Year 2021 news highlights |31 December 2021
As we come to the end of 2021, Seychelles NATION presents its readers with a month-by-month summary of some of the local news that have marked this eventful year.
January
1.1.21: The first baby to be born this year, a girl, is delivered at the Seychelles Hospital at 2.05pm, weighing in at 3.3 kgs.
The second, a baby boy, arrives at 7.16pm, weighing in at 3.7kgs followed by the third New Year baby, at 7.45pm through a caesarean section.
1.1.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces promotes Colonel Michael Rosette to Chief of the Defence Forces, replacing Colonel Clifford Roseline, while Colonel Simon Dine is appointed the new SPDF Chief of Staff.
3.1.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan appoints the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Hon. Sebastien Pillay, as a member of the Platinum Covid-19 Committee.
The President’s decision to appoint Hon. Pillay as a member of the committee stems from the strong belief that the Covid-19 pandemic is a national health crisis and should be treated as a non-political matter and as such, Hon. Pillay in his capacity as the leader of the opposition should be represented at the highest level of decision-making.
3.1.21: Seychelles records its first Covid-19 related death as it experiences its biggest surge of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic started.
The victim, 57-year-old Vincent Pillay, dies from Covid-19 complications at the Isolation and Treatment Centre at Perseverance.
5.1.21: The highest number of daily rise of Covid-19 cases, since July 2020, is recorded by the Ministry of Health with the detection of 32 Covid-19 positive patients.
7.1.21 : Un Seychellois âgé de 49 ans est activement recherché par la police mauricienne suivant la saisie de 11,2 millions de roupies mauriciennes (environ 6 millions de roupies seychellois) d’héroïne sur lui lors d’une opération de l’ADSU.
Selon le quotidien Le Mauricien, le suspect, capitaine des bateaux de pêche, a semé la police en se jetant à l’eau dans le lagon de Grand-Baie.
7.1.21: Three Chinese businesses operating in Seychelles, namely GBC Company, NJ Pty Limited and AAA Trading, donate 100,000 face masks to Seychelles.
7.1.21 : Notre centenaire Joséphine Nicette nous quitte pour des horizons meilleurs.
Née le 12 juin 1920, Mme Nicette avait célébré son centième anniversaire, l’année dernière.
8.1.21: Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Seychelles on a one-day visit as part of an official tour in Africa.
8.1.21: The whole nation takes part in a healing prayer session televised live on SBC and Telesesel.
9.1.21: The State Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, announces that China will be financing a RMB 40 million ($11 million) fund under the Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA) for mutually agreed upon projects in Seychelles.
10.1.21: The Ministry of Health rolls out its Covid-19 vaccination campaign, commencing with healthcare workers and other priority groups including political leaders and health care leaders.
10.1.21: China and Seychelles sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which includes a grant of $4.6 million to help with various projects aimed at generating more renewable energy.
The signing of the MoU coincides with the visit to Seychelles of Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi.
11.1.21: An article published by international news media Reuters alleges that creditors are considering legal action against Air Seychelles in a bid to recover over US $70 million in troubled bonds.
11.1.21: On the occasion of the One Planet Summit in Marseille, France, President Wavel Ramkalawan delivers a statement virtually, calling on the world to join the country in its endeavour to implement its environmental ambitions.
11.1.21: The Development Bank of Seychelles in partnership with the department of the blue economy of the Ministry of Fisheries updates the conditions of the Blue Investment Fund, a loan scheme that targets commercial operators within the supply chain of the fisheries sector.
Now, the loan can cover up to 90% of the total costs and the personal contribution has been reduced from 20 to just 10 percent.
13.1.21: The government activates a bank account at the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) for individuals or organisations who wish to make voluntary contributions towards the Covid-19 vaccination campaign. The setting up of the account was announced by President Wavel Ramkalawan on January 10, 2021.
13.1.21: The Public Health Order enforced as of December 29, 2020 with the aim of curtailing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic is extended until January 28.
14.1.21: Jothinathan Naidoo and son, Sanjay Naidoo, from the Surya Group, donates USD10,000 to the newly set up Covid-19 Relief Trust Fund. The fund was announced by President Wavel Ramkalawan on January 10, 2021, upon launching the country’s national Covid-19 immunisation campaign.
14.1.21: Seychelles reopens its border to international travellers from any country, after almost a year of travel restrictions, whereby only visitors from approved countries were allowed into the country.
14.1.21 : L’Ambassadrice de la République Populaire de Chine, Mme Guo Wei fait un don d’USD 20 000 (environ 440 000 roupies seychelloises) au President Wavel Ramkalawan alors que le président de l’Association ‘Seychelles-China Trade and Business Promotion Association’, M. Jinhua Zhou, remet un chèque d’un million de roupies. Ces sommes seront versées dans le compte du ‘COVID-19 Relief Trust Fund’.
15.1.21: Land Marine Limited contributes $700,000 (R15.5 million) to the Covid-19 Relief Fund to help fight the virus.
16.1.21: Joe Chung-Faye, the longtime honorary consul for the Royal Kingdom of Thailand to Seychelles, dies from chronic health problems at the age of 85.
17.1.21: Beach-goers at the Beau Vallon beach report several sightings of the rare venomous blue dragon sea slug on the shoreline.
17.1.21: Former member of the National Assembly Jeovana Charles passes away at the age of 66. She served as parliamentarian for 23 years ‒ from 1993 to 2016.
18.1.21: The Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change & Environment Flavien Joubert attends the 11th session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) Assembly taking place in a virtual setting in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
18.1.21: The Minister for Transport Antony Derjacques holds talks with a high-level delegation from the Abu Dhabi Port to see how their country can assist with the extension of Port Victoria for commercial and industrial fishing.
19.1.21: Sister Bernadette of the St Joseph of Cluny (Seychelles) Congregation, whose real name is Isa Yokowo, passes away after a short illness at the age of 77.
