Welcome Home, Kolo!

Wilson Pilate (affectionately known as Kolo, a friend of mine for over 20 years) talks to the press, as Captain Roucou - a former hostage - looks on.

Thirsty-six mariners who had been held hostages by Somalis pirates since October 2nd have been released.

On board the Spanish trawler, tuna boat Alakrana was the 38 years-old Seychellois seamen, Wilson Pilate. Other crew-members were 16 Spaniards, eight Indonesians as well as sailors from Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar and Senegal.

Pilate is the eleventh Seychellois seamen to be held by Somalis pirates since last year. Speaking to reporters after his release, Pilate vouched that the incident will not deter him from pursuing his career as a mariner.

“The situation we were in was dangerous. Every day when I woke up, I thought when am I going home? I’m happy it’s all over. God has answered our prayer. I thank everyone,” said Pilate.

The vessel was escorted into the safe harbor of Victoria, by two warships and was welcomed by family members and a large international press contingent.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Spanish authorities paid £2m ransom to pirates for release of 36 hostages.


The Spanish trawler, tuna boat Alakrana.

The Seychelles’ government, which was itself accused earlier this year of ransom payment, denied any knowledge of the transaction, claiming it is its policy not to give payoff.

All 36 crew were reported to be in good health after more than six weeks in captivity.

Call to rally opposition support

The Seychelles National Party is calling for the creation of a national movement of change, as a catalyst for winning the next election.

Speaking at the party’s convention last Sunday, the SNP Leader Wavel Ramkalawan said all Seychellois who aspires to see a change of government should rally around one movement of change.

The party’s convention this year was held under the theme ‘SNP: leading the way for Seychelles.’ While unveiling the theme, two youth representatives explained that SNP as the main opposition party has through its history inspired many modern ideas that ruling party has adopted. They gave the examples of the convertibility of the rupees, the setting up of the human rights commission, the declaration of assets and the public ethics commission.



As a sign of opening under to other opposition voices, for the first time in its history, SNP invited two guest speakers to address its convention. Mr Slyvestre Radegonde from the Foundation for Democracy in Seychelles traveled from London to talk about a new model of government. Whilst Christopher Gill, a former Democratic Party MNA spoke about a new economic model for Seychelles.

In his main address, Mr Ramkalawan called on all opposition supporters to rally their support to bring about the much needed change in the country. He said the time has come for all Seychellois including those leaving outside the country to come together to support the cause of the political change in the country.



The convention adopted eight resolutions, which included a call for the ruling party to remove all obstacles hindering the population’s participation in the country’s political life, for SBC to be objective and fair in its media coverage and to end the military police (MP)’s interference in the regular police work.

Meeting with politicians from around the world

With the President of Zanzibar, His excellency Amani Abeid Karume, who was elected in November 2000.


With Her Hon. Alix Boyd-Knights, MP, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Dominica.


With the Hon. Hubert Kim E. Swan, JP, MP, Opposition Leader Bermuda.


With His Hon. Michael A. Carrington, MP, Speaker of the Barbados Parliament.


With the Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner, the Parliamentary Secretary in the office of the Barbados Prime Minister of Barbados.


With Hon. Mir Muhammad Hassan Khan Talpur (Sindh Pakistan), Hon. Ross Bohlin (Norther Territory, Australia), Hon. Mohamed Al-Habsi (Pakistan), Hon. Tim Crookall (Isle of Man) and the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly Sindh Pakistan.

Seychelles at the 55th CPA Conference

The Seychelles delegation.

Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association who met in Arusha Tanzania from 28th September to 06th October agreed that member countries should put in place strong democratic institutions which can deliver to their people's expectations.

Over 800 parliamentarians gathered to discuss among other issues the threat posed by the emerging trend of coalition governments to parliamentary democracy, the policy responses to global financial crisis, combating terrorism, shaping the information society and engaging youth in representative democracy.

Organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) the conference was aimed at discussing the organization’s abilities in meeting future global challenges.
Seychelles was represented at the 55th CPA general Assembly by a delegation of 3 members, including the Deputy Speaker, Wilby Lucas, myself as an SNP member and the Clerk, Ms Veronique Bresson.

