctor at the Anse Boileau health centre where they had been transported for examination.
The two sisters arrived in Seychelles on September 15 and were due to leave the country on September 24.
The University of Seychelles get some new sophisticated water research equipment from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in the United Kingdom.
They include a CTD (conductivity, temperature and depth sensor), nitrate, phosphate and pH sensors, desktop photo spectrofluormeter and nitrate sensor packages.
The NOC is providing the equipment as part of the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme (formerly Project Neptune).
Two researchers from the NOC – Dr Allison Schaap, a research engineer in the Ocean Technology and Engineering Group at NOC and Mark Stinchcombe, a biogeochemist for the Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems (OBE) research group, are in Seychelles to conduct training for Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) and University of Seychelles (UniSey) personnel in the use of the equipment.
The University of Seychelles (UniSey) strikes a new academic partnership with Nagasaki University of Japan.
It is expected that collaboration between the two universities will start with joint research projects on the Blue Economy and will possibly include student and staff visits.
There is also mutual interest in Peace Studies as well as technology innovation.
October
Twenty-one-year-old Felicita Filippin is crowned Miss Regatta 2016.
Felicita is from Baie Lazare just like her predecessor, Emily Albest, who has been holding the title for the past year.
Besides winning the crown Felicita, a field research assistant with the Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles (MCSS), also won the Best Bikini Body. She has a passion for the ocean as she enjoys scuba diving and swimming.
As prizes Felicita gets an Air Seychelles return ticket to any destination, a bikini sponsored by Ipanema, X-trim gym membership, weekend at The H Hotel, dinner at Del Place restaurant, cash prize, certificate of participation and bouquets of flowers.
Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT) clinches this year’s Best Safe Workplace Award, besides being the winner in the Manufacturing category of the competition.
During the same ceremony various other organisations are recognised for their excellent efforts in creating safer and healthier workplaces.
A total of 22 organisations from eight different sectors took part in this year’s competition.
It is the second year that the Best Safe Workplace Award ceremony is organised.
Nineteen-year-old Omegan Jean-Marie-Ciseau wins the Miss Creole Des Iles International 2016.
Omegan, who is studying at the Seychelles Business Studies Academy, says she wants to introduce in each district a cultural group.
“My project is based on bringing back our values and culture, by introducing in each district a cultural group to promote our true cultures,” she says.
As part of her prizes Miss Creole Des Iles International 2016 will represent Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and will become the Creole ambassador of the Creole speaking islands.
A R10 stamp featuring the Indian Temple in Victoria and a First Day Cover (FDC) costing R30 are launched as part of the celebrations to mark the Seychelles-India Day.
A mother is reunited with her daughter after 39 years of separation.
Veroniqua Esparon lost her daughter Corine Guillon in Liban at birth. After that, Veroniqua had had two other children – Stan Esparon and Michelle Esparon – but they never stopped thinking about Corine.
After years with no leads and no new information, the youngest brother, Stan, along with her sister Michelle, went on a mission to search for their missing sister and with the help of the national airline, their dream finally becomes a reality when Corine arrives on an Air Seychelles flight from Paris, with her husband and two sons.
Seychelles Breweries Ltd (SBL) brings beer and Guinness production in Seychelles to the digital age with the installation of a new software system which manages production in its brewery at Le Rocher.
As part of its effort to upgrade the processing and production of the two beverages, SeyBrew as the brand is intimately known to Seychellois, also commissions a new boiler. The two combined investments amount to a total of around R26 million.
The Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) signs a data services agreement with Aireon LLC, the developer of the world’s first space-based global air traffic surveillance system, bringing 100% air traffic surveillance across the region, increasing safety and efficiency.
Through this agreement, SCAA, the air traffic services provider in the Seychelles Flight Information Region (FIR), will gain access to complete surveillance of the Seychelles FIR region, covering an area of approximately 2.63 million square kilometres, a majority of which is oceanic airspace, and borders the flight information regions of Kenya, Somalia, India, Mauritius, Madagascar and Tanzania.
November
The flag carrier of Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines, makes its maiden flight to Seychelles, kick-starting its four times weekly service – on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday – to the islands.
Ten male teenagers from secondary schools on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue and 13 men are rewarded in the 3rd Men’s Award ceremony.
Adrian Noel of English River secondary school scoops the first Overall Young Male Award while David Boniface from Plaisance secondary wins the Outstanding Young Male Role Model Award.
For the men’s category Roy Dijoux, a teacher at English River secondary school, wins the best overall Male Award while the Outstanding Male Role Model Award is clinched by Jude Raoul, a captain and deputy commander at the Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA).
