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...
By Lewis Betsy  The scandal of what is happening with the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission is an outrageous insult to the people of Seychelles. In his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ramkalawan referred to the TRNUC, but he never offered anything serious or concrete concerning what would happen to the victims. I had previously warned that the Commission looked doomed to fail.  Yet it must not fail. The Government must not let the victims down. The truth is that the TRNUC has become a joke for the LDS Government. They are playing politics with it and applying a delaying tactics strategy with the victims.  The time has come to say enough is enough. My case number is No 2 and I am sure by now the Government must have had an idea where mine and all the many other cases were heading. It is not that difficult. We simply want justice and compensation for all the hurt we have suffered since 1977.  Naturally, we need answers to achieve closure.  In the meantime, we are forced to wait and trauma continues to impact families. Those that decided to stay in Seychelles have also suffered, but it was their choice not to bring their cases to the TRNUC.  It appears there is a blame culture going on: We are not children of Seychelles now because we brought our cases to the TRNUC. However, the suffering goes on for all.. For some victims it is too late. They have died with no answers forthcoming. So I ask: Where are the lists and names of the perpetrators? Why is the President keeping the lists from us? Is he protecting someone? Of the few perpetrators who came to the TRNUC, only five or six of them publicly said sorry for what they had done. And that was it. I note that many other known perpetrators are out and about in town, mixing freely with the public. It has become a sick joke and we, the victims, are suffering. The fact is I believe the TRNUC has become such a shambles that no one wants to deal with it. The LDS have the power they want and are cynically running the country without a care in the world. They have no sense of responsibility or duty. The LDS government is trying to wash its hands when it comes to paying the victims – though I see that they managed to find the money to pay all the Commissioners.  Yet who set up this scenario in the first place? It was Ramkalawan and former President Danny Faure. Timing is all, of course, and there are elections next year. We’ve got to watch it, or LDS might use the victims again to get another term in office. The more you think about the issue the more it makes you sick. How on Earth are we ever going to achieve unity in Seychelles when this situation persists?
11th March 2024
By Lewis BetsyThe scandal of what is happening with the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission is an outrageous insult to the people of Seychelles.In his State of the Nation Address (SONA... more...
Hope: Lewis Betsy meets President Danny Faure at State House on 16th March 2017 to discuss unity.
11th March 2024
By Lewis BetsyI write this with a great sense of loss and despair. For decades now I have campaigned for my beloved Seychelles to achieve unity.It is now March 2024 and there is nothing like it in sig... more...
1st March 2024
By Lewis BetsyWe heard optimistic words about the future of Seychelles from President Wavel Ramkalawan in his State of the Nation Address for 2024, but will these hopes be fulfilled?He talked about th... more...
Expert: Alain St.Ange addresses the audience at the African-Asian Union ceremony
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Seychelles tourism expert Alain St.Ange was part of the awards panel that declared Sharm El-Sheikh the Tourism Capital City 2024.The former Tourism Minister for Seychelles who now heads his own touris... more...
Devoted mother: Helen Azolan
31st January 2024
By Lewis BetsyIt was with great sadness that my wife and I said a final farewell to our dear friend Helen Azolan.Helen, a much-loved mother of four, died aged 64, and Seychellois families and friends ... more...
Dedication: Rosie Bistoquet (picture The National Assembly of Seychelles)
8th January 2024
By Lewis BetsyI would like to pay a personal tribute to the life and work of Rosie Bistoquet, a member of the Seychelles National Assembly, whose life has ended so tragically.Rosie Bistoquet, 62 and a... more...
Best wishes: Lewis Betsy, publisher of Seychelles Life
20th December 2023
By Lewis BetsySeychelles Life would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.It has been a terrible time for those hit by the floods and then the massive explosion in Mahe.My heart... more...

This year Seychelles can learn from 2020 and make things better for all

1st January 2021

By Lewis Betsy

 

As we enter a new year I want to wish everyone a safe and happy 2021. The last 12 months have seen some massive changes in all of our lives. I hope that we can learn from them to safeguard our future.

The Covid-19 pandemic has dominated everything. It has altered our everyday existence. 

In Seychelles, it has reduced tourism, our key source of revenue, to a minute portion of what it was. 

Things are picking up, particularly from the Middle East, but we watch with a wary eye as other countries suffer a variant of the virus and travel is shut down once more.

We are so fortunate in Seychelles that while we have had cases, there has been nothing on the scale of the major nations. Although sadly, there has now been one fatality – Vincent Pillay, a friend I knew from my football days.

We must do our best to avoid more tragedies. It is vital that we remain vigilant.

As 2020 ends, I note that we have experienced the first community transmission of the virus and that President Wavel Ramkalawan has swiftly ordered special, tighter measures to prevent a spike in cases. 

From my own experience of dealing with health officials when I was quarantined here after arriving from the UK, I know that we are in safe hands. 

Conditions will be tough, and may get tougher, but each and every Seychellois should be on guard to keep this virus from spreading.

I am thankful that our new government seems to be on the case and that is reassuring for many people expect great things of President Ramkalawan in other departments. 