The workshops we attended were of pertinent issues interest to Seychelles particularly climate change and machinery of government in small states, where it was reiterated that government could benefit more if the chair of the Assembly’s finance committee is occupied by the Opposition.

I was particularly pleased to participate in the small branches conference, which regrouped member states with population of not more than 500,000 people. I hope that the recommendations arising from our two days discussion will bring about the desired changes the people living in all those vulnerable small states are hoping for.



The CPA annual conference is the biggest gathering of political leaders and it brings together more than 800 parliamentarians and senior parliamentary officials from about 175 national, state, provincial and territorial Parliaments and legislatures.

Kenya will host the 56th conference in 2009

Freed At Last!

The return hostages facing tough and controversial questions.

The last three Seychellois men freed by Somali pirates returned home this afternoon.

Gilbert Victor, Conrad Andre and Robin Samson broke down in tears as they spoke about their ordeal and thanked all those who worked to secure their release.

Victor said: “It’s too much to reveal everything at this moment. Over there you speak to no one, but the barrel of a gun.”


Captain Roucou an ex-somali pirates captive was present to welcome home the three freed hostages.

The three men said they were seized by Somali pirates in February inside the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and claimed they were not the primary target as the pirates were on the lookout for a bigger prize inside the archipelago’s waters.

Facing tough questions from the local press, the three sailors denied accusations of carrying out illegal activities outside the country’s EEZ. They revealed that Samson was not originally onboard the captured yacht Serenity, but that he was transferred from another boat, Virgo by the pirates.

Throughout the press conference the men refused to divulge too much information, saying they want to speak to the authority first and disclosing too much publicly could put them and their families in harm’s way.

All were released after days of finger pointing in the international press between the Seychellois, Kenyan and Somalia’s Puntland authorises, about the transportation of Somali pirates clandestinely and exchanging them for the return of the hostages.

They touched down at the Seychelles International airport on Sunday after flying from the capital of Kenya, Nairobi.

SNP Women's Convention 2009

Now there’s a new buzz phrase in town - Fanm Seselwa: Lafors pour sanzman. And it evokes an immediate response in us... and one that’s very positive. As the Party prepares for a new challenging year, women are being called upon to take a more engaging role in local politics. With the ongoing economic reforms, women are at the forefront tackling various challenges our society is facing.

The aim of this year’s convention was to convince all Seychelloise of the truth in our communities and country, so that they will have the courage to overcome the various hardships being impose on their families. Apathy is still rampant in our society and the fear of victimisation by the ruling Parti Lepep, still frightens many in engaging in Opposition politics. SNP’s wish is that every woman will eventually realise that they can be a link in the chain of their friends and family hearing the buzz phrase. This is the party’s idea so we can do it!


SNP Women's Association's Executive Committee and a guest speaker.


Mrs Denis from English River, making her voice heard.


Women delegates from the English River district.

SNP welcomes ruling in MNA case

The SNP Is satisfied that it acted correctly and in accordance with the constitution in the manner in which I replaced Frank Elizabeth as a member of the National Assembly. The party believes that my appointment, to replace Mr Elizabeth as a proportionally elected member was valid and remains so.

The ruling of the Court of Appeal has not affected my standing as a member. The Court took note of the declaration of Mr Elizabeth that he was not seeking to be returned to the Assembly but only a decision as a matter of principle that a certificate should have been issued.

It should be noted that the Leader of the Opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan acted on the privilege accorded to his by the Constitution under article 81 (1) to remove Mr Elizabeth on the 30th October 2007.

However, the Court of Appeal’s ruling backed Mr Elizabeth argument that Speaker Herminie should have issued him with a certificate notifying him of SNP’s decision to have him replace, so that he could have challenged the decision in court.

The issue of a certificate of vacancy was previous thought to be required only in the case of a directly elected member, to primarily notify the Electoral Commissioner that a vacancy of seat had occurred and that a bye-election needed to be held.

The ruling I believe should help to guide the decisions on Assembly matters in the future, especially with regards to the Speaker’s obligation to treat all members equally.