A first consignment of scrap metal from La Digue is shipped to Mahe in an effort to rid La Digue of the metal waste that has been accumulating over the years at the island’s landfill.
Lemmy Payet, a consultant for the Landscape and Waste Management Agency (LWMA), says the scrap metal will be transported in four barge trips to be undertaken over four weeks.
The scrap metal is being deposited at the SAMLO scrap yard at Zone 5, Providence where it will later be compressed and exported.
Seychelles is nominated for chairmanship of the newly formed Commission for Islands established during the Africa Action Summit on November 16, 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco.
Apart from the islands commission, two other commissions are formed during this summit to mobilise greater international solidarity in addressing the vulnerability of Africa to climate change.
“We are very honoured to have been nominated to lead the island commission set up during the Africa Action Summit as part of our common efforts to build an African continent that is resilient to climate change and committed towards implementing the sustainable development goals,” says President Danny Faure.
December
The Central Bank of Seychelles releases a new family of banknotes and coins.
The release of the new notes and coins which carry the themes “unique Seychelles biodiversity, the backbone of our economy” commemorates 40 years of the country’s Independence.
The new series of currency comprise different sized paper banknotes of 500 rupees, 100 rupees, 50 rupees and 25 rupees.
The new set of coins include denominations of 10 rupees, 5 rupees, 1 rupee, 25 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, and 1 cent.
New to the set of coins will be the 10 rupees bimetallic coin which is currently a banknote.
The blue 10 rupees note will eventually disappear.
The first book ever written on the Muslim community in the country is officially launched.
The book, entitled MUSLIMS IN SEYCHELLES - A Historical Appraisal of their Legacy, gives a historical appraisal of the Muslim’s legacy in Seychelles.
The book is written by Professor Abul Fadl Mohsin Ebrahim and was published by iMedia (Seychelles) Limited, a local publishing house under the Victoria Computer Services company.
Muslims in Seychelles traces the history of the arrival of Muslims in Seychelles as exiles, then as businessmen and talks about how Islam was consolidated on the island.
Seychelles’ founding President James R. Mancham (who is among guests at the launch ceremony), wrote the foreword to the book.
Seychelles’ founding President Sir James R. Mancham is presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Global Energy Parliament in recognition of his lifelong dedication to global peace.
He is bestowed with the award by the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka in a ceremony at the Temple Trees Banquet Hall in Colombo, hosted by Isa Viswa Prajnana Trust (I.V.P.T.) and the Interfaith Coalition for Peace in Sri Lanka.
Minis pour Finans, Komers ek Planifikasyon Ekonomik Dr Peter Larose i prezant Bidze pour lannen 2017 avek Lasanble Nasyonal pour son konsiderasyon ek laprouvasyon.
Sa i 1er diskour bidze Dr Larose ki ti ganny apwente minis dan nouvo gouvernman Prezidan Danny Faure mwens ki de mwan pase.
Bidze ki pe propoze pour lannen prosenn i en rikord sonm 7 bilyon, 796 milyon, 480 mil 879 roupi (7,796,480,879).
Sa bidze ki annan pour tenm ‘Devlopman Enklisiv – Loportinite pour nou tou’, in ganny dekri par Minis Larose konman enn ki anmenn bon nouvel ek lespwar pour tou Seselwa.
The White Paper on the proposed ‘Right to Information’ legislation has been published and is available for public consultation and comments.
The Right to Information Bill, 2016 White Paper can be viewed online at www.gov.sc by clicking on the “White Paper” icon at the right bottom left side of the website’s home page.
The Right to Information Bill White Paper has been published by the newly created Department of Information with technical support from the Department of Information and Communication Technology. Both departments are under the responsibility of Vice-President Vincent Meriton who is the Minister for Information.
Members of the public have until the end of January 2017 to submit their comments which the Department of Information will collate and submit to the Office of the Attorney General for inclusion in the final bill which will be presented to the National Assembly during the first quarter of next year.
Rose-Mary Elizabeth is the grand winner of the first Volunteers Award organised by the Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (Ceps).
As reward, Mrs Elizabeth bags R100,000 sponsored by Vijay Construction; a return ticket to any Air Seychelles/Etihad Airways destination sponsored by Air Seychelles and a trophy and certificate from Ceps itself.
As runner-up, Marie-Nella Azemia clinches R50,000 and other prizes like the first prize winner.
The Volunteers Award is a platform which recognises volunteers for their contributions in our communities.
The Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Alain St Ange submits his resignation to President Danny Faure, saying he intends to apply for the post of secretary general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne will replace Mr St Ange in the post after his appointment as minister is approved by the National Assembly.