In 2003, Seychelles was an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean. It had a population of around 80,000 people and its economy was largely driven by tourism and fishing exports. The country had adopted a democratic system but poverty remained an issue. According to computergees, Seychelles maintained strong diplomatic ties with other African nations such as Mauritius and Madagascar while it also had close relations with France. In 2003, tourism to the country was beginning to boom as visitors were drawn to its beautiful beaches, stunning coral reefs and unique culture. The country offered numerous attractions such as Praslin Island which showcased the unique history of the region, Morne Seychellois National Park which provided opportunities for wildlife viewing, Anse Lazio which offered stunning views of white-sand beaches, and Cousin Island which protected native birds. Additionally, there were many opportunities for outdoor activities such as exploring the Vallee de Mai or visiting Aride Island Nature Reserve which is home to diverse flora and fauna.
Yearbook 2003
Seychelles. Following the victory of the SPPF (according to Countryaah.com, Seychelles Independence Day is June 29. Seychelles People’s Progressive Front) ruling party in the December 2002 parliamentary elections, it was increasingly speculated that President France Albert René would leave power prematurely. Already in March 2003, Vice President James Michel was named SPPF’s candidate in the next presidential election. He also took over several tasks from René, who, however, remained on the presidential post at the end of the year.
In order to reduce the deficit in the state budget, a new VAT of 12% was introduced. In addition, due to the poor economy, Seychelles closed some of its embassies and joined the SADC (Southern African Development Community) and IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association). At the same time, the government decided to abolish customs duties on 3,500 goods until 2006.
November
New government takes office
November 2
Most of Seychelles’ new government takes office. 13 ministers have been approved by parliament, five of whom are women. Vice President Ahmed Afif, who has already taken up his post, will also serve as Minister of Information. However, two ministers, Sylvestre Radegonde, who is in charge of foreign and tourism affairs, and Billy Rangasamy, who is in charge of land and housing issues, are in corona quarantine as they have recently arrived in the Seychelles from abroad. President Wavel Ramkalawan urges them to see themselves as ministers for all Seychelles and to counteract excessive bureaucracy.
October
Ramkalawan takes over as president
October 26
Wavel Ramkalawan takes over as President of the Seychelles. In connection with this, he urges unity and promises to try to strengthen the country’s economy, which has been hit hard by declining tourism during the ongoing Corina crisis. He also emphasizes that efforts against drug smuggling should be given priority and that no one should get away regardless of position in society.
The opposition wins the presidential election
October 24
The presidential election, which began on October 22, is won by the opposition. Political veteran Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles Democratic Alliance (LDS) gets almost 55 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent President Danny Faure of the United Seychelles, who gets 43.5 percent of the vote. The third candidate of the election, the former Minister of Tourism Alain Saint-Ange from One Seychelles, is far behind. This is the first time an opposition candidate has won a presidential election in the Seychelles. Ramkalawan lost the last presidential election in 2015 by a narrow margin and the following year his LDS became the largest party in the parliamentary elections. This time too, the LDS will be the largest party in parliament with 25 seats, ahead of the United Seychelles with ten seats. The issue that has engaged voters the most in this situation is the economy, not least due to lost revenue from tourism due to the corona pandemic. Saint-Ange profiles itself by promising the legalization of cannabis as a way of dealing with the major problems of heroin abuse (seeFebruary 2020) something Faure opposes.
The corona crisis is hitting the Seychelles’ economy
October 6
The corona pandemic is hitting the Seychelles’ economy hard, which looks set to shrink by more than 14 percent by 2020. An important reason for the problems is that different countries’ travel restrictions have hit the Seychelles’ economy hard, but this spring’s shutdown of society has also played a role. The hospitality and transport industries are particularly hard hit. Low exchange rates for the Seychelles rupee have also pushed up inflation.
Republic of Seychelles Brief Guide
According to AbbreviationFinder, the Republic of Seychelles, or Seychelles, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 1,600 kilometers east of the African continent. The Seychelles consists of about 115 islands, 33 of which are inhabited. It is the smallest country in Africa in terms of population.
Seychelles is especially known as a luxury holiday and honeymoon destination, and the islands have a diverse selection of high-quality resorts, boutique hotels and luxury villas – not to mention several private islands, which include the royals of several states have chosen as their honeymoon destination.
Climate
The Seychelles archipelago is located south of the equator in the western Indian Ocean. The islands have a maritime humid, tropical climate and temperatures remain around 25 to 30 degrees all year round. Southeast winds prevail on the islands during May-October. This is a drier time in the Seychelles, although winds can cause spasmodic seas. During November, the winds turn northwest and bring with them a rainy season. The wettest times on the islands are December and January, when the winds are milder and the sun at its hottest.
The trade winds in the Seychelles also determine the migration of seaweed with the waves, and it is seasonal which beaches seaweed is most likely to drift into. However, the distances to the islands are relatively short, so a seaweed-free beach is usually not far away.
When assessing weather conditions, it is good to keep in mind that, as elsewhere, the climate in Seychelles may be unpredictable and the weather may not follow the usual patterns.
Photography When
photographing people, it is always polite to ask permission from the subject before taking the picture.
Food & beverage
Seychelles’ food culture combines Chinese, Indian and French cuisine. The spices used are garlic, ginger, coconut and chili. The most common foods are octopus, which is served e.g. curryna. Fish is often served and is usually served whole. Seychelles cuisine specializes in large bats whose meat is grilled or served as curry. Generally, Seychelles tap water is potable. After hurricanes, you should avoid running tap water in case of water tank contamination.