| Singh wins second Dr Murthy-sponsored tournament Amanpreet Singh is the grand winner of the second 18-hole golf competition sponsored by Dr Murthy’s Medical and Gastro Clinic.  Patrick Asba hit the longest drive and Pascal Esparon was nearest to pin. During the prize presentation ceremony, club captain Zia Rizvi expressed his thanks to Dr Murthy for his continued support. |
| New move readies Seychellois to better handle investments - 28.03.2012 A group of local people are being prepared to better deal with treaties and disputes in view of the more vibrant investment climate in the country.  PS Fanny (second left, photo above) addressing the delegates at yesterday’s launch of the three-day workshop  Organised by the Seychelles Investment Board (SIB) in collaboration with the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD), the training is being led by consultants Nathalie Bernasconi and Mahnaz Malik, who have ran similar workshops elsewhere in the region. Present at the launch yesterday morning was principal secretary for finance, trade and investment Steve Fanny, several chief executives and member of the National Assembly Hubert Hoareau. The SIB’s chief executive Sherin Renaud said the training comes at an opportune time, when the government is putting more and more emphasis in ensuring the business environment and climate is one which is conducive for investment. “It also furthermore aligns with the long-term strategic vision of our country, which is to double our GDP,” she said. “Having a string of contracts is not only a win-win situation for both parties in terms of economic gains but it is also healthy for the development of the country. When every party is fully aware of their obligations under a contract, this ensures that the development can be completed with minimum difficulties and also promotes the culture of accountability and commitment towards the investment being undertaken.” The SIB aims to at the end of the workshop have those who took part be proficient and have better knowledge on issues relating to investment contracts and treaties. “It is my sincere hope that the information gathered at the end of the three days and skill gains are not shelved, but instead used to the maximum for the benefit of our country,” said Ms Renaud. The IISD monitors the negotiation of investment treaties worldwide and disputes arising from these. They also work with developing countries to develop their policies on investment treaties. PS Fanny said Seychelles has – over the past few years – signed bilateral investment promotion agreements with three countries in attempts to promote foreign investments and these agreements outline the scope, obligations, rights and privileges of both parties and make provisions for investment protection, fair and equitable treatments, expropriation of profits and many more. “Commitments made under an investment treaty or agreement are here to stay for the entire duration of the arrangement and it is important that those involved are well versed in treaty negotiations and that our treaties also reflect international norms,” he said. “At this stage in our economic development, Seychelles needs foreign investment and finding the right investors with Seychelles’ interest at heart is not always an easy task. We therefore have to be mindful of the long-term effects these investments may have, if not negotiated properly from the outset, which could mean legal implications, the augmentation of costs, socio-economic and environmental impacts on our limited resources,” he said. The training will come to an end tomorrow. |
| Districts team up to offer community fire awareness - 28.03.2012 Residents of the Beau Vallon and Bel Ombre now know a lot more about fire safety, how to be aware of the dangers but also how to effectively combat a fire. A workshop was held for them at the Berjaya Bay resort which started with lunch given by the hotel. Also present for the occasion was the Bel Ombre member of National Assembly Galen Bresson, acting district administrators for the two districts, general manager of the resort Ken Choo, head teachers and students. The workshop was initiated by the resort with input from the community development department and the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency. Special adviser to the minister on community development Dan Frichot thanked Mr Choo for his “excellent endeavour”. “Such pro-activeness and good intention towards ensuring a safe community is in line with the department’s vision and one of its priority areas of action aiming at creating opportunities for more engaged public/private partnership in community development, and we are deeply grateful to Mr Choo for the noble contribution in improving community welfare,” he said. “We need to remind ourselves that fires cost lives, they destroy property and drain resources. Investing in ‘fire-free’ communities is being engaged in building safer communities,” he said. Mr Frichot also called on other private organisations to follow the initiative and see how best they can contribute towards making their communities safer as well as joining their communities in finding solutions to local problems. Chief fire officer Andre Morel said many fires can been avoided, citing examples of how simple acts of negligence have cost people dearly. “Fires which are accidents can and do happen, but it is most sad when fires destroy property due to negligence especially since it costs a family and the government so much to replace and rebuild, and that’s why we place so much emphasis on awareness and prevention.” The residents looked at a fire engine outside and learned about its surprisingly many