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.

Desann Pou Lendepandans

Le 29 Zen i en zour ki senboliz nou lidantite e nou linite koman en nasyon. Malgre diversite nou ras, relizyon, klas ekonomik e afliasyon politik, nou annan lafyerte ki nou viv dan lape e respe pou lalwa. Nou annan nou diferans, me nou viv koman frer pour byennet nou nasyon. Tan ki nou kapab devlop e protez nou demokrasi, nou pour grandi e akonplir bokou koman en nasyon. Alor pou sa lokazyon nou merit re-afirm nou langazman pour eksprim bann dezir e laspirasyon ki pep Seselwa ti eksprimen zour kreasyon nou nasyon 33an pase. Pou sa lokazyon mon zwenn lapel Dirizan Lopozisyon, pou ki tou Seselwa i kontinnyen travay pour fer nou demokrasi marse, sirtou anseki konsern nou bann lenstitisyon demokratik. Sa i tre enportan pour nou pei annan plis laverite, lazistis, latransparans, proteksyon drwa tou nou sitwayen e loportinite egal pour nou tou.


Les Dimoun Koze - Alketa rocking the crowd, accompanied by Jose Charles and David Andre.


Keven Rath, was present to sing his ever popular number, Orevwar Union Jack.


Seychelloise' going green.


The occasion was indeed a joyful one for everyone.


There were plenty of stalls for everyone's choice.

Welcome Home Brothers

The Seychelles National Party has sent a heartfelt welcome home message to the seven former hostages who return to Seychelles yesterday when they return home after being held hostage by Somali pirates for almost three months.

In a press communiqué, the party said the whole nation recognises the courage it has taken to endure the ordeal and has waited for the day they would set foot in safety on Seychelles’ soil.

SNP said it is united with the rest of the nation in expressing its support and solidarity with the families of all those who have been hostages and those who still are.



It also praised the successful efforts of all of those who have worked to achieve the return of the hostages and the support of the Seychellois people for their endeavours.

The SNP said it prayed that intensive efforts will continue to secure the release of the remaining hostages, that they will remain safe and that their families will receive our continued support.