19.1.21: The newly set up Covid-19 Relief Fund receives a whopping USD110,000 and R12.6 million from the following companies and foundations: Jj Spirit Foundation (R10m); the Green Island Construction Company (GICC), a subsidiary of Islands Development Company (IDC) – USD100,000; Seychelles Breweries Ltd (R1m); the Joseph Albert Family Foundation (R1m); State Assurance of Seychelles (Sacos) – R300,000; Gran Kaz (R200,000); offshore company TICK MILL (USD10,000) and KD Pillay Foundation (R100,000).
20.1.21 : Two well known religious personalities – Sister Claire and Father Isidore – pass away on the same day but in different parts of the world. Sister Claire dies on Mahé at the age of 100 while Father Isidore leaves this world in Sydney, Australia.
21.1.21: The People’s Republic of China donates a total of 60,000 Seychelles flags to the President of the Republic Wavel Ramkalawan in a bid to engage more citizens to demonstrate a sense of patriotism.
21.1.21: A total of 11 businesses and charitable organisations hand over to President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House their donations and contributions to the newly established Covid-19 Relief Fund.
21.1.21: The health department receives two sets of donations from Hospitality Supplies Ltd and the Anglican diocese. These include a patient monitor from the Anglican diocese and multiple hygiene products from HSL.
24.1.21: La frégate de surveillance Nivôse des Forces armées dans la zone sud de l’Océan Indien (FAZSOI) saisit au large du Mozambique 444 kilogrammes de méthamphétamines et d’héroïne, une cargaison d’une valeur marchande de plus de 40 millions d’euros.
25.1.1: The director general for employment promotion, Letimie Dookley, announces in a press conference that President Wavel Ramkalawan and his cabinet have decided to shut down the Unemployment Relief Scheme.
The scheme will officially cease to exist on February 28.
26.1.21: Seychelles’ most elderly citizen, Nancy Marie, celebrates her 112th birthday in the presence of her close family.
26.1.21: The Ministry of Health introduces another vaccine in its line of defence against Covid-19. The AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine AZD1222 or Covishield as it is marketed joins the existing BBIBP-CorV or SinoPharm Covid-19 Vaccine and targets citizens who are 60 years old and above.
26.1.21: A first group of people over 60 years old, including several high governmental officials in that age range, receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine AZD1222, a donation from the Indian government.
28.1.21: Government, through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Trade, issues three treasury bonds for fiscal purposes. The three-year, five-year and seven-year bonds are worth a total of R1.5 billion.
29.1.21: Seychelles’ consul general Justin Etzin gifts the government of Seychelles, on behalf of The Etzin Foundation, 180,000 auto-disable syringes for fixed dose immunisation, to enable Covid-19 vaccines to be administered to the people of Seychelles.
30.1.21: Dr Patrick Herminie is elected leader of the United Seychelles political party.
• A joint study on inequality and poverty rates for Seychelles published by the National Bureau of Standards and the World Bank reveals that about 25.3 percent of the Seychellois population was found to be living below the poverty line in 2018.
• Eight Seychelles honorary consuls collectively contribute over R1 million to the Covid-19 Relief Fund.
• The Disease Surveillance and Response Unit (DSRU) of the Public Health Authority, in collaboration with the Centre for Geographic Information Services (GIS) in the Ministry of Lands and Housing (MLH), has launched a new strategy to map Covid-19 cases, contacts and alerts across the country.
The approach collects accurate location details of patients, contacts and alerts using their land parcel number through the existing webGIS cadastral map of Seychelles, hosted by the Centre for GIS.
February
1.2.21: Said to be involved in drug trafficking in Seychelles, a Kenyan lady (Nassim Anwar Onezime) who is married to a Seychellois is arrested and deported from the country.
4.2.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan holds his first ever presidential press conference since taking office on October 26, last year.
6.2.21:Parti politik United Seychelles i anonse ki Lider lopozisyon dan Lasanble Nayonal, Onorab Sebastien Pillay, nepli en manm lo komite Platinum lo Covid-19.
US i dir i santi ki gouvernman pa pe fer ase pour mannye sitiasyon Covid-19, ki gouvernman pe pran en lapros otokratik kot i pa pare pour ekout lezot konsey.
8.2.21 : Les Seychelles bénéficient d'une subvention de 40 millions de RMB (environ 120 millions de roupies seychelloise) du gouvernement Chinois dans le cadre de la bonne coopération bilatérale économique et technique entre les deux pays.
8.2.21: Persons failing to comply with provisions of the Public Health Order and regulations imposed by the Ministry of Health to combat the Covid-19 pandemic are to face heftier fines and penalties for non-compliance, with the enforcement of newly introduced regulations.
The regulations apply to the mandatory wearing of face masks and the prohibition on public gatherings with the aim of further discouraging persons from engaging in activities that could facilitate the spread of the virus.
9.2.21: Justin Zelime is appointed acting Dean for the Faculty of Arts and Social Development at the University of Seychelles.
He replaces Joëlle Perreau who was assigned the task of vice-chancellor in January, replacing Justin Valentin who now occupies the post of Minister for Education.
11.2.21: In two separate donations, the Ministry of Health secures 100,000 syringes for vaccination use from local company JHL Group Pty Ltd. and a cheque for R40,000 from CAT Security.
11.2.21: Seychelles is officially Chair of the Strategic Planning Steering Group (SPSG) and Steve Lalande, director general of Regional Affairs at the Foreign Affairs department, has been appointed to chair the Group.
The establishment of the SPSG is based on the recommendations of the 22nd Plenary Session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), held in Mauritius in 2019, which acknowledged the need for the Group to adopt a new strategic direction and map out the future of CGPCS.
12.2.21 : Suite aux élections présidentielles d’octobre 2020, le nouveau gouvernement décide de transférer la tutelle de la Commission Nationale de la Francophonie (CNF) au Département de la Culture.
David André en tant que Maire de la ville et aussi responsable du Département de la Culture, est nommé président et Miera Savy secrétaire générale.
