SEYCHELLES REALITY

Radovan Krejcir Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir can expect a tax bill of around R100 million after an SA Revenue Service (Sars) inquiry found he was part of a money-broking network that included some of the country’s most notorious mobsters. Krejcir, who survived a bizarre “assassination” ­attempt this week, was the ­focus of a three-year Sars investigation and a confidential secret tax inquiry into his wealth. Sars has, according to sources, valued Krejcir’s wealth in South Africa at around R130 million and he is now waiting for his tax bill, which will be close to ­R100 million, including interest and penalties. City Press understands Krecjir has pleaded poverty, claiming his wife supported him financially. No assets have been registered in his name. But Sars discovered the existence of Groep Twee Beleggings, a ­company registered in the name of his wife Katerina Krejcirova. Groep Twee Beleggings was established in April 2006 when Krej...

It’s rather touching, the faith that we put in our regional body – even if it is misplaced. In all the furore over Robert Mugabe’s comments about that “idiotic street woman” Lindiwe Zulu, and her subsequent scolding from Jacob Zuma, there has been plenty of debate about the role of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and whether indulging Mugabe’s narcissism is really the best way to guarantee free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. There has been rather less debate about whether that’s what SADC really wants to achieve. Robert Mugabe, The Dictator The evidence does not necessarily support this conclusion. SADC, remember, is a representative body, except it doesn’t represent the likes of you and me. It represents governments, specifically those of its 15 member states (14, if you take into acount Madagascar’s suspension) – and those governments aren’t exactly the most progressive or enlightened around. In fact, with a couple of notable exceptions, the re...

Radovan Krejcir, a Czech fugitive living in Johannesburg, was the target of bullets sprayed from a parked car on Wednesday. The car used for the attack later exploded. 11.30am, Wednesday 24 July – a matte black Mercedes Benz coupé, its windows dark with bulletproof tinting, slides into a car park in Bedfordview, south of Johannesburg, stopping in its regular spot. A broad-shouldered man with thinning hair emerges from the driver’s door. Talking on his phone, he saunters towards the front entrance of his offices, a gold and diamond exchange. He hears a bang, followed by a series of pops “like firecrackers”, he later says. It is only when he notices his car is riddled with bullet holes that he realises an attempt has been made on his life. As he runs for cover, a nearby car explodes into flames. When police examined the charred chassis of the red Volkswagen Polo, what seemed like the plot from a James Bond film became even more astonishing. Hidden behind the...

Thomas L Friedman Yesterday's news from Seychelles is unbelievable, and it raises questions about whether there might just be light at the end of the tunnel. What's important, however, is that we focus on what this means on the street. The media seems too caught up in worrying about their own skins to pay attention to how their people are doing. Just call it missing the battle for the bullets. When thinking about the recent problems, it's important to remember three things: One, people don't behave like car salesmen, so attempts to treat them as such are a waste of time. Car salesmen never suddenly set up a black market for Western DVDs. Two, Seychelles has spent decades as a dictatorship closed to the world, so a mindset of peace and stability will seem foreign and strange. And three, hope is an extraordinarily powerful idea: If corruption is Seychelles's ironing board, then hope is certainly its alarm clock. When I was in Seychelles last June...

General Managers Hotel Establishments Mr St Angel I am writing to attach a translated copy of the statement I made in the Seychelles  National Assembly on Tuesday 23 rd July 2013 regarding clients right of entry in public bars, restaurants and other public facilities in hotels. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture had received reports that Seychellois clients were being denied entry in bars and other public facilities in hotels currently holding a public license. The Ministry remains very concerned with this development and hopes that this does not develop into a common practice by any hotel in the country. The law clearly states that Hotels holding a public license should not restrict access to any clients, including Seychellois, to public bars and other public facilities. This of course comes with certain hotel conditions that clients must abide by. Discrimination against Seychellois should not be a policy in any hotel, and it w...

Dubai: The Oetker Collection, a luxury hotel group, signed a management contract on Tuesday with the owners of the Fregate Island Private hotel in Seychelles to promote the property as of July 2013. The luxury retreat in Seychelles, owned by a consortium of German investors, will be the eighth addition to Oetker Collection’s hotels, which include getaways in France, Germany, and Morocco. The UAE is the fifth-largest provider of tourists to the Seychelles islands, where tourism accounts for more than 60 per cent of the annual GDP. Over 12,800 visitors travelled to the Seychelles in 2012 from the UAE, according to the Seychelles National Statistics Bureau. “More than 6 per cent of the visitors to the Seychelles are from the UAE. Interestingly, this figure has increased by 150 per cent in the last three years,” said Alain Briere, vice president sales and marketing of the Oetker Collection. “The target for 2013 was to reach more than 22,...