His administration is in its early days and we should give officials time to find their feet, but I feel it only right that we give the Government due notice that Seychelles Life will be holding the new government to account.

We have had too much experience of what bad politics can do. In 2021, we have the ideal opportunity to see what good, caring politicians can achieve.

After 40 years of tough, often criminally brutal government, many Seychellois are beginning to experience what life was like before the 1977 coup.

Today, the country is calm, people can talk freely, the old fears of a harsh and insensitive regime are slowly evaporating.

That is a good thing.

What is not so good is the legacy of the Rene years, all the wasted, shackled lives lost and damned by his government. I am confident that we will overcome this in due course, but there are challenges ahead.

Today, the drug problem is a harrowing one. I can appreciate the difficulties of having to deal with the 5,000 or so young male drug addicts on our islands. But we need to do more.

Seychelles is promoted abroad as a paradise. How ironic that some of the people living in this paradise feel they have to escape from reality through drug abuse. 

We need to stop the supply of these damaging drugs and equally importantly find and eliminate the root causes of drug abuse in our society.

One factor is the unforgivable poverty still prevalent in Seychelles. There is a sector of society that feels it has been cut off from the affluent easy-going lifestyle enjoyed by many of us.

The islanders trapped here feel they have no way of making things better and drugs are their answer.

This situation must change.

To quote the politicians, we are all in this together. We should not look the other way as the poor people of Seychelles are cast aside.

Steps must be taken to eradicate the social deprivation on the archipelago. 

President Ramkalawan promised many things in his election manifesto. Let us ensure that these promises are honoured.

As I write, I do not see much action yet. But as I say, let’s give him time. By March we should have a better idea of where we are heading.

For myself, 2020 was the year I returned to live in the land of my birth. Like many others I had been forced to flee and my return was long overdue.

One of my proudest moments was to cast a vote in the Seychelles elections and sense the joy and anticipation of the people as a new leader and party took power.

It was pure freedom… and such moments are priceless.

Now I am back I feel I want to make a greater contribution to our society.

My website, Seychelles Life, will be keeping an eye on what is going on in Seychelles and aims to keep everyone informed.

We intend to do interviews with key individuals in tourism, politics the economy and sport. 

Indeed, I see sport as a way of harnessing the energies of both young and old and giving direction and purpose to many lives. 

Sport, particularly football, has always been my passion. I see that as a force for good.

Seychelles Life pledges its support for good work in all areas of society and public life. We will be relentless in criticising practices we see as inefficient and bad.

However, we can’t do it alone.

I believe that we need to continue supporting each other for the betterment of Seychelles.

To do that, we need everyone in the country to join forces to promote our beautiful country.

Togetherness is the best way forward and we must work at building on unity and sharing our aims. With everyone working together and acting as one we will achieve our goals.

We can make 2021 special. Let’s do it.

On that note, I wish a happy and prosperous New Year to everyone.

Back home: Lewis Betsy is once more enjoying the beauty of Seychelles
Back home: Lewis Betsy is once more enjoying the beauty of Seychelles

Latest News

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...
The TRNUC is a complete shambles… it is an outrage that Ramkalawan must fix
11th March 2024
By Lewis Betsy  The scandal of what is happening with the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission is an outrageous insult to the people of Seychelles. In his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ramkalawan referred to the TRNUC, but he never offered anything serious or concrete concerning what would happen to the victims. I had previously warned that the Commission looked doomed to fail.  Yet it must not fail. The Government must not let the victims down. The truth is that the TRNUC has become a joke for the LDS Government. They are playing politics with it and applying a delaying tactics strategy with the victims.  The time has come to say enough is enough. My case number is No 2 and I am sure by now the Government must have had an idea where mine and all the many other cases were heading. It is not that difficult. We simply want justice and compensation for all the hurt we have suffered since 1977.  Naturally, we need answers to achieve closure.  In the meantime, we are forced to wait and trauma continues to impact families. Those that decided to stay in Seychelles have also suffered, but it was their choice not to bring their cases to the TRNUC.  It appears there is a blame culture going on: We are not children of Seychelles now because we brought our cases to the TRNUC. However, the suffering goes on for all.. For some victims it is too late. They have died with no answers forthcoming. So I ask: Where are the lists and names of the perpetrators? Why is the President keeping the lists from us? Is he protecting someone? Of the few perpetrators who came to the TRNUC, only five or six of them publicly said sorry for what they had done. And that was it. I note that many other known perpetrators are out and about in town, mixing freely with the public. It has become a sick joke and we, the victims, are suffering. The fact is I believe the TRNUC has become such a shambles that no one wants to deal with it. The LDS have the power they want and are cynically running the country without a care in the world. They have no sense of responsibility or duty. The LDS government is trying to wash its hands when it comes to paying the victims – though I see that they managed to find the money to pay all the Commissioners.  Yet who set up this scenario in the first place? It was Ramkalawan and former President Danny Faure. Timing is all, of course, and there are elections next year. We’ve got to watch it, or LDS might use the victims again to get another term in office. The more you think about the issue the more it makes you sick. How on Earth are we ever going to achieve unity in Seychelles when this situation persists?
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