Wavel Ramkalawan has won the presidential election in the Seychelles, the electoral commission announced Sunday.

This is being touted as the first opposition victory since the archipelago's independence from Britain 40 years ago.

Ramkalawan, an Anglican priest from the Seychelles Democratic Alliance, garnered 54.9 per cent of the vote against 43.5 percent for incumbent Danny Faure. He is now slated&nbsp;to become the fifth president of the Seychelles, the commission said.

Wavel Ramkalawan has won the presidential election in the Seychelles, the electoral commission announced Sunday. This is being touted as the first opposition victory since the archipelago's independence from Britain 40 years ago.

Wavel Ramkalawan has won the presidential election in the Seychelles, the electoral commission announced Sunday. This is being touted as the first opposition victory since the archipelago's independence from Britain 40 years ago. Ramkalawan, an Anglican priest from the Seychelles Democratic Alliance, garnered 54.9 per cent of the vote against 43.5 percent for incumbent Danny Faure. He is now slated to become the fifth president of the Seychelles, the commission said.

Opposition's Wavel Ramkalawan wins Seychelles presidential vote

Voters on the main islands of the Seychelles cast their ballot Saturday in presidential and parliamentary elections spanning three days, across an idyllic archipelago that has been economically hammered by the coronavirus.

Polling stations opened at 7:00am (0300 GMT) on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue -- home to the majority of the 74,600 voters on the Seychelles, with the rest living on further-flung territories of the Indian Ocean nation. 
Some voters on northern Mahe gathered as early as 4:30 am. Later, as the morning sun beat down, many held up umbrellas outside the Bel Ombre polling station at a school close to a white sandy beach.

Voting took place Thursday and Friday on a few dozen of these outer islands, mainly for employees of hotels or the island management authority, who attended pop-up polling stations with election materials carried by plane or boat. Some on the main islands deemed essential workers, such as hospital and nursing staff, also voted Thursday.

The opposition, narrowly defeated in a presidential election in 2015 and buoyed by a landmark victory in a parliamentary poll a year later, is hoping for its first presidential win in the 40 years since Seychelles independence from Britain.

It is up against the incumbent Danny Faure, 58, who is running under the recently renamed United Seychelles ruling party which has been in power since 1977.

"I believe I will win these elections," Faure said after casting the first vote at a polling station in Beau Vallon, Mahe. "And I will respect the will and choice of the Seychelles people."

He said he would travel to the other islands of Praslin and La Digue to encourage voters to turn out. 
The main opposition parties did not manage to unite and Faure -- who was not elected but took over after his predecessor James Michel resigned -- faces two challengers.

His main rival is the Anglican priest Wavel Ramkalawan, who is taking his sixth shot at the presidency and lost by only 193 votes to Michel in an unprecedented second round of voting in 2015.

He is the candidate of the Linyon Democratik Seselwa (Seychelles Democratic Alliance) opposition party, the majority party in parliament after winning 19 of 34 seats in the last election.

The other candidate is Alain St Ange, who was in the opposition before joining the government as tourism minister from 2012-16, but switched back and is now running under the flag of a new party, One Seychelles.

Tourism downturn

The campaign took place mainly over social media, with rallies banned due to the coronavirus. The Bel Ombre polling station was closed briefly so staff could disinfect areas voters had touched.

Seychelles has recorded only 149 cases, mostly imported, but the pandemic has been a burning campaign issue as restrictions on global travel bottom out the tourism industry -- a major earner for the Seychelles and employer for many of its 98,000 people.

Visitor numbers have collapsed since March in the archipelago nation of 115 islands, normally a popular destination for honeymooners and paradise-seekers drawn by its fine sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

The economy has slowed significantly since the start of the pandemic and unemployment has risen from 4.8 to 6.3 percent, according to government figures.

While average income is among the highest in Africa, the national statistics agency says about 40 percent of Seychellois live in poverty because of the high cost of living.

Voters on the main islands of the Seychelles cast their ballot Saturday in presidential and parliamentary elections spanning three days, across an idyllic archipelago that has been economically hammered by the coronavirus.

Voters on the main islands of the Seychelles cast their ballot Saturday in presidential and parliamentary elections spanning three days, across an idyllic archipelago that has been economically hammered by the coronavirus. Polling stations opened at 7:00am (0300 GMT) on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue -- home to the majority of the 74,600 voters on the Seychelles, with the rest living on further-flung territories of the Indian Ocean nation. Some voters on northern Mahe gathered as early as 4:30 am. Later, as the morning sun beat down, many held up umbrellas outside the Bel Ombre polling station at a school close to a white sandy beach. Voting took place Thursday and Friday on a few dozen of these outer islands, mainly for employees of hotels or the island management authority, who attended pop-up polling stations with election materials carried by plane or boat. Some on the main islands deemed essential workers, such as hospital and nursing staff, also voted Thursday. The opposition, narrowly defeated in a presidential election in 2015 and buoyed by a landmark victory in a parliamentary poll a year later, is hoping for its first presidential win in the 40 years since Seychelles independence from Britain. It is up against the incumbent Danny Faure, 58, who is running under the recently renamed United Seychelles ruling party which has been in power since 1977. "I believe I will win these elections," Faure said after casting the first vote at a polling station in Beau Vallon, Mahe. "And I will respect the will and choice of the Seychelles people." He said he would travel to the other islands of Praslin and La Digue to encourage voters to turn out. The main opposition parties did not manage to unite and Faure -- who was not elected but took over after his predecessor James Michel resigned -- faces two challengers. His main rival is the Anglican priest Wavel Ramkalawan, who is taking his sixth shot at the presidency and lost by only 193 votes to Michel in an unprecedented second round of voting in 2015. He is the candidate of the Linyon Democratik Seselwa (Seychelles Democratic Alliance) opposition party, the majority party in parliament after winning 19 of 34 seats in the last election. The other candidate is Alain St Ange, who was in the opposition before joining the government as tourism minister from 2012-16, but switched back and is now running under the flag of a new party, One Seychelles. Tourism downturn The campaign took place mainly over social media, with rallies banned due to the coronavirus. The Bel Ombre polling station was closed briefly so staff could disinfect areas voters had touched. Seychelles has recorded only 149 cases, mostly imported, but the pandemic has been a burning campaign issue as restrictions on global travel bottom out the tourism industry -- a major earner for the Seychelles and employer for many of its 98,000 people. Visitor numbers have collapsed since March in the archipelago nation of 115 islands, normally a popular destination for honeymooners and paradise-seekers drawn by its fine sandy beaches and turquoise waters. The economy has slowed significantly since the start of the pandemic and unemployment has risen from 4.8 to 6.3 percent, according to government figures. While average income is among the highest in Africa, the national statistics agency says about 40 percent of Seychellois live in poverty because of the high cost of living.

Seychelles votes for president, lawmakers in election

Watch Gravitas full segment and know what has been the most trending and important stories of the day. Watch this video to know more.

Watch: WION Gravitas, 15th April, 2019

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/seychelles-president-vp-grace-republic-day-event-at-indian-high-commission-193103&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwif49vBq9HhAhVF7XMBHRcVA2MQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0aB-f7tW7hE8e81dvuip93">Seychelles</a> President Danny Faure dived deep into the Indian Ocean Sunday to call for the protection of "the beating blue heart of our planet."