13.2.21: En bato fibreglass avek trwa zonm abor i koule dan zanmerant Anse Soleil ek Petite Anse. Dapre en kominike lapolis, de ant sa trwa zonm in ganny sove e enn i ankor manke.
13.2.21: A group of concerned citizens rally in front of the site of the controversial Anse à la Mouche four-star hotel project to peacefully protest against the development.
Their main points of contention with the development include its irreversible impact on the wetlands in the area, access to the beach and road diversion which will cut off the community.
15.2.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan announces in a press conference that his government has no intention of putting a stop to the Anse à la Mouche project which was negotiated and agreed upon during the era of former President Danny Faure.
This follows petitions from conservationists and non-profit organisations such as Sustainability for Seychelles and a peaceful demonstration against the hotel project.
15.2.21: Instead of the traditional grand ceremony for the annual re-opening of the courts, a low-key ceremony is organised this year to mark the occasion. This is due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the community and ongoing restrictions on gatherings.
16.2.21 : La Commission de l’océan Indien (COI) livre aux Comores et aux Seychelles un second lot de matériels et d’équipements médicaux pour lutter contre la pandémie de Covid-19. Cette action en soutien aux deux Etats membres s’inscrit dans le plan de riposte de la COI impulsé par la présidence comorienne en exercice du Conseil des ministres de la COI.
16.2.21: The ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Seychelles, Artyom Kozhin, announces that Seychelles will soon receive a first batch of Russian made Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus (Covid-19) from the Russian Federation including USD500,000 from the Russian business community.
18.2.21: Seychelles honorary consul general in Hong Kong Diana Chen donates R900,000 while Bank Al Habib contributes R50,000 to the Covid-19 relief fund.
18.2.21: The Ministry of Health and the Glacis health centre receive two donations – a consignment of goods from the Glacis community and the office of the MNA as well as generous businessmen and youth groups in the district, and a second donation of $12,000 from the Seychelles International Financial Services Association (Sifsa).
22.2.21: Following recommendations by the World Health Organisation regarding the Astrazeneca Covishield vaccine against Covid-19, the Ministry of Health is increasing the interval between the first and second dose of the vaccine to eight weeks.
23.2.21: Air Seychelles starts a voluntary redundancy process targeting staff members aged 55 years onwards as well as other staff members who are interested in exiting the company.
24.2.21: The Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) launches the first Youth 4 Youth – a Financial Education Youth Ambassadors Programme that aims to empower the youth and encourage peer-to-peer learning and advocacy on financial education.
24.2.21: The Health Care Agency gets a batch of medical equipment donated by the National Health Commission of China.
This batch of medical equipment includes a ventilator and an oxygen concentrator.
24.2.21 : Le Ministère de la Santé et l’Université des Seychelles signent avec l’Université de La Réunion et le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de La Réunion un accord-cadre de coopération internationale, qui a pour objet notamment d’encourager les échanges d’enseignants, de chercheurs et d’enseignants-chercheurs, d’étudiants et de personnels techniques et administratifs dans le domaine de la santé.
25.2.21 : Diacre Louis Agathine célèbre ses 25 ans au service de l’église et son baptême comme diacre.
25.2.21: The Seychelles Hospital receives more donations in support of efforts to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
The donations are as follows: 5000 syringes, complete with needles (50 boxes of 100) from the ambassador of the Order of Malta, Alexandra Azaïs; a sum of R40,000 from the Nepalese community in Seychelles and two laptops, two printers and other goods worth R67,000 from the General Employer Trade Union of Seychelles (Getus).
26.2.21: MCB Seychelles contributes R700,000 to the Covid-19 relief fund.
Over the past year, the Bank had already made donations in kind to the tune of R200,000 for the quarantine centres, reusable scrubs and computer equipment for nursing staff.
26.2.21: Ombudsman Nichole Tirant-Ghérardi hands over to President Wavel Ramkalawan a copy of the Ombudsman’s report for 2020.
26.2.21: The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) presents the results of two scientific research papers recently published to enable better management of fisheries in Seychelles.
One paper is entitled ‘Morphometrics of 39 fishes from the Seychelles artisanal fisheries’ authored by fisheries scientists Nathalie Bodin from the non-governmental organisation ‘Sustainable Ocean Seychelles’and Rodney Govinden, manager of research at SFA.
The second research is entitled ‘Diet of spiny lobsters from Mahé Island reefs, Seychelles inferred by trophic tracers’. Rodney Govinden is also one of the main authors of this paper.
26.2.21: In support of the development of a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) regional programme on countering transnational organised crimes and illicit trafficking in Eastern Africa, a virtual round-table discussion is held at the REFLECS 3 conference room between government officials from the National Coordination Committee on Traffic in Persons and a delegation from the UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa, led by Johan Kruger, head of transnational organised crime, illicit trafficking and terrorism.
27.2.21: Greenpeace International starts scientific research in Seychelles in transit towards the Saya de Malha Bank in the Mascarene Plateau region.
The purpose of this research is to collect information about the biological diversity present at the Saya de Malha Bank, following the scientific expedition visiting unique sites in the international waters of the Atlantic Ocean, with the objective to contribute to knowledge of the value of such sites for conservation.
- Seven more honorary consuls join their colleagues in donating to the Covid-19 relief fund.
• A group of eight honorary consuls contribute over R3.4 million between them to the Covid-19 relief fund.
- Babies born at the Seychelles Hospital will now be screened for certain genetic, hormone-related and metabolic illnesses, with the introduction of the Universal Screening Tool for Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Genetic Disorders.
• Hilary Baron, the Central Bank of Seychelles’ (CBS) first Guy Morel High Achievement Scholarship recipient to complete a university degree under this programme graduates as the highest achiever and top of her class.
• Global Supply Centre (GSC) contributes R500,000 to the Covid-19 relief fund.
• For the first time ever, 10 young Seychellois get Pre-Sea Training in Seychelles to be qualified as seafarers.
This specialised training has, since 2014, been held at the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC) campus in Sri Lanka.
• A group of foreign consultants from Abu Dhabi, UAE are assisting the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) with its development plans to improve infrastructure and services at the airport.
