BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
INSIDE
Issue No. 6
SEPTEMBER 2013
September 2013
Cleaning Up Joseph Albert Launches Eden Casino Opens its Doors Seychelles with His New Catamaran, Paradise Hygiene Isle Of Mahe P7 P19 P5
A Trip Back to Eden Plaza
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den Plaza opened its doors to the public back in December 2012 with much applaud and anticipation, it was a first for Seychelles, a brand new high-end shopping complex with clothing retailers, an art gallery, banks and restaurants. Business Seychelles covered the opening and eight months on we return to speak to the Manager of Eden Plaza Mrs Aarti Kerai about the plaza’s first eight months of business. We meet with Mrs Kerai at Vijay Construction, a company owned by her father Vijay Patel and the contractors behind Eden Island and Eden Plaza. She is warm and friendly as she welcomes me into her office. Beneath the glass of her desk is the floor plan for Eden Plaza showing the retail spaces and the
but that lots of new businesses have been opening such as Porto Cervo, an Italian and Pan Asian restaurant, a dental clinic, Euro Medical and Eden Casino. She expects the new casino and restaurants like Porto Cervo and La Belle Epoque as well as cocktail bar Havana Club to attract a new dynamic evening and weekend clientele to the plaza. There is also a new hotel, which is under construction; it is going to be marketed as a business hotel, although its name is yet to be announced. The hotel will open in August 2014 and will have 90 bedrooms and a large conference room. The hotel’s services will compliment Eden Plaza so that clients will be encouraged to use facilities at the plaza such as the restaurants and the spa.
‘I’d like to let the locals know that it is okay to cross the bridge and visit Eden Plaza. Eden Plaza is for everyone.’ type of business in each one and it is clear that much thought has gone into providing varied goods and services for visitors.
Mrs Kerai identifies two stand out achievements since Eden Plaza’s opening, these are its hosting of two big events; the Miss Seychelles beauty pageant and the Bastille Day celebrations. With each event attracting upwards of 350 people she
In terms of the progress of the business eight months on Mrs Kerai states that Eden Plaza has come along way since opening. There are still a few retail and office spaces that are yet to be filled, she says,
Managing Editor: Sandra Volcere
describes them as ‘proud moments’ for the plaza. But these are not the plaza’s only achievements she says, the opening of Food Mart was also a universal achievement for Eden Plaza and the locals; as is, she goes on to say, the moment when a new business first opens its doors for trading. Eden Plaza has a lot to offer the consumer and Mrs Kerai would like
it to not simply be a place to visit and spend money but also a place where people can come to meet friends and socialise in a happy environment. The plaza offers a 21st century shopping experience providing quality products to the consumer. It even has a fully supervised playroom where parents can leave children between 8 months and ten (Continue on page 3)
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BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
SEPTEMBER 2013
A Trip Back to Eden Plaza
years old while they shop.
retail fairs and cocktail receptions.
On collaborations, Mrs Kerai states that Eden Plaza will be hosting Seychelles Fashion Week in November in association with Indian Ocean Fashion Week and the World Fashion Organisation. Again she is expecting in excess of 350 attendees. She is also very pleased to be collaborating with Seychelles Yacht Charter/ Floatilla Yacht Management to host Boat Show Seychelles 2014 in February, and sees this as a good opportunity to raise the profile of Eden Plaza as well as demonstrate the potential of the space for
Mrs Kerai asserts that the biggest hurdle the plaza has had to face has been convincing the locals that it is okay to cross Eden Bridge and come and visit. She is hoping that the two hour free parking will be an incentive for people to come and have a look round. ‘I’d like to let the locals know that it is okay to cross the bridge and visit Eden Plaza. Eden Plaza is for everyone.’ For those that are yet to visit Eden Plaza, here’s a sneak peak at the retailers inside.
A Look Inside Eden Plaza MCB A branch of the Mauritian bank staffed by Seychellois. It provides most of the services available at the main branch in Victoria such as a moneygram service, withdrawals and the opening of accounts.