"This issue is bigger than all of us, and we cannot wait for the next generation to solve it. We are running out of excuses to not take action, and running out of time," a statement released by the president's office quoted him as saying.

Faure, who has made environmental protection a top priority, was taken down more than 120 metres (400 feet) in the submersible vehicle Ocean Zephyr which is being used for a mission dubbed "Nekton Deep Ocean Exploration" and which is rated for depths of more than 500 metres.

"I can see not only the incredible beauty of our ocean but the care that it urgently needs to stay this way. This is a historical moment for my country," the president said of the 115-island archipelago.

The Nekton mission is to spend seven weeks studying underwater life, mapping the sea bed and placing captors at depths of up to 2,000 metres in the nation's waters.

From next year, Seychelles plans to designate 30 per cent of its marine surface as a protected zone.

The nation is particularly vulnerable to the destruction of coral reefs that comprise many of its smallest atolls.&nbsp;

"The deep ocean is the beating heart of the planet, yet we have better maps of planet Mars than we do of the ocean floor. This needs to change," Faure noted.

Data collected by the Nekton mission, which is based in Oxford, England, is to be used during a summit of Indian Ocean nations in late 2021.

Seychelles President Danny Faure dived deep into the Indian Ocean Sunday to call for the protection of "the beating blue heart of our planet." "This issue is bigger than all of us, and we cannot wait for the next generation to solve it.

Seychelles President Danny Faure dived deep into the Indian Ocean Sunday to call for the protection of "the beating blue heart of our planet." "This issue is bigger than all of us, and we cannot wait for the next generation to solve it. We are running out of excuses to not take action, and running out of time," a statement released by the president's office quoted him as saying. Faure, who has made environmental protection a top priority, was taken down more than 120 metres (400 feet) in the submersible vehicle Ocean Zephyr which is being used for a mission dubbed "Nekton Deep Ocean Exploration" and which is rated for depths of more than 500 metres. "I can see not only the incredible beauty of our ocean but the care that it urgently needs to stay this way. This is a historical moment for my country," the president said of the 115-island archipelago. The Nekton mission is to spend seven weeks studying underwater life, mapping the sea bed and placing captors at depths of up to 2,000 metres in the nation's waters. From next year, Seychelles plans to designate 30 per cent of its marine surface as a protected zone. The nation is particularly vulnerable to the destruction of coral reefs that comprise many of its smallest atolls. "The deep ocean is the beating heart of the planet, yet we have better maps of planet Mars than we do of the ocean floor. This needs to change," Faure noted. Data collected by the Nekton mission, which is based in Oxford, England, is to be used during a summit of Indian Ocean nations in late 2021.

Seychelles chief calls from the deep for ocean protection

The President Of Tiny African Nation Seychelles Is Making Waves. He Has Appealed From The Ocean To Protect Exactly That, The World's Oceans. Watch this video to know more.

An underwater plea: Unique appeal from President of Seychelles

In a big honour, Seychelles President Danny Faure &amp; Vice president Vincent Meriton both were present at the Republic day reception at the Indian mission in the country's capital Victoria. Indian high commissioner Ausaf Sayeed received both of them.

The development comes even as India and Seychelles have been keen to increase bilateral ties.&nbsp;

President Danny Faure had visited India in June of 2018. During the visit, India handed over a Second Dornier Aircraft to President of Seychelles and announced credit line of US $ 100 million for Seychelles.

India is developing facilities on Assumption Island and it will be owned by Seychelles and jointly managed by both sides.

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In an interview to WION, Seychelles president had backed the plan. He said, " to have a facility on that island, it is important because of what is happening around in our waters".

The Indian Prime Minister during the visit of President of Seychelles in the press statement at Hyderabad house had said, "We agree to work together on the Assumption Island project keeping in mind each other’s interest in this regard."

Indian prime minister had visited the Indian ocean country in March of 2015. That was the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 34 years.&nbsp;

During the visit, the Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS) Project was inaugurated.

India is financing three civilian infrastructure projects in Seychelles. These are — Government House, new Police Headquarters and the Attorney General's Office.

In a big honour, Seychelles President Danny Faure & Vice president Vincent Meriton both were present at the Republic day reception at the Indian mission in the country's capital Victoria.

In a big honour, Seychelles President Danny Faure & Vice president Vincent Meriton both were present at the Republic day reception at the Indian mission in the country's capital Victoria. Indian high commissioner Ausaf Sayeed received both of them. The development comes even as India and Seychelles have been keen to increase bilateral ties. President Danny Faure had visited India in June of 2018. During the visit, India handed over a Second Dornier Aircraft to President of Seychelles and announced credit line of US $ 100 million for Seychelles. India is developing facilities on Assumption Island and it will be owned by Seychelles and jointly managed by both sides. × In an interview to WION, Seychelles president had backed the plan. He said, " to have a facility on that island, it is important because of what is happening around in our waters". The Indian Prime Minister during the visit of President of Seychelles in the press statement at Hyderabad house had said, "We agree to work together on the Assumption Island project keeping in mind each other’s interest in this regard." Indian prime minister had visited the Indian ocean country in March of 2015. That was the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 34 years. During the visit, the Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS) Project was inaugurated. India is financing three civilian infrastructure projects in Seychelles. These are — Government House, new Police Headquarters and the Attorney General's Office.

Seychelles: President, VP grace Republic Day event at Indian high commission

Seychelles President Danny Faure is coming on a state visit to India. Before the visit begins later this month, he speaks to WION's Amitabh Pashupati Revi as part of our Global Leadership Series on the history of ties between India and the island nation, the strategic position of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and how the ties between the two nations will move forward.

Here is the full transcript of the interview:

WION: Seychellois President Danny Faure was sworn in in October 2016. He also holds the Defence, Public Administration and Legal Affairs portfolios. He’s been a minister since 1998, oversaw IMF reforms, served as Vice President and is now warmly hosting us in Victoria, Mahe - at the state house in Seychelles.

President Faure: Thank you.

WION: The ties between India and Seychelles go way back to time when the immigrants had come in. So much has changed, but so much is still the same. In Indira Gandhi’s time, Rajiv Gandhi’s time two coups were probably foiled and now we are still moving forward. Prime Minister Modi and you will be meeting for the third time this year.

President Faure: Yes, and it’s a sign of the relationship that we have an excellent relationship - the ties between our two people, two governments. So this is it is in this context.

WION: PM Modi, when he also started out on Indian Ocean region travels, Seychelles was one of the places where he came in 2015 and there were various agreements that were signed. You are going now on a historic your first state visit to New Delhi and we are looking forward to being a gracious host with you as well. Cooperation between India and Seychelles is so multifaceted. Trade, cultural, military, security, economy - it’s a very multifaceted relationship.

President Faure: Because it’s a partnership. The partnership is not only in one sphere of development and we have always had this, as I said, this excellent relationship with and friendship with India and the partnership that we have with India is one which is of mutual respect. It’s one based on trust and we share common aspirations in the world that we belong to. We both as nations stand for peace, we stand for development we also stand for the sustainable development of our people.