functions besides fire-fighting such as its ability to serve in rescue operations. Jones Madeleine – who was leading the workshop – showed them some of the equipment fire fighters use in the truck, such as fire extinguishers, hydraulic cutters, spreader, water pumps, breathing apparatus, chainsaws and chemical suits. The residents learned about the common causes of fire and hazards, classification of fire and best extinguishing media for fires. Other topics included negligence at home, fire safety equipment and their related products and instructions on how best to deal with a fire in the various situations one might encounter. The fire fighters showed them how to deal with fires, for example if a person was aflame. The residents got certificates at the end of the workshop. Mr Choo said other hotel groups have expressed interest in hosting similar workshops. |
| Hockey - 22.03.2012 Anse Boileau win curtain-raiser tournament The local hockey family will be celebrating 40 years of the sports here with a host of activities in August.  According to Seychelles Hockey Federation (SHF) chairman Sharo Valentin, four national teams are expected to take part in the tournament but are yet to confirm their involvement. Meanwhile, the SHF officially opened the 2012 hockey season with the annual Curtain-raiser tournament played on Sunday at the Astroturf pitch, Roche Caïman. Despite scoring the least number of goals – five – in three games and conceding just four, the Anse Boileau team captured the winners’ trophy after accumulating five points from a win and two draws. They beat Veterans 1-0 and played 2-2 draws against Plaisance and Beau Vallon. Beau Vallon and Plaisance finished with four points apiece and with an identical goal difference of +2. But the runners-up spot went to Beau Vallon who scored the highest number of goals – 10 – and conceded eight after beating Veterans 5-2, drawing 2-2 with Anse Boileau and losing 3-4 to Plaisance. Third were Plaisance with eight goals for and six against. They earned a 4-3 win against Beau Vallon, drew 2-2 against Anse Boileau and were edged 1-2 by Veterans, whose only win earned them three points. Speaking to Sports Nation, Mr Valentin said the SHF will be organising many local competitions including the national league for men and women this year. Other than Anse Boileau, Beau Vallon, Plaisance and Veterans, two other teams – Youth and Anse Etoile – are expected to take part in the league, while in the women’s category, only Bel Air and Au Cap have registered. G. G. |
| World Water Day - 22.03.2012 Value water, avoid wastage, urges PDM leader Seychellois are being urged to stop water wastage and value this precious source of life at all times.  The appeal comes from the leader of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), David Pierre – who is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly – in his message on the occasion of World Water Day today.Mr Pierre’s message reads: “Today is indeed a very special day; we cannot call it a celebration, but a day where we join the rest of the world to commemorate our source of life -- water. “World Water Day is a day for great reflection, and each and every one of us needs to give water the importance it deserves. Like everywhere else in the world, water resources are increasingly under strain. The population is growing rapidly and climate change is continuously affecting most of our water sources, and Seychelles is not an exception. “Since the theme for this year is ‘The world is thirsty because we are hungry’, it is therefore important for us to focus our attention on water’s relationship with food production and security since water is one of its most fundamental input factors. Parents as well as educators should continue to teach our children about the importance of water and how wastage can affect our water supply and food production; this will instill responsibility in our new generation and cultivate a new culture of protecting a valuable source of life. “Seychelles has met many challenges recently, it is time for us to create a system in which we can collect the abundant fresh water that we have and that are being wasted by its flow to the sea. We can also benefit from properly and effectively collecting the water we receive from rainfall. Even if it will be costly initially, in the long run it will benefit our small nation. Authority concerned should also make available water tanks to the population, particularly to housing estates where people can use them to collect rain water for use around the household. “I call upon all of you today, to stop water wastage and value this precious source of life at all times, for we all depend greatly on it for our social and economic development.” |
| New water system for La Misère - 22.03.2012 Two years after the water pollution incident at Upper La Misère, the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) has announced that a new water system is nearing completion and consumers will be able to connect to it within the next month or so.  