• Local cement dealer LaFarge Cement Co Seychelles donates a cheque for R75,000 to the department of health which will go towards the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The Ile du Port Handling Services (IPHS) and the Hunt, Deltel & Co. Ltd donate R1 million each to the Covid-19 relief fund, while the Ship Chandler and Husbandry company Aquarius Shipping Agency Ltd donates an undisclosed amount.
• Inmates participating in the Seychelles Prison Service’s rehabilitation programme, ‘Project Phoenix’ contribute the sum of R17,000.00 to the Seychelles Covid-19 relief fund, joining other private persons and companies in the national effort.
March
1.3.21: Ralph Volcère, politician and editor of The Independent newspaper, is named the new president of the Seychelles Labour Union (SLU), replacing Peter Sinon who handed in his resignation as both acting interim president and secretary general of the SLU.
1.3.21: British High Commissioner Patrick Lynch joins nine of his colleagues to deliver a hot lunch to almost 200 healthcare workers on the frontline of our Covid efforts. This is in support of the health and economic recovery in Seychelles.
2.3.21: Local telecom operator Airtel brings its services closer to its customers in districts across Mahé with the opening of six new branches – at Anse Royale, Takamaka, Port Glaud, Providence, Glacis and Port Launay.
3.3.21: The European Union and Seychelles review the implementation of the first year of application of the new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and its six-year implementing protocol.
4.3.21 : Bord Ceps (Platform Sosyete Sivil) i aksepte demisyon son sef egzekitif, Msye Michel Pierre, ki pran lefe apartir le 26 Mars 2021.
Msye Pierre in pas 11-an son karyer dan Lungos (predeseser Ceps) ek Ceps kot in kontribye en kantite dan devlopman e lepanouisman sosyete sivil dan Sesel e osi lo nivo rezyonnal.
4.3.21: The Citizens Engagement Platform of Seychelles (Ceps) holds a brief ceremony to officially mark the end of the ‘Protecting vulnerable women’ project, a three-year European Union (EU) funded project targeting gender-based violence survivors and women using drugs.
4.3.21 : La COI remet un troisième lot d’équipements aux Seychelles dans le cadre de son plan de riposte au Covid-19. Ce lot d’équipements, financé par le programme RSIE 3, à hauteur de 477,150 euros, comprend 2 ventilateurs portables de marque HAMILTON avec ses accessoires d’une valeur totale de 80,000 euros (soit environ 2 million de roupies).
6.3.21: EAST (Euro African Star Transport) Services cargo, owned by Dr Carol Nalletamby, launches a weekly cargo service to Seychelles.
8.3.21: To coincide with International Women’s Day, Seychelles Breweries Limited launches its ‘Spirited Women’s Network’, which aims to bring forth a culture of empowerment, acceptance and a sense of belonging for all women so that they dare to dream and provide an avenue for all greatness.
8.3.21: Lorganizasyon Madanm an Aksyon e Solidarite (Waso) i selebre 15-an depi son legzistans.
I ti ganny kree le 8 Mars 2006 par en group madanm dirize par Madanm Rose Mary Elizabeth avek bi pour anmenn enpe soulazman e plis sipor sirtou lo kote amelyor lavi personnel e familyal bann madanm ek zenn fiy ki trouv zot dan tou kalite difikilte sosyal, finansyel ki met zot dan bann sitiasyon vilnerab.
9.3.21: The Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) and the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS) sign a memorandum of understanding to better fight financial and economic crimes.
9.3.21: Capital Trading hands donations to various organisations around the country in its bid to support the ‘break-the-covid-transmission-chain’ drive.
The donations are in the form of household cleaning items including the company’s leading brand, Ariel washing powder.
9.3.21: The banking community agrees to waive transfer fees for donations by individuals and businesses from foreign currency accounts held with local banks to the Covid-19 relief fund.
This follows a request by the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) to the Seychelles Bankers Association (SBA).
10.3.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan receives the final report of the police investigation regarding an assault on a man which was being circulated on social media.
10.3.21: Seychelles submits its report to the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group, (ESAAMLG) for re-ratings concerning its Mutual Evaluation Report adopted in 2018 for consideration at the ESAAMLG Plenary in September 2021.
10.3.21: Intelvision donates 4000 rapid test kits to the Ministry of Health as part of efforts to fight the global Covid-19 pandemic.
12.3.21: Dr Steve Fanny, one of Seychelles’ brightest minds in the offshore sector, is found dead at his Pointe Au Sel home, presumed to have hanged.
12.3.21 : Mouvman Zenn Sitwayen (Young Citizens Movement) i selebre 17-an legzistans.
Sa mouvman ti ganny formen le 12 Mars 2004 anba Konsey Nasyonal Lazenes avek bi ranforsi e enkilke dan bann zanfan ek zenn bann bon valer ek tradisyon ki’n touzour defini nou konman en pep.
12.3.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan names the deputy Commissioner of Police, Ted Barbe, acting Commissioner of Police effective March 15, 2021.
The incumbent Commissioner, Kishnan Labonte, will be proceeding on leave before taking his retirement.
13.3.21: A new Creole-inspired, ecletic restaurant baptized Mahe, opens at the luxury resort Hilton Northolme.
14.3.21: Semi-supercentenarian Alda Philo dies at the age of 105.
Originally from Mont Plaisir, Anse Royale, Alda Philo was born on July 14, 1915 and was the oldest among nine brothers and sisters, who have all passed away.
15.3.21: The Rotary Club of Seychelles donates 300 masks and 6 fans to the Seychelles Prison.
15.3.21: The embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Seychelles donates R100,000 towards the ‘Open Business Safely’ project by the Seychelles Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the Public Health Authority (PHA) and the Enterprise Seychelles Agency (ESA).
15.3.21: Most of the local primary and secondary schools welcome students back for in-person teaching, marking the beginning of the 2021 academic year.
16.3.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan announces the appointment of Roy Clarisse as the new principal secretary for fisheries.