WION: The prime minister’s initiative was also called Sagar which in Hindi means sea but it’s again reflecting the same aspirations that you just mentioned - of partnership. It’s not of inequality, it’s of give and take, of realising each other's potential and working towards something better for the entire region while you are doing that individually and as countries as well.

President Faure: India, your population is over 1 billion, ours is less than 100,000.

WION: Just about reaching there soon.

President Faure: So basically it is no longer about the size of the country. It is fundamentally human development and human dignity and the aspirations of our people. So this is what the relationship is all about.

WION: Being a 153-island archipelago stretched over such vast areas of sea and your economic interest, anti-piracy, anti-drugs, that’s one area where India has been and can continue to really help Seychelles.

President Faure: Over the last 40 years since our independence, we realised that we have a vast Exclusive Economic Zone which is practically the size of South Africa and twice the size of Madagascar. We also realised that it was not possible for us to build the capacity or have the necessary assets. So India, as our neighbour, good friend and the partnership we have, has been helping Seychelles in good times and in bad times. We have received a technical cooperation in the defence and in the security and because of the support that we have received from India, we have been able to build our own defence forces over the years.

WION: When you are talking about the military cooperation, what has been talked about of late this year is the facility at the Assumption Island. Is it still stuck internally, politically?

President Faure: India and its Prime Minister understand the Seychelles position. And what I am happy about is that there hasn’t been any moment where the government of India has tried to influence our domestic politics. India is a democracy, ours we are an evolving democracy and we are building institutions. As President, I am the head of the executive but I do not have a majority in our Parliament, in our National Assembly and the difference between your system and our system is that a ratification has to go through Parliament. Although there has been an agreement, I have decided not to submit the agreement to National Assembly for ratification because I have received the signals that it won’t go (through). So, as we speak there is the agreement that won’t go before our National Assembly, but it doesn’t mean that the ambition of my government, my administration for us to have a coast guard facility on Assumption does not remain. We will continue to do that on our own as the government of Seychelles - to have a facility on that island, it is important because of what is happening around in our waters. We will continue to do that on our own.

WION: Again like you are saying the Indian government and the government of Seychelles is in a partnership and there has been nothing thrust on you or you are not trying to influence anything that’s happening here. Have you understood or can you explain to us why there is opposition? Is it only because of environmental concerns? Is it because of concerns that a foreign country is taking over a part of your country?

President Faure: I think basically the concerns are genuine and fundamentally it came out as a wrong communication and I would make a statement internationally, that India was about to set up a base and that was not the intention of the government of India. The intention of the government of India was to have a facility but this facility would have a joint operation. Secondly, there has been real concerns in the area of environment because Assumption is not far from Aldabra which is a UNESCO world heritage site so these were the concerns. But, the idea of having a small, I repeat, a small coast guard facility to protect our islands and in the area of security. Maritime security and defence remains part of the strategy of the defence of the Seychelles.

WION: President Faure, if I have understood you have worked in this office, in this state, it has been projected as bipartisan kind of leadership. You gave up the leadership of your own party for those reasons is how we see it. Is that moving forward in terms of getting the opposition especially in this particular project or do you think that the domestic politics, the domestic ambitions of political leaders in the opposition are also partly the reason for say opposition like this on this issue?

President Faure: Well I think they have expressed themselves openly in Parliament and out of Parliament and in my meeting with them they have expressed themselves clearly. So I understand the position and I think the relationship between India and Seychelles will go beyond our time as politicians it is a relationship between two people.

WION: You are visualising the facility in the long term. Analysts who looks at this region - the Indian Ocean region - see it also as game between big regional part India China. India looks at China in some senses as trying to encircle it with the string of pearls. Is China involved in any aspect in Seychelles itself because we all know they are all the way up to Djibouti?

President Faure: Yeah, historical contexts you know. We have had Portuguese, Spanish, European who have traveled the oceans. It is only, I would say, the last 15 years that China is developing, trying to deal with poverty and underdevelopment. India is also developing so both nations are catching up, but they are doing the right things for their own people. India is dealing with abject poverty and there is growth, in fact, you have achieved average growth over the last decade of around 4 to 6% so has China and the volume of trade in the Indian Ocean has increased tremendously, and Africa as a continent has also been developing. We leaders in Africa we are no longer stuck into the problems that we had 25 years ago fighting amongst one another, we are now trying to deal with the problems of poverty, diseases, industrialisation so we are looking at the welfare of our countries we want to develop. So as a country the more we develop... we have been able to do that on our own but we have received assistance from all partners. China has been present in Africa and it has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its socio-economic development and India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship, this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all.

WION: Or either side. It’s not as if smaller countries try to play off the bigger countries to gain the most for themselves.

President Faure: No no, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India.

WION: Again if you look at the ways that India and China have been developing over the years and developing the outreach, well they seem to be a different kind of model in India. It is more a partnership mould, whether its cultural ties that have been there through decades, it seems to many that China imposed some kind of chequebook diplomacy which lands counties into debt. We have seen things happening in Sri Lanka, we have seen the Maldives as well. Is that something you are keenly aware of or is that something that doesn’t worry you at all?

President Faure: No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi and the leaders of India. I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, size of your country, size of the population, but genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles. Our relationship has never been one of being dictated by big country or a small country and I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles' relationship will grow with both India and China.

WION: Again you said that the relationship between the two countries will outlive both leaders and parties that are currently in power indicating, of course, we get what you are indicating that India’s military and security cooperation with Seychelles has been immense. If my figures are right 50% of military and naval assets were given. A Dornier has been given, another one will be. About 70% of your military has been trained so there has been a close interlinkage but it's not as has been portrayed a military base being set up. We have had over the last two years eight Indian naval ships, which do turn around, last year it was 11 so that is continuing.

President Faure: It will continue, more will come so it is a genuine relationship. It is a partnership. The main source of the capacity and capabilities we have is India and here I can also state that we will continue with our Indian military cooperation because it has been one based on mutual respect and trust and our military personnel have benefited a lot over the last 40 years through a lot of training. We have thousands of Seychellois who have received high tech training in India. We don't talk about it but I should be talking about it and I think it is important that we thank the Indian government for that. In a lot of our development, we could not have been in a position where we are today without the Indian skilled labourers who have come to Seychelles. They came many years ago and they keep coming and we respect them. Our trade also in terms of retail sector development has grown - so it is in this context of relationship that I believe that people need to appreciate the warmth that we have between our two people.

WION: And that warmth seems to be increasing also in terms of tourism. If you look at figures again I think it is increasing 20% annually. Indian tourists coming into Seychelles. Would I be right in saying initially to preserve the ecosystem something like Bhutan's model Seychelles encouraged high end and high paying tourist, not tourists in large numbers who could destroy the ecosystem and is that model changing in any manner to get more tourists to come in?

