Calling Abu Dhabi

LSH spoke to popular Seychellois singer Emmanuel Marie by telephone from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of our special report - Exposé on the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of the 1981 mercenary attack.

It was a pleasant conversation to hear him reminiscing about his time at the Port Launay NYS village, recalling on the day he recorded the track ‘Le 25 Novanm,’ alongside other Stella Nibourette, Gisele Sultan and others from the Beginners band.

Ex-hostage Dyer - Am still angry

Former Seychellois hostage Patrick Dyer, who spent 88 days in Somalia held pirates, speaks for the first time about his experience.

In an emotional interview with LSH, Mr Dyer recalls the ordeals he endured together with his six colleagues from the Indian Ocean Explorer.

Here is an excerpt of his interview to be published this Friday.

“When I see them on the television I get very angry. I would like to talk to them and explain how their counterparts treated me badly. Here they are eating in a plate and sleeping on a bed. They can brush their teeth, have a shower every day and watch TV, compared to our situation. The captain (Francis Roucou) and I were in the desert, sleeping on a dirty mat under the sky.”

SNP women’s Organisation conference

LSH attended the annual SNP women’s Organisation conference.

This year’s event which will feature in our next edition - People column, saw the election of a new executive committee.

The Minister is not pleased

LSH Editor, Gervais Henrie got a call from the minister of Foreign Affairs over an article that appears in this week’s publication.

The story concerns the controversial appointment of Joseph Francois as Director General for Protocol, Treaty and Consular Affairs.

Minster Jean-Paul Adam was obviously not happy about the quotes attributed to his ministry’s staff and labeled them ‘fabricated.’

LSH stands by the story and can vouch that we interviewed a total of three ministry of foreign affairs employee to whilst compiling the article.

Air Seychelles keeps finances secret

The national airline responded our email dated 31^st October. The answers to our questions were typical PR jargon, prompting LSH to publish the article entitled “Air Seychelles keeps finances secret.”

Air Seychelles must be forthcoming with information when it comes to its finances. It can no longer afford to do whatever it wants with taxpayer’s money. Transparency and accountability are the new buzz words of this government and it’s high time they start walking the talk, instead of making endless speeches which keep the real information shrouded in mystery.

Judiciary under microscope

With the judicial system being been under a lot of scrutiny lately, LSH feels it is time to speak openly about the challenges the judicial system is facing and how it can surmount them.

Today we meet up with the BAR Association’s chairman, lawyer Antony Derjacques, who speaks to us about the independence of the courts being tested and the moves to amend or repeal many laws which will change how the judiciary works.