He replaces Jude Talma who has resigned from the post.
16.3.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan announces the appointment of the new board of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA).
The new chairperson of the board of the Authority is Radley Weber and the members are Roy Clarisse, Eugene Vidot, Aubrey Harris, Beatty Hoareau, Marc Gonthier, Joseph Tirant, Audrina Dine and Franky Laporte.
19.3.21: After joining the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny two years ago as part of their training process to formally integrate the Order, four young Sisters from Tanzania take their first vows and are formally accepted in the Order.
21.3.21: Seychelles and Qatar sign two new cooperation agreements in the fields of military and sports.
The agreements are signed following bilateral discussions held on the sidelines of an official visit by President Wavel Ramkalawan to the State of Qatar.
21.3.21: The Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy, together with the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) extend the lobster fishing season by up to a month, until midnight April 20, 2021.
22.3.21: Six male prisoners from the Montagne Posée Prison leave for Coetivy on board an Islands Development Company (IDC) plane to follow a rehabilitation programme on the island.
22.3.21: The British Royal Navy’s International Training Team delivers a five-day virtual capacity building event to the team at the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) to bolster their maritime operations planning capability and better prepare them to face a range of regional maritime crime threats.
24.3.21: The Commissioner General of the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC), Veronique Herminie, is appointed on the interim board of the African Women in Tax Network (AWITN).
AWITN aims to empower women in the field of taxation so they can rise to leadership position and stimulate growth and discussion in gender inequality and taxation.
25.3.21: Commercial flights to Seychelles resume with the reopening of the airport.
Emirates EK705 flight is the first to land with 332 tourists.
25.3.21: The Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS) signs a memorandum of understanding with the Office of the Registrar General.
The MoU will strengthen collaboration between both institutions with the aim of fighting and eliminating corruption in Seychelles through the exchange of information.
26.3.21: The Guy Morel Institute (TGMI) is presented with its official certificate of accreditation by chief executive of the Seychelles Qualification Authority (SQA) Fiona Ernesta, after having its accredited status awarded by the authority on December 21, 2020.
26.3.21: The Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) and the Island Conservation Society (ICS) formalise their cooperation in efforts to prevent and deter illegal taking of wildlife, such as sea birds, on Aride Island.
29.3.21: A new contact-tracing app named ‘Proximity’, for both locals and foreigners, is customised by the National Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation (Nisti) in collaboration with Enrst & Young (EY), with the assistance of Dr Ralph Etienne-Cummings, a Seychellois professor working at the John Hopkins University in the United States of America.
The app, database and visualisation dashboard uses BlueTooth technology to measure the proximity and contact time between individuals.
29.3.21: Education ministers from around the world, including Seychelles, take part in a high level virtual Unesco meeting to share their experiences, take stock of lessons learnt, discuss the greatest risks facing education today and strategies being used to ensure no learners are being left behind one year into the Covid-19 pandemic.
29.3.21: The Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) and the Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles (ACCS) formalise their engagement for mutual cooperation, assistance and exchange of information through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
29.3.21: The Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) launches an e-book entitled ‘The Voice of Seagrass Meadows’.
The book features all submissions it received from an art and poem competition from November last year (2020).
30.3.21: Chaka Brothers and the Seychelles Prison Service sign a memorandum of understanding formalizing their agreement to collaborate in the harvesting of cinnamon bark.
30.3.21: The Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) publishes its annual report for the year 2020.
The annual report provides an overview of performance across the various sectors of the domestic economy in 2020, taking into consideration the impact of external developments.
30.3.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan receives a copy of the Central Bank of Seychelles’ annual report 2020 from CBS Governor Caroline Abel.
• Joelle Perreau is formally inaugurated as the fifth vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles (UniSey), succeeding Dr Justin Valentin who is now the country’s new education minister.
• The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) of Seychelles and the National Audit Office (CNAO) of the People’s Republic of China sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for improving bilateral co-operation between the two supreme audit institutions (SAI) in a more formal and organised manner.
April
1.4.21: Former National Assembly representative for the inner islands Noline Sophola is sworn into the Seventh National Assembly as a proportional member of the United Seychelles (US) party, replacing Hon. Chantal Ghislain who held the seat up to Wednesday March 31, 2021.
4.4.21: During his weekend tour of some outer islands, President Wavel Ramkalawan and his delegation stop at Astove and Farquhar to officially launch new solar farms on these two islands.
5.4.21: With the planning phase for the new La Digue Hospital project nearing completion, the Office of the President announces the official launch of the La Digue Hospital Fund.
Although the hospital project is being financed through an international grant from Abu Dhabi for the construction of the building, various local expenses are also being incurred. Hence, the creation of the Fund to cater for that part of the expenses.
5.4.21: Seychelles receives a first consignment of the Russian Sputnik Covid-19 vaccines.
The first batch of vaccines contains 1000 doses with more expected to arrive in the coming weeks
6.4.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan takes part in a virtual leaders' dialogue on the African Covid-Climate Emergency organised by the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
7.4.21: The Supreme Court of Seychelles rules that Intelvision Limited pay MultiChoice Africa Holdings B.V and SuperSport International (Pty) Ltd the sum decided on by court after receipt of a report by the commissioner for breach of copyrights.
The court finds that Intelvision was breaking the law when it broadcast matches from the 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) football tournament, for which it did not have broadcast rights.
7.4.21: To celebrate World Health Day and Health Workers’, President Wavel Ramkalawan visits the Seychelles Hospital to pay tribute to all health care workers in the country.
During the ceremony nurses Malcy Tambara, Marie Ange Michel, Isabelle Joubert and public health officer Tony Laporte are honoured by the Ministry of Health for their devotion, hard work and long years of service.
8.4.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurate and hand over numerous projects financed by the government of India. These include the newly constructed Magistrates Court, 10 high impact community development projects (HICDP) and a one Megawatt solar power plant on Ile de Romainville.
The fast patrol vessel recently acquired by the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF), through a grant from the Indian government, is also officially handed over to Seychelles during the e-ceremony.
