SEYCHELLES REALITY

  Huge, industrial fishing vessels operate in the Seychelles national waters yearly, looking for a fish known as “ blue gold ”: tuna. The most sought-after tuna is the  yellow fin tuna , but fishers also catch big-eye tuna, skipjack tuna, and swordfish – all of which turn a healthy profit in the international market. Undeniably, the fishing industry fortifies the Seychelles’ economy. In 2019, the small East African archipelago nation exported about 6,600 metric tons of fish and crustaceans, which brought  more than $13 million  into the country, according to a  local news report . Fisheries is the second most important sector after tourism in the Seychelles, contributing to 20% of the GDP and employing 17% of the population, according to the  World Bank . Yet conservationists have long been sounding the alarm that fish stocks, particularly yellow fin tuna (Thunnus albacares), are over harvested. To address over fishing, the Seychelles decided in 2017 to join the Fisheries Transparency

 ONE of the most prominent lawyers in Seychelles, who is also the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly Attorney Bernard Georges is involved in an international scandal that is seriously destroying the reputation of Seychelles. This matter is being investigated by the FBI and a British Lawyer based in the USA, who has already filed several petitions in the courts against the alleged perpetrators on behalf of those who have been defrauded of their investment. Dr. Jonathan Levy has contacted the local authorities in Seychelles to try and establish the extent of our involvement and to get to the bottom of this matter. So far the law enforcement agencies in Seychelles have refused to look into this matter which has the potential to cause serious damage to our reputation and the economy. Dr. Jonathan Levy has also contacted Bernard Georges personally by letter through email to ask for his assistance and his version of the saga and to explain his stamp and

  The greatest threat to democracy is a government that fails to protect its citizen’s freedom and liberty as aggressively as it pursues justice. As the legal case against the group that has come to be known as the  “Seychelles 9”  proceeds, more questions appear to be presenting themselves than answers. As a reminder, the case involves nine Seychellois  arrested  between November of last year and January of this year on a mix of charges  reported  to be trumped up. The targets of Wavel Ramkalawan’s government crackdown are all known to have been associated with the government of former President Rene. This has included former ministers, military officers, senior advisors as well as family members of the island’s former President.  People following the intricacies of the case are already familiar with the range of problematic issues which have been apparent. These have included  violations  of the defendants’ human rights, withholding legal representation and the government doing every

  Justice Mathilda Twomey of Seychelles was considered one of the greatest legal minds the Seychelles had ever known,  appointed  to the position of Chief Justice in August of 2015 based on the unanimous recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority. She had previously served as non-resident judge of the Court of Appeal where she began in March 2011 as the first female judge in the country’s history. Mrs Twomey also had an impressive legal career prior, including both in the private sector as well as in  academia . Her commitment to justice and human rights led to her being the first the first Seychellois, and only one of fifteen people globally, to be  awarded  the prestigious Franco-German Human Rights Prize. It was her commitment to human rights that would ultimately prove to be her greatest challenge.  Upon accepting her position as Chief Justice, Mrs Twomey made her acceptance contingent on a limited 5-year term. This was the case, in her  words , “because I believe

  In recent months, the Seychelles government has sent shockwaves through the country as it has arrested several high-profile figures, including a former first lady and numerous ex-generals. Between November 2021 and January 2022, authorities detained nine individuals on suspicion of embezzling   $50 million   in aid donated by the UAE in 2002. The arrests were authorised by President Wavel Ramkalawan, who came to power in the  October 2020 elections  promising to clamp down on corruption. He says he wants to punish graft and return the missing $50 million. His critics, however, claim that the charges are politically motivated and that the president is  exploiting the graft case  to go after his opponents. Who was arrested? Nine prominent individuals – sometimes referred to as the “Seychelles 9” – have been  arrested . They were all associated with the government of the late France-Albert René, who was president from 1977 to 2004. They are: Sarah Zarqhani René, the former first lady. L