Seychelles an island paradise but many people live in poverty
VICTORIA, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Six of Seychelles’ most prominent citizens including the former First Lady are facing charges in a corruption scandal involving $50m of missing foreign aid.
The money was a gift to the tiny republic 20 years ago from the United Arab Emirates, intended to help the struggling islands overcome a foreign exchange shortage and pay for basics: rice, flour, cooking oil.
The donation never landed. Instead, according to the charge sheet at the Supreme Court, it was siphoned off by a close ally of former President Albert René, laundered with help from others through a murky privatisation of undervalued public assets, and dispersed to bank accounts around the globe.
The six accused have not officially commented on the charges.
The new government of President Wavel Ramkalawan, whose Linyon Demokratik Seselwa party won power in elections 14 months ago, pledged to stamp out corruption that for many had become synonymous with the 43-year regime of René’s party.
Ramkalawan, an Anglican priest, was part of the underground opposition at first. He spent 30 years literally beaten and bloodied yet unbowed by one-party state repression under René and his successor, James Michel. He finally swept aside the previous regime’s last and most liberal incarnation, led by Danny Faure in the October 2020 elections.
The Covid pandemic greeted Ramkalawan’s arrival in State House, rapidly ravaging the archipelago’s tourism-dependent economy.
But the startling arrests in the $50m corruption case of several high-profile people – including the late President René’s widow – played well with a captive, Covid-restive population.
The discovery of a vast cache of military weapons at the homes of two of the accused has only added to the scandal.
The priest president is now anticipating a bumper collection from the purged and penitent in his congregation, a cash bonanza for his country like none before.
It is assumed that some of the missing money is still in bank accounts and has been accruing interest over the past 20 years.
“We hope the 50 million by now will have produced hundreds of million and we are hoping to get everything back,” he says.
“This administration has zero tolerance for corruption and we will try to return every single cent back into government coffers because the money was for the people of Seychelles and this crime will not be forgiven.”
The task of finding the missing millions and those who purloined it falls to May de Silva, the country’s Anti-Corruption Commissioner.
“The decisions we are making are affecting people in senior positions. They’ve got very strong standing, they have [a] good network, not only in Seychelles but possibly overseas.”
She has 55 corruption cases to consider, including the missing $50m. But, with help from British and EU investigators, she is determined to clinch convictions and bring the cash home.
“If you put your money in the bank we will find it,” she insists, “and if you didn’t put your money in the bank you will have to explain where the money came from to buy your houses and cars. We have come very far in terms of digital information – there is access.”
In part, the mission is to reassure friendly foreign donors but also to mollify the EU, the IMF and World Bank – each with an interest in bringing financial regulatory compliance to a once-notoriously shady offshore tax haven.
“We also need to send a strong message to the African continent that we need to clean up our act,” Ramkalawan says.
“As small as we are, we are leading by example. Hopefully this will trickle down in other parts of Africa and the resources of our great continent will be put to good use,” he adds proudly. — NNN-AGENCIES