Vice President Danny Faure has represented President James Michel at the Special Summit of the African Union on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria held on 15-16th July 2013 in Abuja, the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The establishment of an African Centre for Disease Control (African CDC) was one of the recommendations of the declaration which was given unanimous endorsement; as it was felt that such a Center would go a long way to reduce Africa's over-dependence of services outside the continent and improve the timeliness of interventions. The Vice President welcomed the commitments made and joined the call for the replenishment of the Global fund. The Vice President was also accompanied Dr Jude Gedeon, the Public Health Commissioner and Mr. Joseph Nourrice, Seychelles Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and the UNECA. State Councilor Yang Jiechi Meets with Foreign Minister Jean-Paul Adam of Seychelles On July 22,...

"I have dealt with a number of world leaders for decades, but did not meet one like the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He was humble and philanthropist", His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, told media gathering in Dubai. He added that "When we talk about Sheikh Zayed, we need more evenings. The best thing could be said about Sheikh Zayed is that he was the humanitarian leader", noting that "President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his brothers and all of us follow his footsteps to further develop our country and achieve prosperity for our people." The Vice President referred to the importance of commemorating and celebrating what the UAE founding father Sheikh Zayed liked most - the humanitarian work, on Emirates Humanitarian Work Day. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was speaking to a number of media-persons and officials aft...

Senior officials from China and Seychelles pledged to further develop bilateral ties while meeting on Monday. State Councilor Yang Jiechi said during his meeting with Seychellois Foreign Minister Jean-Paul Adam that China and Seychelles have maintained sound development in bilateral relations. Yang voiced his hope that China is ready to work with Seychelles to further develop bilateral relations and make greater contributions toward peace, stability and cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held talks with Adam on Monday. Wang said bilateral cooperation has seen fruitful achievements in the areas of politics, economics and trade, health, military affairs, culture, sports and tourism. He said China attaches great importance to developing relations with Seychelles and is willing to further advance their ties. Adam thanked China for its assistance for his country's economic and social development. He said Seychelles wi...

A COMMISSION of inquiry into the financial affairs of troubled property company Pinnacle Point Group has found that some actions taken by directors may constitute "reckless trading". Under the Companies Act directors could be held personally liable for the debts of the company if a company’s business is carried out recklessly or with "intent to defraud" creditors. Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs (ENS), the law firm which represented the liquidators of Pinnacle Point in the inquiry, said on Sunday there were discussions with creditors to issue summons against those who may be deemed liable. ENS director of insolvency, Leonard Katz, said the claims could be in excess of R60m. Mr Belmont raising his glass for the project with Marie May Kolsh in the background   Parties who lost money following the demise of Pinnacle Point Group in 2011 include banks, shareholders and workers aligned to the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union whose pensi...

  WHL managing director Steve Noske. Picture UPDATE 3pm: Shares in WHL Energy fell sharply after the company announced a $60 million farm-in agreement with an undisclosed oil and gas major over its Seychelles project had fallen through. "The potential farminee has notified the company that it is withdrawing from any further negotiations at this time as it has been unable to formalise its board approval," WHL announced in a statement. "The potential farminee had noted that timing issues on the proposed Seychelles farm-in work commitments needed to compete with its large portfolio of global developments for funding at this time." WHL managing director Steve Noske said while the decision was disappointing, the potential farminee proposal had supported the company's internal valuation and view regarding the prospectivity of the project. "The proposed farm-in transaction had also provided independent third party verification on the body of ...

The situation in Seychelles is getting worse and worse each day under PL. The status quo is giving cause for great concern of the average Seychellois is now facing unprecedented difficulties in daily life, which they are not a custom to. Stifling Freedom of Expression by Seychelles Police The PL refusal to deal honestly with the People, to fool them with lies when challenges abound, the practice of cutting corners on hard decisions, the living of lavish lifestyles on high end political pensions, is taking its toll on the Nation as it comes down to crunch time slated to last out at least, over the next Ten (10) years. In such times, honesty is the best policy.   Foreign workers have not been paid for months . St. Ange Says 15% Tourist Increase- A Lie! Most recently, Minister Alain St. Ange has announced a 15% increase on Tourism Arrivals for the first Six (6) months. It is a lie. On arrival at the Seychelles International Airport or the Seychelles Po...