President Faure: There is always going to be a pressure. But our policy has one centre on one sustainable development. Seychelles is a small country, very small and has a fragile ecosystem. We want to tap high-end tourism but we need space for other tourists to come to Seychelles, but at the same time we need to be mindful of the fragility of our country in terms of its ecosystem and the long term development. From the point of view of sustainable development we just need to have this balance between environment and tourism and the amount of tourists at any one time point in the country. Last year we had over 300 and 50 thousand and I think there is a question that we need to manage it, but I as a President I also look at the yield that needs to come from tourism and also to ensure that there is what I called value chain in development that the tourism becomes the main revenue main source of income but what we derive from tourism should also help other sectors of the economy.

WION: The Seychelles and your policies are known for green economics that the blue economics that the Seychelles follows in terms of sustainable development in global warming. How the world is dealing with it? Where does the Seychelles and where do you stand with how the US is walking out of deals with where financial aid would have been given to smaller countries to bypass the normal root. How worried are you?

President Faure: We signed the Paris agreement and we still believe that that's the root for humanity, not for our country individually, that's the root for humanity. I think that over time those who have questioned that will come back but I think the majority of the citizens of this world will continue to realise that their leaders took the right decision and it is our responsibility now to show them the responsibility for generations to come and not to vacillitate - not to change positions as we go forward.

WION: President, how worried are you because when you come in from the air and you see beautiful islands you are also acutely aware of how a slight rise in sea levels can wipe out so much of humanity and everything else the species around human habitation.

President Faure: Our battle cry is to get all the people around the world to understand what is happening. It is no longer a question that you are comfortable in your own country and you believe that you can continue to make progress while others should regress, go back into abject poverty or remain marginalised. I think the question of our time today is climate change and it’s for low-income countries, middle-income countries and high income countries. In the recent Davos meeting the world leaders read a report that the number one threat to development is climate change. And, it’s very clear. It is climate change. It is a fact, it is reality. We from small countries say that and I am happy that the country like India has embarked upon a very ambitious program on renewable energy. You have taken the lead with France building the solar alliance, giving other countries the opportunity to participate. These are the things that will continue to inspire others and this is a type of leadership.

WION: President, in a nutshell, where will you describe Indian and Seychelles currently are and where would you see us going?

President Faure: I would say that we have a bright future together. India is developing, in fact very fast and we are not so far from India. We will benefit from trade, from tourism, from technology, from the research that you are doing. So we will continue to have this partnership. My administration will build on this partnership and as I said it is a partnership that is there to stay and that’s the future of the relationship that we have with India.

WION: President Faure, a partnership to stay. Thank you on that note, but I have a couple of questions with you to show to our viewers all over the world now, a few personal questions about your life outside the state house. You were talking about continuity and change in Seychelles. Continuity in terms of your past, immigrants, colonial past and yet you’re moving into the modern age and this state house perhaps exemplifies that a lot in term of heritage but, you’re trying to move ahead into a modern era.

President Faure: Exactly.

WION: A little bit of history on the state house? Now, of course the Presidents don’t live here anymore.

President Faure: No, No. Our first founding President Mancham, in the colonial times, the Governors did. President Rene, Michel, none of them and I don’t live here.

WION: You have 5 children, 4 grandchildren.

President Faure: Yeah I’ve got 5 children, 4 grandchildren.

WION: After you took over, you made a speech in the Assembly saying the Seychelles, the country is the main focus, priority.

President Faure: Yes. I concentrate all my heart, my time, my passion.

WION: Does your family complain, like other families - that the grandfather doesn’t have time for them?

President Faure: I see them during the weekend. Sundays is when I spend time with them.

WION: Thank You President Faure, for being such a gracious host and we hope we will do the same for you in another month.

President Faure: Thank You.

This is a full transcript of WION's interview with Seychelles President Danny Faure. Faure was interviewed by WION's Amitabh Revi