9.4.21: The Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) Seychelles hosts its first certified banker graduation for 11 of its staff members.
The graduating group is the bank’s first cohort to undertake the Retail Banking Association (RBA) international online training programme and receive professional certification in retail banking.
9.4.21: A new app created by Seychellois company Space95 to help in contact tracing is officially launched.
This app, dubbed Contak, was developed with support from the Department of Information Communication Technology (DICT), the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the disease surveillance and response unit within the Public Health Authority.
9.4.21 : Le Président de la République, M. Wavel Ramkalawan, commence sa visite dans les îles éloignées, une visite qui durera jusqu’au 12 avril.
10.4.21: The Seychelles Postal Services (SPS) and Island Conservation Society (ICS) launch a new commemorative overprint issue featuring six stamps depicting the wildlife of Seychelles.
The memorabilia launch commemorates the 20th anniversary of the ICS.
11.4.21: Madanm Merancia Esther, en zabitan Grand Anse Praslin, i selebre son 100enm lanniverser.
12.4.21: The Minister for Land and Housing, Billy Rangasamy, along with officials from his ministry, visit several ongoing projects to check on progress and meet the contractors.
13.4.21: United Seychelles (US) hands over to the Ministry of Education a first consignment of snacks, honouring a pledge made recently to make available 1000 snack packs daily for school children in need.
14.4.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan takes part in the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament and its Delegation for the Pacific, Africa, and the Caribbean (RENEWPAC) virtual conference, organised by The Renew Europe Group, dedicated to EU – Africa relations themed ‘Europe & Africa: Rebuilding the Future’.
14.4.21: Seychelles Breweries Ltd announces that its Seypearl Ginger Ale has been granted an exceptional Gold Quality Award by the prestigious Quality Institute Monde Selection.
17.4.21: Modern fishing facilities are officially inaugurated at La Retraite. These new amenities and facilities include a gear store comprising 12 units to be rented out to fishermen, an ice-plant, a fish market with adjoining parking lay-by, as well as pontoons.
21.4.21 : Le Club Med Seychelles, situé sur l’île de Ste Anne, est officiellement inauguré en la présence du Président de la République des Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan et la Première Dame, Linda.
21.4.21: Tropical cyclone Jobo, formed over the south-western Indian Ocean, hits some of our outer islands with maximum sustained winds up to 130 km/h.
22.4.21: In commemoration of the International Monuments, Sites and Heritage week, the Seychelles Heritage Foundation (SHF) unveils a new monument – the Liberated Slave monument – at the Mission Ruins, Sans Soucis.
The Liberated Slave monument, sculpted by local artist Egbert Marday, is an artistic interpretation of the residents of Venn’s Town industrial school which was built by the Anglican missionary to provide shelter and basic skills to the children of liberated slaves. The school operated from 1876 to 1889.
23.4.21: A sum of R8,420,000 is collected for the government coffers through the auctioning of five brand new BMW vehicles that were seized under the Proceeds of Crime (Civil) Confiscation Act (POCA) of 2008 by the Financial Crime Investigation Unit (FCIU) of the Seychelles Police, following a court order by the Supreme Court on September 7, 2020.
23.4.21: Trivium Packaging Seychelles Ltd, the sole company manufacturing steel cans locally, makes a donation of 10,000 Euros towards the Covid-19 relief fund.
23.4.21: After a one-year absence, Turkish Airlines resumes its weekly passenger flights to Seychelles.
24.4.21: Seychelles’ golden girl Felicity Passon completes her 15km ‘Mind Over Matter’ charity challenge, swimming the channel from La Digue to Praslin and back in exactly 4 hours and 08 minutes.
Meanwhile running enthusiast Joel Melanie also takes to the roads of La Digue, successfully ticking off his list his 21km run nicknamed ‘Anmenn Mwan La Digue’, as part of his ‘Run for a Good Cause’ project.
26.4.21: The Japanese ambassador to Seychelles, Tominaga Makoto, visits the newly renovated ex-maritime school, Mont Fleuri, which is now the new centre for the hearing impaired.
The renovation work has been funded by the Japanese government under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects for NGOs and local governments.
27.4.21: Camion Hall, the small one-stop mall in the centre of Victoria for locally produced handicraft and other interesting creative souvenir items, celebrates its 30 years of existence.
28.4.21: La Retraite primary school recognises and rewards the pupils who performed very well in their national exams last year.
The recipients of the awards are high achievers Daniel Zialor, Steven Mtiziwa, Micah Renaud, Deedrah Suzette, Natira Rose, Richie Payet and Jaden Adrienne.
28.4.21: The Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) announces the operationalisation of a facility to purchase government securities, namely Treasury Bills, Treasury Bonds and government-secured bonds from investors who find themselves in need of liquidity due to the adverse financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
29.4.21: Air Seychelles gets new board chaired by Nane Nanty following the national airline’s 79% discount on its total debt after the break-up of the partnership it had with Etihad Airways.
30.4.21: Air Seychelles welcomes its first charter flight from Bucharest, establishing a direct link between Romania and Seychelles.
30.4.21: In its continued efforts to curtail its losses, the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) shuts down its Victoria Supermarket, saying it can no longer sustain the operation of two retail outlets in the town area simultaneously.
30.4.21: A newly acquired 19-seater Beechcraft airplane worth US $2.8 million is delivered to the Islands Development Company (IDC).
This brings to three the number of Beechcraft in IDC’s fleet of aeroplanes.
30.4.21: Air Seychelles starts a series of charter flights from Romania’s capital city and most important commercial centre, Bucharest.
Scheduled until Monday, May 17, 2021, the flights are expected to bring over 500 visitors into Seychelles.
31.3.21: The Electoral Commission of Seychelles certifies the 2021 voters’ register, in accordance with Section 9 (1) of the Elections Act 1995.
The register applies for transactions recorded between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, and there are 74,442 registered voters on the register.
31.3.21: Marguerite Jouaneau from La Misère and Dominique Monthy from Mont Fleuri join the list of millionaires in Seychelles after winning the major prizes in the 4th Mini Maz Millions lottery.