JPL Exchange This is a foreign exchange service and you can buy phone credit for Cable and Wireless and Airtel. It also serves as a base for VDS Marine, offering yacht brokerage and charter. Eden Art Gallery An art gallery owned by local artist Camille Mondon, Eden Art Gallery provides the ideal place to exhibit, appreciate and purchase works of art by local artists and sculptors. They also run a framing service. In addition to this they would like to host cocktail receptions in the future. Fabrice Fabrice has taken the model of an airport duty free shop according to the owner. On its shelves you can find brand perfumes, watches, make up, cards and lotions. Petite Folies Petite Folies primarily sells beachwear for women. Its merchandise includes jewellery, accessories, hats, bags, shoes and colourful Seychelles souvenirs.
FoodMart FoodMart is a modern grocery supermarket with a takeaway that supplies lunch and dinner, a bakery, a sushi bar, a butchery, as well as fresh and dairy produce. FoodMart pride themselves on providing high quality products at competitive prices. FoodMart is a local business affiliated with Spa and has South African suppliers.
Jayne Jayne retails European designer clothes stocking brands such as Pomandere (Italian), Antik Batik (French), Humanoid (Danish) and Linda Farrow (British). In addition to clothes it also sells bags, jewellery, shoes, nail polish, candles, scarves, belts and purses.
Forever Young Open for only three weeks, Forever Young stock a selection of jewellery, accessories for women, beachwear for men and women, beach bags, tunics and flip-flops for men, women and children. Forever Young also stock baby clothes for children aged between 6 months and 3 years.
Portofino Set up by the same Italian Seychellois behind Riccardo Carbognin in Victoria, Portofino sells clothes, bags and shoes by young aspiring Italian designers. It also retails a range of authentic designer eyewear by Chanel and Ray Ban and sterling silver jewellery.
Cellular Services Cellular Services is a Samsung retailer selling electronic goods such as TVs, mobile phones, laptops and cameras; as well as electrical appliances such as washing machines, fridges and air conditioning units. At the moment Cellular Services are offering the longest warranty on the island, they are offering an 18 month warranty on most products. The Playroom A place for children between 8 months and 10 years to go and play under supervision. Toys from the Early Learning Centre and helium balloons are on sale, and there is a candy bar selling sweets. The Playroom also puts on birthday parties with the option of a fully catered allinclusive service. The Fishing Specialist This is a fishing tackle shop, which caters for all levels from the beginners to the more advanced angler. It supplies fishing equipment such as rods, reels and clothing, stocking brands such as Shimano, Penn and Daiwa. It also sells snorkeling gear such as masks and flippers. There is a range of polarised sunglasses with UV protection; brands available include Costa Del Mar, Mako and Rapala.
Les Folies de Mahe Owned by French entrepreneur Micheline Ploumidis who is assisted by Lindy Roucou the shop has been opened for eight months. It stocks women’s fashions from France and Italy and is aimed at the elegant tourist or Seychellois woman who loves fashion. As well as clothing Les Folies de Mahe also sells bags, casual wear, beachwear, jewellery, belts and hats. La Palm D’or La Palm D’or are stockists of Seychelles souvenirs including the Coco de Mer. You can find mugs, fridge magnets and T-shirts emblazoned with Seychelles on. In addition there is a range of beachwear and footwear for men, women and children. Italian Fashion Luxury Italian Fashion Luxury specialises in Italian clothing for men, women and children and hopes to branch out into accessories. They sell big brands such as Armani, Jack and Jones and Dries Van Noten, as well as smaller brands such as Only and Nicoletta Carneiro. Italian Fashion Luxury also stocks a range of designer sunglasses, including Tom Ford, Chopard, Sting and Nina Ricci. They are open seven days a week. (Continues on page 4)
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Exotic Scents Exotic Scents are a Seychellois company that produce and manufacture their own line of glycerin and oil based soaps, creams, oils, bath salts, bath bombs and diffusers. The owners also have a shop in Victoria called J & M Boutique that sells crafts, jewellery and a range of body products. Their products are supposed to be especially good for skin allergies such as eczema. Exotica Hair Creations Owned by local entrepreneur Suzie Pierre the salon moved from Union Vale to Eden Island. The salon is staffed by a team of professional stylists and colourists. The salon uses and sells L’oreal products and caters to both European and Afro hair. The salon offers a mobile service and bridal packages. Sey Si Bon Sey Si Bon is a café and smoothie bar. It sells a range of hot and cold snacks including wraps, hot dogs and crepes. It also sells frozen yoghurt and milkshakes. Quatre Epices Boutique Quatre Espices Boutique specialises in Havaianas flipflops for men, women and children. In addition is sells sun tan lotions, beachwear, bags, shoes for women and Vilebrequin shorts for men.
BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
La Belle Epoque A beautifully decorated French restaurant with specialties such as Braised Osso Bucco Milanaise Stlye served with Tagliatelle and Tartar Red Snapper, Salmon, Prawns and Vegetables with Feta Cheese. Havana Club Havana Club is a Cuban style cocktail bar. It is open from 11am to 12am on weekdays and 11am to 2am at weekends. The weekends have a party feel due to the guest DJs playing music on the decking outside where the clientele can dance while enjoying the bar’s specialty cocktails. Porto Cervo This is a restaurant serving Italian and Pan-Asian foods. Pizzas are cooked in their specialist wood fired oven, but dishes also include pasta, udon noodles and local seafood. They also have an array of Italian desserts. Opening times are from 12pm to 12am but the management wants to extend that so that they can introduce a breakfast service. The restaurant also boasts an extensive cocktail menu and has shisha pipes with cocktail inspired infusions. The weekends are particularly lively with DJs playing music in the outside seating area.
Sous le Soleil Stocks Madagascan brand Maki and Monaco based brand Banana Moon. It sells Maki casual wear for men, women and children and Banana Moon swimwear in sizes 36 to 44 for women and age 4 to 10 for girls. Other products available include hats, bags, towels, purses and local jewellery. The shop will start its sale some time in September.
Eden Plaza Laundry The laundry provides washing, drying ironing and dry cleaning services. They also provide an express service where clothes can be washed, dried and ironed within two to four hours. The bulk of their business comes from local businesses such as FoodMart, F & B Linens and the yachts from the marina but they also cater for domestic clients. They can clean curtains, upholstery and guilts as well as specialist fabrics such as wool and silk. All items are cleaned using high-end Sri Lankan detergents and softeners.
Eden Ice Cream Sells Seychellois ice creams in a range of exotic flavours such as hazelnut, passion fruit and takamaka rum and raisin. They also sell birthday cakes, milkshakes, smoothies and crepes. Eden Ice Cream is open till late seven days a week.
Eden Casino The casino cost SCR 50 million to build and has an allSeychellois board of directors. The perfect place to go if you are feeling lucky or simply want to relax with a drink after a long day. The casino hosts a range of facilities from roulette, black jack and poker tables to slot machines. Its opening hours are from 12pm to 4am Mon to Sun.
Blackberry Is Up For Sale After Its Decline In The Smartphone Market
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fter years of falling sales one time global leader Blackberry have put the company, previously known as Research In Motion (RIM), up for sale. Once nicknamed the ‘Crackberry’ for its addictiveness Blackberry failed to revamp its products to compete with the likes of Apple’s iPhone and Samsung and it announced on Monday 12th August that it had decided to ‘explore strategic alternatives’. Buyers are being sought although the company could also be broken up. According to figures released by IDC Blackberry’s market share has fallen from an impressive 50% in 2009 in the US right down to a mere 3% in 2013. So far has the company fallen that on the day that it went up for sale the American retailer Wirefly was selling it’s latest phone, the
Z10 that had a launch price of $199, for a lowly $19.99. In the last quarter, Blackberry, lost $84 million and was last year forced to make 5,000 of its staff redundant.
Blackberry revolutionised business communications back in 1999 when they launched an email pager that allowed its users to pick up and answer emails directly from their pager. They followed this up with the Curve, the Pearl and the Bold, which had high spec cameras and other features to boost its appeal to the consumer. But then in 2007 Apple launched their iPhones that was a media device, which valued games and music as much as email. And with the launch of Android powered devices in October 2008 Blackberry fell further behind. It is thought that interested buyers will come from the technology
At its high even President Obama was a fan of Blackberry, carrying it everywhere during his 2008 electoral trail industry such as Samsung Electronics and Amazon but it could be rescued by its largest shareholder,
Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial Ltd. Who already control 10% of the company.
BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
SEPTEMBER 2013
Joseph Albert Launches His New Catamaran, Isle Of Mahe
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Inter Island Boat’s newest catamaran Isle of Mahe
here is clear excitement in the air as guests gather on the shore at Inter Island Quay, Victoria, for the long awaited launch of Inter Island Boat’s fourth and newest catamaran, Isle of Mahe. Guests are distinguished and well dressed, from
company CEOs, to ministers and friends of the chairman, Joseph Albert; we all wait with anticipation for the boat’s blessing and the chance to be amongst the first passengers of the 470-seater vessel. The launch kicks off with a speech by Creole Travel Services deputy
general manager and Joseph Albert’s son, Guillaume Albert. He thanks the attendees and talks candidly about the boat’s first conception over a year ago and the agencies involved in designing and constructing the boat from the local artist that designed the catamaran’s murals to the boat’s architect Guy Obren, director of Australian firm Wildcat Marine. Following this we receive an address by minister of Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange who discusses the advancements of ferry transport between the Seychelles islands. The minister saying ‘I salute you Jo and your company for having the foresight and bravery that is needed to really say that I’ll put my money where my mouth is’ and going on to pledge the government’s full support of the venture. There is a blessing by Catholic Bishop Denis Wiehe and Anglican Reverend Danny Elizabeth offer-
Guillaume Albert delivers the opening speech
Bishop Denis Wiehe blesses the catamaran with holy water
Inter Island Boats chairman Joseph Albert and Minister St. Ange after cutting the ribbon
Isle of Mahe designer and director of Wildcat Marine, Guy Obren
On board, hotel and retail entrepreneur Mary Geese with Inter Island Boats Chairman Joseph Albert, Aviva Pool and PS for Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation Marise Berlouis
Managing Director of Inter Island Ferry Ltd. William Rose, Chairman of SCCI Marco Francis and Editor of Le Seychellois Gervais Henrie
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ing prayers asking that the boat be protected from the perils of the sea. The Bishop and Reverend bless the boat by dousing it with holy water. Guilluame Albert introduces the French Ambassador to Seychelles Mrs Geneviève Iancu who he names as Isle of Mahe’s godmother. This title honoured to her because of the continuing relationship between France and Seychelles as well as the continuing high volumes of French tourists that visit yearly. Mrs Geneviève Iancu is thus given the honour of doing the Champaign toast and formally naming the boat. At 5:30pm minister St. Ange cuts the ribbon welcoming guests onto the boat and we set off on our sunset cruise around Mahe’s north coastline. On board we are treated to canapés and cocktails whilst guests mingle and enjoy the beautiful vista of Mahe island as the sun goes down.
Director of Inter Island Ferry Ltd. Cindy Rose with influential businessman Peter Goldsmith
A cake to celebrate the launch
William Rose, Peter Goldsmith and Joseph Albert
SEPTEMBER 2013
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BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
The Birth of a New Political Party
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SUP leader Ralph Volcere
eychelles is witnessing the emergence of a new political party. In a well-attended meeting held at the STC Conference Centre on Saturday the 24th August, the name was unveiled; Seselwa United Party (SUP). As it turned out, the meeting was the last convention of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in which the members needed to endorse the change of name from NDP to SUP. There was also unanimous approval for the adoption of a new constitution which in effect means that the affairs of the SUP will be dictated by the new constitution. Also present at the convention was the leader of the Seychelles National Party, Mr Wavel Ramkalawan who addressed the gathering. He pledged support for the new party and made a call for all the opposition forces to unite highlighting
that a combined strategy needs to be adopted for future elections. Visibly absent from the meeting was Mr Philippe Boulle, past independent presidential candidate and astute lawyer who has been nominated by the CAA (Constitutional Appointments Authority) to the post of Chief Justice. The meeting in which the party colours and motto was also adopted saw the presence of yet another past independent presidential candidate Mr Viral Dhanjee. Unfortunately, Mr Dhanjee’s candidacy suffered a setback and he could not participate in the 2011 presidential elections. He and another well-known activist on the local political scene, Mr Ian Delorie took to the podium in support of the SUP. The emergence of a new party has been most welcomed by Sir James Mancham who was the founding president of the Democratic Party (DP); the forerunner of the NDP. While wishing the new party well, Mr Mancham has distanced himself from SUP. In an interview aired on SBC, Mr Mancham stated that he was for statesmanship rather than
confrontational party politics. On his return to Seychelles in 1992 after 15 years in exile following his overthrow in 1977, Sir James advocated a policy of national reconciliation which cost him dearly in terms of popular support. After having won about a third of the popular votes in the first multiparty elections with proportional representation in the national assembly, his support base dwindled rapidly and the DP ended up being a shadow of its former self. However, Sir James has hinted that there is a possibility that his philosophy is revived if some young and able leader decides to revive the DP. The party in power, Parti Lepep, as expected has shunned the new party calling it a joke highlighting the bitter rivalry existent on the local political playing field of Sey-
Mr. Ian Delorie
chelles. The name resembles that of the SIUP (Seychelles Islanders United Party) and the SPUP (Seychelles People’s United Party); both forerunners of Parti Lepep. The emergence of the SUP is a welcomed development for the opposition activists as it responds to a long call for a united opposition movement. It is to be noted that there has been several attempts in the past to unite opposition forces to challenge government. Several alliances had been created in the past, especially for contesting elections but none has been successful in ousting Parti Lepep from power which it has held for more than three decades. With the new impetus and a sense of urgency, the opposition leaders seem more determined than ever to succeed this time around.