PUC chief executive Philip Morin said this involves a new piping system, a new treatment plant, while the capacity of the water reservoir has doubled from 100 kilolitres to 200 kilolitres (200,000 litres). He said the works should be completed in a month’s time. When that is done, PUC will be advising the 350 households concerned that a new meter will be installed, giving a two-week delay to do so. Mr Morin said that will give the households time to change the pipes from the PUC mains to their houses, should they wish to do so. He added however that this is entirely up to the households and this will be done at their expense. Should the households opt to connect to the new meter, they will henceforth be billed for their water consumption. Last year, all households in the area received compensation of R250,000 each and one of the conditions attached was that part of the funds be used to foot any expenses incurred for changes or improvements to the household water system . PUC engineer Joel Valmont said all pipes, including those to the sedimentation tanks and filter as well as to the storage tanks, have been replaced by larger ones. Dr Payet said his visit was to be briefed on the new water system at La Misère as this is a community service. He said he was “very satisfied” that the new system is up to standard and residents can rest assured that they will be receiving a completely safe water supply very soon. He said even before the new system is activated the water supply at Upper La Misère had improved significantly from a health standpoint. He said the water is now cleared by the Ministry of Health as being safe for consumption. Dr Payet said a follow-up visit is planned in a month’s time to ensure that everything runs according to schedule and is up to expectations.  He said as MNA, he was responding to President James Michel’s call to remain “connected to the people”, adding he also believes it is the only way an MNA can remain attentive to the constituents’ concerns and aspirations. |
| Children enjoy new play area at Anse Aux Pins - 22.03.2012 Children of Anse Aux Pins district started to enjoy their new playground right after a team of motivated residents and sponsor gave it a new look recently.  The district’s representatives partnered with Eden Island Development Company for the renovation project. Eden Island’s chief executive Craig Heeger and staff joined the district’s central committee member Minister Peter Sinon, member of the National Assembly Dr Jhowla Manoo and the district administrator Sylvia Stravens as well as members of Nouvo Sesel Anse Aux Pins (Nou SA) group to give the playground a new look. Nou SA is a non-political and non-governmental organisation which will be officially launched soon. Miss Stravens said anyone who wants to make a difference in Anse Aux Pins is welcome to join Nou SA. She also spoke of other plans to set up a snack shop at the playground and to construct another playground in Cayole Estate.  Those coming to the playground are advised not to smoke and not to vandalise the place. There is a need to fence around and the district welcomes any other partners who wish to contribute towards other developments in Anse Aux Pins. M.B. |
 |  Local stars and fans remember Whitney Houston - 15.03.2012The International Conference Centre was packed during the weekend as local fans of late Whitney Houston enjoyed a two hour tribute show.      Monique Hermitte, the initiator of the tribute show said she wanted to do something positive out of the sad moment, when she learned of the star’s death. “My daughter and I decided to organise a show to raise awareness on drugs and alcohol,” she said. The artists were accompanied by the Zenith band during the two shows held on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Mrs Hermitte, who is also a great fan of Houston’s music, said the proceeds from the shows will be handed over to the Centre d’Acceuil de La Rosière. The centre is a non-governmental organisation that has joined the national fight against drug and substance abuse in the country. Mrs Hermitte thanked all those who have helped in any way with organising the shows. Antoinette Dodin, Angelique and Jahna were among the well-known local artists who paid tribute to the late legend. The accompanying photos (by our photographer Louis Toussaint) show some of the local starts in action during the Saturday night show. |
| | Natcof i mark lazournen drwa konsonmater - 15.03.2012 Foronm Nasyonal Konsonmater (Natcof) pe ozordi zwenn avek plis ki 220 lezot lorganizasyon konsonmater sorti dan plis ki 115 pei atraver lemonn pour konmemor lazournen drwa konsonmater. Tenm ki’n ganny swazir sa lannen i ‘Nou larzan, nou drwa: annou kanpanny pour en vre swa dan servis finansyel’. Sa tenm i met lenportans lo swa dan servis finansyel. Konsonmater atraver lemonn pe fer fas avek tro bokou move servis finansyel. Akoz i annan mank konpetisyon, i fer li difisil, si pa menm enposib, pour konsonmater fer en bon swa. Konsonmater i ganny difikilte pour konpran bann diferan prodwi finansyel akoz i annan mank lenformasyon e bann term ek kondisyon bann prodwi i tro konpleks. Lenformasyon servis finansyel pa dan konpreansyon konsonmater. Souvan konsonmater i ganny pri dan bann latrap. Natcof pe konmemor sa lazournen avek en latelye pour son manm avek tenm – ledikasyon finansyel. Pou annan en lartik dan zournal Nasyon ek en foronm lo radyo SBC. Tou dilon lannen Natcof pou fer bann kozri lo ledikasyon finansyel avek bi agrandi konnesans e talan konsonmater lo servis finansyel pour ed konsonmater kapab fer bon swa ler zot pe rod servis finansyel. Le 15 mars 1962 Prezidan John Kennedy ti adres kongre Ameriken lo son vizyon lo drwa konsonmater. Sa ti premye fwa ki en politisyen ti formelman adres en tel prensip. En pe letan apre, mouvman konsonmater ti devlop sa menm vizyon an 8 drwa debaz bann konsonmater ki’n enspir travay ki lorganizasyon konsonmater enternasyonal ek son manm i pe kontinyelman fer. Lazournen drwa konsonmater ti ganny selebre pour premye fwa le 15 mars 1983 kot in depi sa letan en lokazyon enportan pour mobiliz bann aksyon konsonmater. Isi Sesel sa lazournen in ganny konmemore depi 1995 kot Natcof in organiz bann aktivite an partenarya avek son bann partener ek son bann manm e piblik depandan tenm lazourne |