Seychelles President Danny Faure is coming on a state visit to India. Before the visit begins later this month, he speaks to WION's Amitabh Pashupati Revi as part of our Global Leadership Series on the history of ties between India and the island nation, the strategic position of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and how the ties between the two nations will move forward. Here is the full transcript of the interview: WION: Seychellois President Danny Faure was sworn in in October 2016. He also holds the Defence, Public Administration and Legal Affairs portfolios. He’s been a minister since 1998, oversaw IMF reforms, served as Vice President and is now warmly hosting us in Victoria, Mahe - at the state house in Seychelles. President Faure: Thank you. WION: The ties between India and Seychelles go way back to time when the immigrants had come in. So much has changed, but so much is still the same. In Indira Gandhi’s time, Rajiv Gandhi’s time two coups were probably foiled and now we are still moving forward. Prime Minister Modi and you will be meeting for the third time this year. President Faure: Yes, and it’s a sign of the relationship that we have an excellent relationship - the ties between our two people, two governments. So this is it is in this context. WION: PM Modi, when he also started out on Indian Ocean region travels, Seychelles was one of the places where he came in 2015 and there were various agreements that were signed. You are going now on a historic your first state visit to New Delhi and we are looking forward to being a gracious host with you as well. Cooperation between India and Seychelles is so multifaceted. Trade, cultural, military, security, economy - it’s a very multifaceted relationship. President Faure: Because it’s a partnership. The partnership is not only in one sphere of development and we have always had this, as I said, this excellent relationship with and friendship with India and the partnership that we have with India is one which is of mutual respect. It’s one based on trust and we share common aspirations in the world that we belong to. We both as nations stand for peace, we stand for development we also stand for the sustainable development of our people. WION: The prime minister’s initiative was also called Sagar which in Hindi means sea but it’s again reflecting the same aspirations that you just mentioned - of partnership. It’s not of inequality, it’s of give and take, of realising each other's potential and working towards something better for the entire region while you are doing that individually and as countries as well. President Faure: India, your population is over 1 billion, ours is less than 100,000. WION: Just about reaching there soon. President Faure: So basically it is no longer about the size of the country. It is fundamentally human development and human dignity and the aspirations of our people. So this is what the relationship is all about. WION: Being a 153-island archipelago stretched over such vast areas of sea and your economic interest, anti-piracy, anti-drugs, that’s one area where India has been and can continue to really help Seychelles. President Faure: Over the last 40 years since our independence, we realised that we have a vast Exclusive Economic Zone which is practically the size of South Africa and twice the size of Madagascar. We also realised that it was not possible for us to build the capacity or have the necessary assets. So India, as our neighbour, good friend and the partnership we have, has been helping Seychelles in good times and in bad times. We have received a technical cooperation in the defence and in the security and because of the support that we have received from India, we have been able to build our own defence forces over the years. WION: When you are talking about the military cooperation, what has been talked about of late this year is the facility at the Assumption Island. Is it still stuck internally, politically? President Faure: India and its Prime Minister understand the Seychelles position. And what I am happy about is that there hasn’t been any moment where the government of India has tried to influence our domestic politics. India is a democracy, ours we are an evolving democracy and we are building institutions. As President, I am the head of the executive but I do not have a majority in our Parliament, in our National Assembly and the difference between your system and our system is that a ratification has to go through Parliament. Although there has been an agreement, I have decided not to submit the agreement to National Assembly for ratification because I have received the signals that it won’t go (through). So, as we speak there is the agreement that won’t go before our National Assembly, but it doesn’t mean that the ambition of my government, my administration for us to have a coast guard facility on Assumption does not remain. We will continue to do that on our own as the government of Seychelles - to have a facility on that island, it is important because of what is happening around in our waters. We will continue to do that on our own. WION: Again like you are saying the Indian government and the government of Seychelles is in a partnership and there has been nothing thrust on you or you are not trying to influence anything that’s happening here. Have you understood or can you explain to us why there is opposition? Is it only because of environmental concerns? Is it because of concerns that a foreign country is taking over a part of your country? President Faure: I think basically the concerns are genuine and fundamentally it came out as a wrong communication and I would make a statement internationally, that India was about to set up a base and that was not the intention of the government of India. The intention of the government of India was to have a facility but this facility would have a joint operation. Secondly, there has been real concerns in the area of environment because Assumption is not far from Aldabra which is a UNESCO world heritage site so these were the concerns. But, the idea of having a small, I repeat, a small coast guard facility to protect our islands and in the area of security. Maritime security and defence remains part of the strategy of the defence of the Seychelles. WION: President Faure, if I have understood you have worked in this office, in this state, it has been projected as bipartisan kind of leadership. You gave up the leadership of your own party for those reasons is how we see it. Is that moving forward in terms of getting the opposition especially in this particular project or do you think that the domestic politics, the domestic ambitions of political leaders in the opposition are also partly the reason for say opposition like this on this issue? President Faure: Well I think they have expressed themselves openly in Parliament and out of Parliament and in my meeting with them they have expressed themselves clearly. So I understand the position and I think the relationship between India and Seychelles will go beyond our time as politicians it is a relationship between two people. WION: You are visualising the facility in the long term. Analysts who looks at this region - the Indian Ocean region - see it also as game between big regional part India China. India looks at China in some senses as trying to encircle it with the string of pearls. Is China involved in any aspect in Seychelles itself because we all know they are all the way up to Djibouti? President Faure: Yeah, historical contexts you know. We have had Portuguese, Spanish, European who have traveled the oceans. It is only, I would say, the last 15 years that China is developing, trying to deal with poverty and underdevelopment. India is also developing so both nations are catching up, but they are doing the right things for their own people. India is dealing with abject poverty and there is growth, in fact, you have achieved average growth over the last decade of around 4 to 6% so has China and the volume of trade in the Indian Ocean has increased tremendously, and Africa as a continent has also been developing. We leaders in Africa we are no longer stuck into the problems that we had 25 years ago fighting amongst one another, we are now trying to deal with the problems of poverty, diseases, industrialisation so we are looking at the welfare of our countries we want to develop. So as a country the more we develop... we have been able to do that on our own but we have received assistance from all partners. China has been present in Africa and it has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its socio-economic development and India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship, this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all. WION: Or either side. It’s not as if smaller countries try to play off the bigger countries to gain the most for themselves. President Faure: No no, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India. WION: Again if you look at the ways that India and China have been developing over the years and developing the outreach, well they seem to be a different kind of model in India. It is more a partnership mould, whether its cultural ties that have been there through decades, it seems to many that China imposed some kind of chequebook diplomacy which lands counties into debt. We have seen things happening in Sri Lanka, we have seen the Maldives as well. Is that something you are keenly aware of or is that something that doesn’t worry you at all? President Faure: No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi and the leaders of India. I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, size of your country, size of the population, but genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles. Our relationship has never been one of being dictated by big country or a small country and I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles' relationship will grow with both India and China. WION: Again you said that the relationship between the two countries will outlive both leaders and parties that are currently in power indicating, of course, we get what you are indicating that India’s military and security cooperation with Seychelles has been immense. If my figures are right 50% of military and naval assets were given. A Dornier has been given, another one will be. About 70% of your military has been trained so there has been a close interlinkage but it's not as has been portrayed a military base being set up. We have had over the last two years eight Indian naval ships, which do turn around, last year it was 11 so that is continuing. President Faure: It will continue, more will come so it is a genuine relationship. It is a partnership. The main source of the capacity and capabilities we have is India and here I can also state that we will continue with our Indian military cooperation because it has been one based on mutual respect and trust and our military personnel have benefited a lot over the last 40 years through a lot of training. We have thousands of Seychellois who have received high tech training in India. We don't talk about it but I should be talking about it and I think it is important that we thank the Indian government for that. In a lot of our development, we could not have been in a position where we are today without the Indian skilled labourers who have come to Seychelles. They came many years ago and they keep coming and we respect them. Our trade also in terms of retail sector development has grown - so it is in this context of relationship that I believe that people need to appreciate the warmth that we have between our two people. WION: And that warmth seems to be increasing also in terms of tourism. If you look at figures again I think it is increasing 20% annually. Indian tourists coming into Seychelles. Would I be right in saying initially to preserve the ecosystem something like Bhutan's model Seychelles encouraged high end and high paying tourist, not tourists in large numbers who could destroy the ecosystem and is that model changing in any manner to get more tourists to come in? President Faure: There is always going to be a pressure. But our policy has one centre on one sustainable development. Seychelles is a small country, very small and has a fragile ecosystem. We want to tap high-end tourism but we need space for other tourists to come to Seychelles, but at the same time we need to be mindful of the fragility of our country in terms of its ecosystem and the long term development. From the point of view of sustainable development we just need to have this balance between environment and tourism and the amount of tourists at any one time point in the country. Last year we had over 300 and 50 thousand and I think there is a question that we need to manage it, but I as a President I also look at the yield that needs to come from tourism and also to ensure that there is what I called value chain in development that the tourism becomes the main revenue main source of income but what we derive from tourism should also help other sectors of the economy. WION: The Seychelles and your policies are known for green economics that the blue economics that the Seychelles follows in terms of sustainable development in global warming. How the world is dealing with it? Where does the Seychelles and where do you stand with how the US is walking out of deals with where financial aid would have been given to smaller countries to bypass the normal root. How worried are you? President Faure: We signed the Paris agreement and we still believe that that's the root for humanity, not for our country individually, that's the root for humanity. I think that over time those who have questioned that will come back but I think the majority of the citizens of this world will continue to realise that their leaders took the right decision and it is our responsibility now to show them the responsibility for generations to come and not to vacillitate - not to change positions as we go forward. WION: President, how worried are you because when you come in from the air and you see beautiful islands you are also acutely aware of how a slight rise in sea levels can wipe out so much of humanity and everything else the species around human habitation. President Faure: Our battle cry is to get all the people around the world to understand what is happening. It is no longer a question that you are comfortable in your own country and you believe that you can continue to make progress while others should regress, go back into abject poverty or remain marginalised. I think the question of our time today is climate change and it’s for low-income countries, middle-income countries and high income countries. In the recent Davos meeting the world leaders read a report that the number one threat to development is climate change. And, it’s very clear. It is climate change. It is a fact, it is reality. We from small countries say that and I am happy that the country like India has embarked upon a very ambitious program on renewable energy. You have taken the lead with France building the solar alliance, giving other countries the opportunity to participate. These are the things that will continue to inspire others and this is a type of leadership. WION: President, in a nutshell, where will you describe Indian and Seychelles currently are and where would you see us going? President Faure: I would say that we have a bright future together. India is developing, in fact very fast and we are not so far from India. We will benefit from trade, from tourism, from technology, from the research that you are doing. So we will continue to have this partnership. My administration will build on this partnership and as I said it is a partnership that is there to stay and that’s the future of the relationship that we have with India. WION: President Faure, a partnership to stay. Thank you on that note, but I have a couple of questions with you to show to our viewers all over the world now, a few personal questions about your life outside the state house. You were talking about continuity and change in Seychelles. Continuity in terms of your past, immigrants, colonial past and yet you’re moving into the modern age and this state house perhaps exemplifies that a lot in term of heritage but, you’re trying to move ahead into a modern era. President Faure: Exactly. WION: A little bit of history on the state house? Now, of course the Presidents don’t live here anymore. President Faure: No, No. Our first founding President Mancham, in the colonial times, the Governors did. President Rene, Michel, none of them and I don’t live here. WION: You have 5 children, 4 grandchildren. President Faure: Yeah I’ve got 5 children, 4 grandchildren. WION: After you took over, you made a speech in the Assembly saying the Seychelles, the country is the main focus, priority. President Faure: Yes. I concentrate all my heart, my time, my passion. WION: Does your family complain, like other families - that the grandfather doesn’t have time for them? President Faure: I see them during the weekend. Sundays is when I spend time with them. WION: Thank You President Faure, for being such a gracious host and we hope we will do the same for you in another month. President Faure: Thank You.

