Seychelles National Football team in 1970: Lewis Betsy is on the back row, fourth from right
2nd December 2024
By Lewis BetsySeychelles football is in a terrible state and it is time for a change.The election for a new committee of the Seychelles Football Federation is on the 7th December and I urge the repres... more...
Inspirational: Gerard Hoarau
22nd November 2024
By Lewis BetsyThe anniversary of the murder of my friend the freedom fighter Gerard Hoarau will fall on 29th November. It is said that time can heal a hurt, but after 39 years I still feel a terr... more...
Lewis Betsy at graveside
9th September 2024
By Lewis BetsyI hold very dear the memory of my close friend Gerard Hoarau, who was assassinated outside his London home in 1985.Gerard was a proud fighter for a democratic Seychelles and paid the ult... more...
Westminster Abbey National Day of Seychelles Evensong
3rd July 2024
A Special Mass (Evensong) was held at Westminster Abbey to commemorate the National Day of Seychelles.I was privileged to be among the guests from the Seychellois Diaspora who were invited.It was an e... more...
25th June 2024
By Lewis BetsyWe celebrate 48 years of Independence for Seychelles this year. And what a journey it has been.I remember the great pride we felt as the British Union Flag was lowered on 29th June 1976 ... more...
Global broadcast: Regis Francourt
27th March 2024
By Lewis BetsyIt was good to have a meeting of the TRNUC Victims’ Association broadcast globally online and hear what was said. Indeed, I hope President Ramkalawan took note.Association official... more...
Musical welcome: A Maore cultural group
25th March 2024
Former Seychelles tourism minister Alain St.Ange has been promoting the merits of the Vanilla Islands.Now an independent tourism consultant, he was speaking in Mayotte, which he visited during a lectu... more...
Much missed: Elvis Dias in younger days
14th March 2024
By Lewis BetsyThis is such a sad time as I have lost another dear friend, Elvis Dias.He died four days after his 66th birthday and with family and friends, I attended his funeral at Our Lady of the Vi... more...

It's an honour, says first woman to take up role as opposition leader

7th June 2016

Proud: Francesca Monnaie
Proud: Francesca Monnaie

The first woman to be made leader of the opposition in the National Assembley said: “I feel honoured and proud.”

Francesca Monnaie replaces David Pierre who resigned from parliament and as leader of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) which he had formed in 2011.

The PDM was the only opposition party to contest the September 2011 parliamentary polls against Parti Lepep after other parties boycotted the elections.

It failed to get any member directly elected but obtained one seat after winning a court challenge on the allocation of proportional seats.

The seat was allocated to PDM based on the party’s 3,828 vote which amounted to 10.89 per cent of votes cast.

Mr Pierre, a former deputy secretary-general of the Seychelles National Party, said he decided to step down following the results of December's Presidential elections in which he took just 400 votes or 0.66 per cent of the ballot against the five other candidates.

Ms Monnaie, 29, the PDM's secretary general, said: “PDM’s agenda is to work in a democratic manner. At the moment we are still discussing as an executive committee on how to move forward in the next election.”

Latest News

We need to change the Seychelles Football Federation committee… they are ruining the game for us
2nd December 2024
Seychelles National Football team in 1970: Lewis Betsy is on the back row, fourth from right
By Lewis BetsySeychelles football is in a terrible state and it is time for a change.The election… more...
We remember with pride the heroism and sacrifice of Gerard Hoarau
22nd November 2024
Inspirational: Gerard Hoarau
By Lewis BetsyThe anniversary of the murder of my friend the freedom fighter Gerard Hoarau will… more...
We pay our respects to the memory of my brave friend Gerard Hoarau
9th September 2024
Lewis Betsy at graveside
By Lewis BetsyI hold very dear the memory of my close friend Gerard Hoarau, who was assassinated… more...
National Day for Seychelles commemorated at Westminster Abbey
3rd July 2024
Westminster Abbey National Day of Seychelles Evensong
A Special Mass (Evensong) was held at Westminster Abbey to commemorate the National Day of Seychelles.I… more...
Independence Day is here… and now is the time we should achieve unity and save Seychelles
25th June 2024
By Lewis BetsyWe celebrate 48 years of Independence for Seychelles this year. And what a journey… more...
Coup victims have their plight broadcast online, but was President Ramkalawan listening?
27th March 2024
Global broadcast: Regis Francourt
By Lewis BetsyIt was good to have a meeting of the TRNUC Victims’ Association broadcast globally… more...
Cruise ships boost tourism in the Vanilla Islands
25th March 2024
Musical welcome: A Maore cultural group
Former Seychelles tourism minister Alain St.Ange has been promoting the merits of the Vanilla Islands.Now… more...
Farewell to my good friend Elvis Dias
14th March 2024
Much missed: Elvis Dias in younger days
By Lewis BetsyThis is such a sad time as I have lost another dear friend, Elvis Dias.He died four… more...
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