IDC celebrates 38th anniversary |28 April 2018

The Island Development Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seychelles Meteorological Authority for the installation of automatic weather stations on eight of its islands.

This agreement was signed yesterday during an official ceremony to mark the Island Development Company’s (IDC) 38th anniversary and which was attended by guests such as Vice-President Vincent Meriton; Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change Wallace Cosgrow; Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Didier Dogley and Minister for Employment, Immigration and Civil Status Myriam Télémaque.

Also in attendance were the deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Ahmed Afif, chairman of the IDC’s board of directors Patrick Berlouis, chief executive of the Société Seychelloise d’Investissement Rupert Siméon amongst other invitees.

It was the chief executive of IDC, Glenny Savy, and the chief executive of the Seychelles Meteorological Authority, Vincent Amelie, who acted as signatories of the memorandum of understanding.

Mr Savy described the signature as “yet another milestone for IDC” since the setting up of the weather stations is predicted to result in better data collection for weather forecasting and will provide IDC with accurate information for its flights.

In relations to this project, IDC has agreed to finance the installation of weather stations on seven of its outer islands namely Coëtivy, Alphonse, Providence, Farquhar, Assomption, Cosmoledo and Astove as well as on IDC managed inner island, Silhouette.

Mr Amelie explained that the weather stations, especially the seven on the outer islands, are important for recording and collecting data about the climate of the southern islands. Data for this region which are currently quite lacking, he asserted.

“It is important that we start expanding our coverage of weather forecast to also include outer islands because all the information we have recorded over the years have always been collected on Mahé and neighbouring countries,” Mr Amelie stated.

“This has made it difficult to make weather predictions for the outer islands, and with climate change causing more frequent tropical cyclones in the southern region of Seychelles we need to be able to have the meteorological data to understand what is going on in these islands.”

According to Mr Amelie, the weather stations are expected to cost approximately R250,000 and the first station should be set up on Farquhar in one month’s time.

Another significant highlight of the celebrations was the official launch of the second edition of the ‘Outer Islands of Seychelles - Zil Elwannye Sesel’ reference book, authored by Adrian Skerett.

It is an updated version of the first edition with supplementary maps, diagrams, stories and interviews added on to its original content.

Vice-President Meriton was amongst the first to receive a copy of the book yesterday.

Also launched was IDC’s revamped website which has been designed by Malinda Skerett in such a way as to offer a better browsing experience for users.

During his opening remarks, Mr Savy stated that he was personally proud of the journey IDC has made from it small office at Union Vale to growing stronger and taller over the 38 years to become what it is now.

“As I stand before you today, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I am proud of the contribution that IDC has made in the development of our islands and to the country’s economy as a whole,” Mr Savy said.

He further provided a detailed account of IDC’s initiatives in the past year or so such as the rebuilding of facilities on Farquhar after extensive damage caused by cyclone Fantala in 2016 and the reopening of Desroches Resort in March this year.

The ceremony concluded with cutting of the anniversary cake and a cocktail.

IDC was incorporated on April 29, 1980 to create a structure to enable the economy of the outer islands to be developed. It is currently responsible for 13 outer islands and Silhouette.