India has been with Seychelles in good times and bad: President Danny Faure to WION

By Amitabh Pashupati Revi

Our battle cry is against climate change, the Seychelles President Danny Faure told WION on World Environment Day, and that India inspires with its leadership.

“The Paris agreement is the root for humanity. I think over time those who have questioned that will come back," President Faure told WION on US President Donald Trump pulling out of the climate change agreement, rising sea waters, and the threat to his 115-island archipelago.

Speaking to WION at the State House in the capital Victoria, President Faure said, "We signed the Paris agreement and we still believe that that's the root for humanity not for our country individually that's the root for humanity. It is our responsibility now to show them the responsibility for generations to come and not to vacillate — not to change positions as we go forward."

Asked how worried he is about rising sea levels because of global warming, President Faure said, “Our battle cry is to get all the people around the world to understand what is happening. It is no longer a question that you are comfortable in your own country and you believe that you can continue to make progress while others should regress.”

Faure added, “It’s very clear. It is climate change. It is a fact. It is reality. We from small countries say that. I am happy that a country like India has embarked on a very ambitious program on renewable energy. You have taken the lead with France on building the solar alliance, giving other countries the opportunity to participate. These are the things that will continue to inspire others and this is a type of leadership."

'The Paris agreement is the root for humanity. I think over time those who have questioned that will come back,' Faure said

By Amitabh Pashupati Revi Our battle cry is against climate change, the Seychelles President Danny Faure told WION on World Environment Day, and that India inspires with its leadership. “The Paris agreement is the root for humanity. I think over time those who have questioned that will come back," President Faure told WION on US President Donald Trump pulling out of the climate change agreement, rising sea waters, and the threat to his 115-island archipelago. Speaking to WION at the State House in the capital Victoria, President Faure said, "We signed the Paris agreement and we still believe that that's the root for humanity not for our country individually that's the root for humanity. It is our responsibility now to show them the responsibility for generations to come and not to vacillate — not to change positions as we go forward." Asked how worried he is about rising sea levels because of global warming, President Faure said, “Our battle cry is to get all the people around the world to understand what is happening. It is no longer a question that you are comfortable in your own country and you believe that you can continue to make progress while others should regress.” Faure added, “It’s very clear. It is climate change. It is a fact. It is reality. We from small countries say that. I am happy that a country like India has embarked on a very ambitious program on renewable energy. You have taken the lead with France on building the solar alliance, giving other countries the opportunity to participate. These are the things that will continue to inspire others and this is a type of leadership."

Our battle cry is against climate change, Seychelles President Danny Faure tells WION on World Environment Day

By Amitabh Pashupati Revi

The Seychelles-India agreement to build a naval facility on Assumption Island may be stalled because of the African country's domestic politics but President Danny Faure, in an exclusive interview to WION, indicated that it would outlive any opposition.

President Faure's in-depth interaction with WION at the State House in the capital, Victoria, comes ahead of his first state visit to New Delhi this month.

About the naval facility, President Faure told WION: “I think the relationship between India and Seychelles will go beyond our time and politicians as it is a relationship between two people.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-pressure-from-china-against-india-seychelles-president-danny-faure-tells-wion-in-exclusive-interview-142220">No pressure from China against India, says Seychelles President</a>

He took questions about the opposition stalling the deal, telling WION "I think they have expressed themselves openly in parliament and out of parliament and in my meeting with them they have expressed themselves clearly so I understand the position."&nbsp;

“India has been with Seychelles through good times and bad,” President Faure said, adding, “Over the last 40 years since our independence we realised that with the vast Exclusive Economic Zone that we have, which is practically the size of South Africa and twice the size of Madagascar, on our own it was not possible for us to build capacity and to have the necessary assets. So, India as our neighbour, as a good friend of ours and based on the partnership that we have, India has been with Seychelles, along with Seychelles in good times and in bad times. We have received a technical cooperation in defence and in security, and because of the support that we have received from India we have been able over the years to build our own defence forces.”

The Seychelles-India deal was initially reached in 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Victoria. The deal is for India to build, maintain and operate a maritime facility on Assumption&nbsp;Island. The island is strategically located on key Indian Ocean routes and will give — if and when set up — New Delhi a position on vital lanes. The deal has to be ratified by the Seychellois National Assembly but it is stuck since the Opposition controls the Parliament.

The President admitted the deal is on hold, telling WION, “Although there has been an agreement, I have decided not to submit the agreement to the National Assembly for ratification because I have received the signals that it won’t go (through). So, as we speak, there is the agreement that it won’t go before our National Assembly, but it doesn’t mean that the ambition of my government, my administration for us to have a coast guard facility on Assumption does not remain."

&nbsp;

The deal is for India to build, maintain and operate a maritime facility on Assumption Island. But it is stuck since the Opposition controls the Parliament

By Amitabh Pashupati Revi The Seychelles-India agreement to build a naval facility on Assumption Island may be stalled because of the African country's domestic politics but President Danny Faure, in an exclusive interview to WION, indicated that it would outlive any opposition. President Faure's in-depth interaction with WION at the State House in the capital, Victoria, comes ahead of his first state visit to New Delhi this month. About the naval facility, President Faure told WION: “I think the relationship between India and Seychelles will go beyond our time and politicians as it is a relationship between two people.” Also read: No pressure from China against India, says Seychelles President He took questions about the opposition stalling the deal, telling WION "I think they have expressed themselves openly in parliament and out of parliament and in my meeting with them they have expressed themselves clearly so I understand the position." “India has been with Seychelles through good times and bad,” President Faure said, adding, “Over the last 40 years since our independence we realised that with the vast Exclusive Economic Zone that we have, which is practically the size of South Africa and twice the size of Madagascar, on our own it was not possible for us to build capacity and to have the necessary assets. So, India as our neighbour, as a good friend of ours and based on the partnership that we have, India has been with Seychelles, along with Seychelles in good times and in bad times. We have received a technical cooperation in defence and in security, and because of the support that we have received from India we have been able over the years to build our own defence forces.” The Seychelles-India deal was initially reached in 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Victoria. The deal is for India to build, maintain and operate a maritime facility on Assumption Island. The island is strategically located on key Indian Ocean routes and will give — if and when set up — New Delhi a position on vital lanes. The deal has to be ratified by the Seychellois National Assembly but it is stuck since the Opposition controls the Parliament. The President admitted the deal is on hold, telling WION, “Although there has been an agreement, I have decided not to submit the agreement to the National Assembly for ratification because I have received the signals that it won’t go (through). So, as we speak, there is the agreement that it won’t go before our National Assembly, but it doesn’t mean that the ambition of my government, my administration for us to have a coast guard facility on Assumption does not remain."