Mrs Jouaneau wins the star prize of R1.5 million while Mr Monthy wins R1 million as first prize.
31.3.21: Nouvobanq donates R1 million as contribution to the Covid-19 relief fund.
May
1.5.21: Alvin Laurence is the new chief executive of the Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles. He replaces Michel Pierre who resigned from the post of chief executive on March 26, 2021.
3.5.21 : L'ancien ministre Jacques Hodoul meurt à l'âge de 77 ans.
Sous l’administration de l’ancien Président France Albert René, M. Hodoul a exercé les fonctions de ministre de 1977 à 1991 et a occupé plusieurs portefeuilles.
3.5.21 : L’Ambassade de France aux Seychelles et l’Association of Media Practitioners Seychelles (AMPS) organise une conférence sur la « Désinformation et éthique du journalisme » a l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de la liberté de la presse.
3.5.21: The Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) launches its online ticketing service. This is aimed at ensuring a more efficient payment system is in place for maximization of revenue.
3.5.21: Seychelles Medical Services owned by Justin Etzin is officially opened. It is a newly licensed health care company that opened the first state of the art Covid-19 testing laboratory in Seychelles, along with two highly equipped testing centres.
3.5.21: Seychelles now has a centralised, electronic public database to primarily register movable assets pledged as collateral by businesses and individuals to secure loans.
4.5.21: The Seychelles Coastguard (SCG) intercepts two dhows suspected to have been fishing illegally in Seychelles’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
7.5.21: The Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) and the Seychelles Intelligence Service (SIS) cement their working relationship through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Both the SIS and SRC are members on the National Anti-Money Laundering / Combating the Financing of Terrorism Committee (NAC) established in February 2019.
9.5.21: Several areas across Mahé and Praslin experience flooding and other incidents such as fallen boulders and embankments following heavy rain.
9.5.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan visits various locations on the island affected by heavy rains and persistent bad weather.
He visits farmers at Anse Royale and Au Cap, then proceeds to Anse Boileau to see first hand the drainage issues that need to be addressed immediately.
10.5.21: Seychelles undergoes its third cycle review under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council through a virtual session.
The UPR is a peer review mechanism which allows for member states of the UN to engage through interactive dialogues and issue recommendations to the State that is being reviewed on its human rights practices.
10.5.21: Andy Esparon is confirmed as the director of Independent School effective May 1, 2021. His appointment comes five months after he started as director designate on December 1, 2020
11.5.21 : Notre doyenne, Nancy Marie, meurt a l’âge de 112 ans.
13.5.21: Lansiv Café, a new eatery situated in the heart of Victoria, on the grounds of the National Museum of History, is now fully operational.
Lansiv Café offers a variety of European, Seychellois/Mauritian cakes.
13.5.21: Following the announcement after his inauguration that Praslin and La Digue would fall directly under the Office of the President, President Wavel Ramkalawan names Loncey Micock as the liaison officer for La Digue.
14.5.21: In view of the surge in Covid-19 cases in Seychelles and to express its support to the Seychelles government and health care workers in the fight against the pandemic, the Chinese embassy in Seychelles donates to the health care workers 150 boxes of daily supplies including milk, juice, biscuits, coffee and shampoo of a value of R100,000.
15.5.21: Popular local singers Sandra Esparon and Richie B join some 17 other popular counterparts from six countries and islands of the Indian Ocean in a virtual music festival called ‘Festi Muzik Océan Indien’.
16.5.21: Air Seychelles makes history by operating for the first time ever into the capital of New South Wales and one of Australia’s largest cities, Sydney, as part of a special charter.
The A320neo jetliner ‘Pti Merl Dezil’ flew from Maldives to Australia carrying a group of 38 players from the Australian Indian Premier Cricket League.
17.5.21: The price of LPG (liquid petroleum gas) increases from R15.00 to 17.50 per kilo.
19.5.21: Eight Chinese fishing vessels are grounded at Port Victoria after they illegally anchored themselves in the country’s territorial waters.
19.5.21: Invited by the World Bank, the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Flavien Joubert participates in a virtual ministerial plenary panel as a high-level speaker on the ‘Challenge of Creating a Feasible Pathway towards Carbon Neutrality’.
20.5.21: As part of a social media campaign by UNWTO, Christopher Mahoune, a senior warden on Cousin Island, shares his personal story on his involvement with tourism in order to boost Africa’s potential as a vibrant and diverse tourist destination.
20.5.21: Seychelles Breweries launches its newest product on the market – EKU Bavaria in a can.
20.5.21: Seychelles’ reputed swimmer and Indian Ocean and African Champion 2019, Felicity Passon, hands over R684,391.98 raised through her ‘Mind over Matter’ challenge for a mental health project.
Passon’s ‘Mind over Matter’ challenge project consists of extending psychosocial support to the general public through the establishment of a telephone and e-counselling service by certified professionals.
20.5.21: The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Trade hosts a meeting with a delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development.
The meeting is the first which the delegation from the Saudi Development Fund is having with the new government.
Discussions center on how the Fund can provide assistance to Seychelles, especially in the area of infrastructure development.
21.5.21: President Wavel Ramkalawan addresses participants during an online conference organised jointly by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Anglican Centre in Rome.
The conference under the theme ‘Building Solidarity, Defending Justice: Challenges and Opportunities for Insular Peoples’ focuses on the plight of island peoples in the face of climate change and other dangers.
21.5.21: Madanm Merancia Esther, en zabitan Grand Anse Praslin ki fek selebre son lanniverser 100-an le 11 Avril sa lannen, i mor apre ki i ti tonb malad pli boner.
24.5.21: The police announce that drugs that the authorities retrieved after they had been thrown overboard a vessel caught in the country’s exclusive economic zone on May 23, have been estimated to be worth SCR20 million.
25.5.21: Jany Therese Letourdi is the newest member of the seventh National Assembly after being sworn in as the new proportionately elected member for the Lalyans Demokratik Seselwa (LDS). She replaces Clive Roucou.