Stalled India-Seychelles naval facility deal will outlive any opposition: President Faure to WION

Everyone wants to own his dream home. But, do you dream of owning your own home island? Well, a third generation Indian origin businessman in Seychelles-Sunil Shah and his late father Anant-Jivan Shah have not only dared to dream that dream in Seychelles, but they also have achieved it.&nbsp;

Seychelles may be Africa’s smallest nation with the population just about approaching 100,000 people and is possibly the smallest capital in the World. But, straddling key sea-lanes in the Indian Ocean, the 150-island archipelago can punch much higher than its weight category. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Seychelles is mainly a popular tourist destination. &nbsp;The National Bureau of Statistics recorded nearly 350,000 visitors in 2017, an increase of 15 per cent. &nbsp;13,500 of these foreigners last year were Indian, up 20 per cent over 2016. Tourists not only bask in the eternal summer of the Indian Ocean but contribute to preserving the unspoilt nature of this cradle of biodiversity. &nbsp;

“We must look after the attributes that bring tourists here, that tourists come to see. We must make certain that they are protected. Which is why half of our limited land mass has already been set aside as nature reserves, parks and marine parks.”&nbsp;

Within one of those protected marine parks is third generation Gujarati origin Sunil Shah’s Enchanted Island resort.&nbsp;

Shah’s grandfather came to Seychelles from Mandvi in Kutch, Gujarat in 1864. Though Sunil Shah worked with his father Anant-Jivan in running one of the top accounting firms in Seychelles. In 2013, Shah Junior found his inside calling in first acquiring an Island and then developing it into a premium luxury resort.

The first glimpse of Enchanted Island hardly gives away the 8 villas on the boutique island resort managed now by Dubai based JA resorts and hotels. The villas have been built around nature rather than through it.

Sunil Shah also has a passion for restoration, art and antique posters picked up in auctions around the world. A limited edition commissioned rare Artist Proof &nbsp;bronze tortoise watches over the main infinity pool which seems to stretch out into the sea &nbsp;is designed to point in between the two nearby islands&nbsp;

&nbsp;Up to 24 guests have their own private paradise and beaches to chill out on. The villa prices range from 600 Euros to over 3000 Euros a night—about 45,000 Indian Rupees to nearly one and a half lakh Indian rupees a night plus taxes. &nbsp;

The price for paradise gets these breathtaking views from the Owner’s Signature Villa. 2 bedrooms split over two villas, with direct access to three beaches, a lounge with private indoor and outdoor living spaces. Its 243 square meters have the best views on Enchanted Island. &nbsp;

The Gujarati-origin Sunil Shah bought Enchanted Island along with his late father Anant-Jivan in 2013. They have now built a luxury resort on it

Everyone wants to own his dream home. But, do you dream of owning your own home island? Well, a third generation Indian origin businessman in Seychelles-Sunil Shah and his late father Anant-Jivan Shah have not only dared to dream that dream in Seychelles, but they also have achieved it. Seychelles may be Africa’s smallest nation with the population just about approaching 100,000 people and is possibly the smallest capital in the World. But, straddling key sea-lanes in the Indian Ocean, the 150-island archipelago can punch much higher than its weight category. Seychelles is mainly a popular tourist destination. The National Bureau of Statistics recorded nearly 350,000 visitors in 2017, an increase of 15 per cent. 13,500 of these foreigners last year were Indian, up 20 per cent over 2016. Tourists not only bask in the eternal summer of the Indian Ocean but contribute to preserving the unspoilt nature of this cradle of biodiversity. “We must look after the attributes that bring tourists here, that tourists come to see. We must make certain that they are protected. Which is why half of our limited land mass has already been set aside as nature reserves, parks and marine parks.” Within one of those protected marine parks is third generation Gujarati origin Sunil Shah’s Enchanted Island resort. Shah’s grandfather came to Seychelles from Mandvi in Kutch, Gujarat in 1864. Though Sunil Shah worked with his father Anant-Jivan in running one of the top accounting firms in Seychelles. In 2013, Shah Junior found his inside calling in first acquiring an Island and then developing it into a premium luxury resort. The first glimpse of Enchanted Island hardly gives away the 8 villas on the boutique island resort managed now by Dubai based JA resorts and hotels. The villas have been built around nature rather than through it. Sunil Shah also has a passion for restoration, art and antique posters picked up in auctions around the world. A limited edition commissioned rare Artist Proof bronze tortoise watches over the main infinity pool which seems to stretch out into the sea is designed to point in between the two nearby islands Up to 24 guests have their own private paradise and beaches to chill out on. The villa prices range from 600 Euros to over 3000 Euros a night—about 45,000 Indian Rupees to nearly one and a half lakh Indian rupees a night plus taxes. The price for paradise gets these breathtaking views from the Owner’s Signature Villa. 2 bedrooms split over two villas, with direct access to three beaches, a lounge with private indoor and outdoor living spaces. Its 243 square meters have the best views on Enchanted Island.

Indian-origin businessman buys Seychelles island

A plan for India to build a military base on an outlying Seychelles island has won favour among the archipelago nation&rsquo;s politicians, but some hostility from its people.

Late last month, India and the Seychelles&nbsp;signed a revised agreement&nbsp;granting India permission to construct a military base on the Seychelles&#39;&nbsp;Assumption Island, roughly 1,650 kilometers (1,025 miles) east of mainland East Africa.

The base on Assumption Island is to be funded by India and shared by the two countries&rsquo; militaries.

The deal was struck in principle in 2015 during a visit to the Seychelles by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but progress since has been slow.&nbsp;The deal&nbsp;will provide India with a crucial military staging point in what is fast becoming a critically strategic region.

The government of the Seychelles, based in Victoria on Mahe Island 1,135 kilometres (705 miles) northeast of Assumption, says the base will help coastguards to patrol its 1.3 million square kilometre (500,000 square mile) exclusive economic zone for illegal fishing, drug trafficking and piracy.

India plans to invest $550 million dollars in building the base to help it ensure the safety of its vessels in the southern Indian Ocean. It also says the base will be a resource for other shipping nations.

&ldquo;Assumption is very close to the Mozambique Channel where much of the international trade is transiting, and not just for India but for other countries as well, and our interest is that our trading vessels are safe,&rdquo; said India&rsquo;s ambassador in Victoria, Ausaf Sayeed.

India has had a military cooperation agreement with the Seychelles since 2003 and the deal would give it use of the Assumption base for up to 30 years. Indian soldiers would be deployed on the island and help train Seychelles&rsquo; troops.

&ldquo;What we did in relation to the first agreement is to clarify some points that could give rise to litigation,&rdquo; said Frank Ally, the Seychelles&rsquo; attorney general.

He said these included a prohibition on any nuclear uses of the island or weapons storage. India is also not allowed to use Assumption in war.

Seeking to allay fears the government has made available to the public some details of the classified defence agreement. Nevertheless, the project remains controversial with small weekly demonstrations in the capital.

Indian presence in the Seychelles is a sensitive matter. Some fear an influx of Indian workers who, they say, might come to dominate the economy, while others consider a foreign power building a military base an affront to sovereignty and national pride.

&ldquo;The Seychelles can make its own military base, I am against any foreign military presence!&rdquo; said Guilmert Corgat, a businessman in Victoria who attended a town hall meeting on the plan in late February.

&ldquo;If this deal is so good for the Seychelles, why don&rsquo;t we hold a referendum?&rdquo; asked Alexia Amesbury, a lawyer.

During the discussions, foreign minister Barry Faure was forced to insist the government was not giving the island away, &ldquo;because Assumption belongs to the Seychelles&rdquo;.

Opponents of the plan also cite Assumption&rsquo;s relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the world&rsquo;s largest population of giant tortoises.

Environmentalists worry about the possible impact of a large military presence so close to an ecosystem that has survived precisely because of the absence of people.

Despite the dissenting voices, Sayeed remains positive that parliament will ratify the new agreement when it reopens this month.

With the opposition, like the government, broadly in favour of the base, though against too many concessions to India, the diplomat&rsquo;s optimism may be well-founded.

&ldquo;I think politicians and people who see the positive side of this cooperation will be in favour, and I am convinced that it will pass,&rdquo; he said.

(with inputs from AFP)

The deal was struck in principle in 2015 during a visit to the Seychelles by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but progress since has been slow.

A plan for India to build a military base on an outlying Seychelles island has won favour among the archipelago nation’s politicians, but some hostility from its people. Late last month, India and the Seychelles signed a revised agreement granting India permission to construct a military base on the Seychelles' Assumption Island, roughly 1,650 kilometers (1,025 miles) east of mainland East Africa. The base on Assumption Island is to be funded by India and shared by the two countries’ militaries. The deal was struck in principle in 2015 during a visit to the Seychelles by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but progress since has been slow. The deal will provide India with a crucial military staging point in what is fast becoming a critically strategic region. The government of the Seychelles, based in Victoria on Mahe Island 1,135 kilometres (705 miles) northeast of Assumption, says the base will help coastguards to patrol its 1.3 million square kilometre (500,000 square mile) exclusive economic zone for illegal fishing, drug trafficking and piracy. India plans to invest $550 million dollars in building the base to help it ensure the safety of its vessels in the southern Indian Ocean. It also says the base will be a resource for other shipping nations. “Assumption is very close to the Mozambique Channel where much of the international trade is transiting, and not just for India but for other countries as well, and our interest is that our trading vessels are safe,” said India’s ambassador in Victoria, Ausaf Sayeed. India has had a military cooperation agreement with the Seychelles since 2003 and the deal would give it use of the Assumption base for up to 30 years. Indian soldiers would be deployed on the island and help train Seychelles’ troops. “What we did in relation to the first agreement is to clarify some points that could give rise to litigation,” said Frank Ally, the Seychelles’ attorney general. He said these included a prohibition on any nuclear uses of the island or weapons storage. India is also not allowed to use Assumption in war. Seeking to allay fears the government has made available to the public some details of the classified defence agreement. Nevertheless, the project remains controversial with small weekly demonstrations in the capital. Indian presence in the Seychelles is a sensitive matter. Some fear an influx of Indian workers who, they say, might come to dominate the economy, while others consider a foreign power building a military base an affront to sovereignty and national pride. “The Seychelles can make its own military base, I am against any foreign military presence!” said Guilmert Corgat, a businessman in Victoria who attended a town hall meeting on the plan in late February. “If this deal is so good for the Seychelles, why don’t we hold a referendum?” asked Alexia Amesbury, a lawyer. During the discussions, foreign minister Barry Faure was forced to insist the government was not giving the island away, “because Assumption belongs to the Seychelles”. Opponents of the plan also cite Assumption’s relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the world’s largest population of giant tortoises. Environmentalists worry about the possible impact of a large military presence so close to an ecosystem that has survived precisely because of the absence of people. Despite the dissenting voices, Sayeed remains positive that parliament will ratify the new agreement when it reopens this month. With the opposition, like the government, broadly in favour of the base, though against too many concessions to India, the diplomat’s optimism may be well-founded. “I think politicians and people who see the positive side of this cooperation will be in favour, and I am convinced that it will pass,” he said. (with inputs from AFP)

India plans military base in Seychelles, fosters controversy

For the first time in two decades, the opposition in east Africa&#39;s Seychelles won parliamentary polls gaining control of the National Assembly. The assembly comprises of 25 directly-elected members and 10 members allocated to each party. 
 
The opposition coalition won 15 seats while the Parti Lepep (People&#39;s Party in Creole), in power since 1977 took the remaining 10. The voting began on Wednesday and ended on Saturday.&nbsp; 
 
The tourism-dependent Seychelles is comprised of 115 islands in the Indian ocean. Mahe, Praslin and La Digue are the main islands and account for 98 per cent of Seychelles population.&nbsp; 
 
The Seychelles National Party (SNP) formed a coalition with four smaller parties to form the Seychellois Alliance. 
 
Former leaders of Parti Lepep joined the alliance in order to strengthen its bid for power, AFP reported. 
 
Before the results of the poll were announced, President james Michel said, &quot;My hope is that this spirit of consultation continues in the new National Assembly, where we all work together for the common good of our nation,&quot; as it had been expected that it would slip from his party&#39;s control reported AFP. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP) 
 
 
 
 
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The Seychellois Alliance won 15 seats while Parti Lepep, in power since 1977, won 10

For the first time in two decades, the opposition in east Africa's Seychelles won parliamentary polls gaining control of the National Assembly. The assembly comprises of 25 directly-elected members and 10 members allocated to each party. The opposition coalition won 15 seats while the Parti Lepep (People's Party in Creole), in power since 1977 took the remaining 10. The voting began on Wednesday and ended on Saturday. The tourism-dependent Seychelles is comprised of 115 islands in the Indian ocean. Mahe, Praslin and La Digue are the main islands and account for 98 per cent of Seychelles population. The Seychelles National Party (SNP) formed a coalition with four smaller parties to form the Seychellois Alliance. Former leaders of Parti Lepep joined the alliance in order to strengthen its bid for power, AFP reported. Before the results of the poll were announced, President james Michel said, "My hope is that this spirit of consultation continues in the new National Assembly, where we all work together for the common good of our nation," as it had been expected that it would slip from his party's control reported AFP. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Seychelles : Opposition comes to power for first time in two decades

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