27.5.21: Fisherman and surf instructor, 38-year-old Jean-Marc Hoareau, who is famously known as the unofficial lifeguard of Anse Gaulette, Baie Lazare is recognised for his acts of heroism by the Red Cross Society of Seychelles.
He receives an ‘I Saved A Life’ t-shirt and a First Aid kit after news came out of how he saved a Russian tourist from drowning a few days before.
28.5.21: Government re-activates its part rental policy providing temporary financial assistance to individuals and families with a housing application and who are living in a rented private house due to social discomfort.
28.5.21: Following several years of revisions to the dietary guidelines, the Ministry of Health’s nutrition unit officially releases Seychelles’ newly revised food-based dietary guidelines during a special virtual ceremony via Zoom.
The document, which replaces the 2007 dietary guidelines, is aimed at educating the population on ways they can improve their daily eating habits and their health.
28.5.21: Former President Danny Faure, who is also the African Union Champion on the Blue Economy, is one of the global leaders who sign the Ocean Super Year Declaration, calling for ocean health to be fast-tracked at all environmental summits and urgent action taken to protect the health of the ocean in a crucial year.
30.5.21: The cabinet of ministers is briefed on the progress of the reforms to the social protection system that is currently underway and backed by the World Bank.
31.5.21: Credit Rating Agency Fitch affirms the Seychelles’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency (LTFC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B’ with a Stable Outlook, maintaining the same rating Seychelles received at the end of 2020.
• Nel Gonthier soft launches KWIM (acronym for ‘Know What I Mean’). KWIM is an independent platform that identifies different languages by detecting words, phrases and intonations, but the users always receive the messages in the default language they choose upon signing up.
- Lalyans Seselwa is no longer a registered political party under the Political Parties Act. A notice published by the Electoral Commission states that the commission has cancelled the registration of Lalyans Seselwa as a political party and has appointed a liquidator “which shall vests the assets of the party”.
Lalyans Seselwa was headed by Patrick Pillay.
June
1.6.21: An agreement is signed which officially establishes Seychelles’ Institute for Early Childhood Development (IECD) as a category 2 centre under the auspices of Unesco.
The geographical scope of Unesco’s Category 2 Institute means that IECD has acceded to a global recognition as a leader in this field.
1.6.21: After two years of hard work and sacrifices, Gilbert and Fadette Vital officially open the first day care centre in Perseverance, Small Treasure Day Care.
1.6.21: ‘Fer zanfan kado en sanson’ i en nouvo kanpanny lanse par Minister Ledikasyon pour ankouraz bann santer lokal pour konpoz bann sanson dedye a bann zanfan e ki koensid avek Lafet Zanfan.
1.6.21: In honour of Children's Day, the Ministry of Education launches its official Terms and Condition contractual obligation which outlines the roles and responsibilities of parents, students, teachers and school managements, and holds them each accountable.
1.6.21: To mark Children’s Day, Chinese ambassador Guo Wei donates a sum of US $6,000 and a variety of gifts including toys, stationery, medical supplies, 3D fun books, school bags, musical instruments, footballs, basketballs to the children of Seychelles.
1.6.21: Seychelles and Angola sign two agreements - the General Cooperation Agreement and the Agreement on the Creation of a Bilateral Commission.
The agreements are aimed at reinforcing relations between the two countries.
3.6.21: Registered entities that are in arrears with their tax payments to the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) are being granted a six-month grace period as from July 1, 2021, to settle the amount owed and benefit from a waiver on accrued interests.
6.6.21: Two counsellors – Sister Alice Vivien of St Joseph of Cluny and Beryl Dodin – team up to help mourners deal with grief.
They will counsel and advise people so that they can better accept the sudden loss of their loved ones and learn to grieve properly and let go the one they have lost and continue with their lives.
7.6.21: The Fregate Island Sanctuary hands over a donation of foodstuff, fruits and vegetables towards the ‘Feed a Child Project’, a collaborative initiative between ‘Make a Child Smile’ and the Red Cross Society of Seychelles.
8.6.21: The former President of the Republic of Seychelles, Danny Faure, officially launches the Danny Faure Foundation. The non-profit and non-political organisation aims to promote ocean governance, the blue economy as the next frontier of sustainable development, good governance, accountability and transparency for sustainable development in Africa, effective leadership and gender equality in a new generation of leaders in Africa and to educate and encourage the youth to adopt positive lifestyles in shaping the country to its highest level of development – in the areas of education, health and environmental protection.
9.6.21: Eighty-three Mauritian workers arrive in the country to work for Constance Ephelia on Mahé and Constance Lemuria on Praslin as taskforce for a period of two months.
10.6.21: First-year University of Seychelles student Maryssa Samedi receives her R10,000 award for being the winner of the 2021 S4S Colleen Morel Scholarship Award, sponsored by H Savy Insurance.
The award recognises exemplary environmental students.
10.6.21: The Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) unveils four values that it will focus on for the remaining of this year – Love, Appreciation, Cooperation and Responsibility.
11.6.21: The UK government donates 100 laptops to the government of Seychelles to assist with its ongoing post-Covid-19 recovery efforts, with a number of other UK-funded initiatives launching in the coming months.
11.6.21: The Les Mamelles health centre receives a donation of equipment and supplies sponsored by businesses in the areas of Cascade and Providence which are in the surroundings of the centre.
The equipment and supplies consist of detergents, paints, cleaning materials, fans, dustbins, sanitizer dispensers, air-condition units among others.
14.6.21: To mark World Blood Donor Day, the Red Cross Society of Seychelles recognises four volunteers who donate blood regularly.
They are Harry Dingwall, Jednick Francourt, Dylan Bastienne and Julionio Nourrice.
14.6.21: Shawn Julie is convicted on his own guilty pleas to 37 counts of human trafficking and will serve a total of 14 years behind bars.
Of the many charges against him, Julie is found guilty of recruiting, harbouring, transferring and receiv