SNP and SUP leaders will work together during the next election
Eden Casino Opens its Doors The opening was compeered by former Miss Seychelles pageant winner Sherlyn Furneau and included a short speech by Tourism and Culture minister Alain St Ange and a formal address by Finance, Trade and Investment minister Pierre Laporte who recognised the contributions that the casino will make to the local business The four directors of Eden Casino community and to tourism. It is thought that Eden Caver five hundred people, sino will also add to Eden Island’s including ministers, dipappeal and help them attract more lomats and gaming enthuhomebuyers. siasts, gathered at Eden Plaza on Saturday 31st August for the After minister Laporte cut the ribgrand opening of Seychelles’ largest bon opening Eden Casino, visitors were free to look around and start casino, Eden Casino. using the facilities. The décor inThe casino is financed by an en- side is particularly impressive; there tirely Seychellois team of investors; are replica granite rocks from Anse bringing together Eden Entertain- Source D’argent, La Digue at the enment’s James Lesperance and part- trance, black and white photography ner Shanna Victor with husband and of the beach along one of the walls wife team Alian and Marie Alise Er- and artistic use of bamboo and lightnestine of Four Aces and promises to ing. There is an Intrigue Wall by Seyoffer its clientele superior facilities chellois artist John Etienne and the and service. granite rocks and tall Aladdin Ara-
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bian pots in the lounge are the work of another Seychellois artist Egbert Marday. The rest rooms are themed after Hollywood icons with Marilyn Monroe representing the ladies room and Frank Sinatra the men’s. But what is for sure is that you’ll be spending more than just a penny at Eden Casino. The casino has three rooms, which are decked out in furniture from Torino, Italy. The main gambling floor is large and creates quite an impression as you walk into the casino, the games tables and seating are in purple leather, there is a lounge and bar area with white leather sofas called Le Caveau Bar Lounge which includes a stage where jazz trio Jewal will entertain visitors three times a week. The second room is lined with shiny slot machines and tall stools and also has its own bar. The final room is the VIP Gaming Lounge, offering a private setting for the casino’s more distinguished clientele, decorated in cream, its tables and stools feature Swarovski crystals; the room also benefits from
The Slot Machine Room a massage chair and the services of an onsite masseuse. Eden Casino is a wonderful new venue and a valuable new asset to Eden Plaza.
VIP Gaming Lounge
BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
SEPTEMBER 2013
Get Ready for Boat Show Seychelles 2014
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n September 2012 Seychelles held its first boat show taking place at Angelfish Marina. The main aim was to introduce Seychelles Yacht Charters/ Floatilla Yacht Management to local business partners, the travel trade and hotels. Three yachts in total took part in the event, Seychelles Yacht Charter/ Floarilla Yacht Management’s very own exclusive 60ft catamaran- Nkalindau, a 48ft Riviera Sportsfisher called uShaka and
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Luxury Yacht Charters’ high-end super yacht Seastream. The event was a success and received over 600 visitors over the course of five days including key personalities, ambassadors and boating retailers. Following on from this success organisers- Seychelles Yacht Charter/ Floatilla Yacht Managment, who market most of Seychelles’ charter yachts, are planning to host an even bigger and better event for Boat Show Seychelles 2014. Strongly supported by the minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St. Ange, the show promises great things.
Lynn Gower, Marketing and Sales and Coordinator of Events at Seychelles Yacht Charter states that this coming event is to market and showcase the many aspects of maritime possibilities available in Seychelles. The new opening of a marina on Eden Island falls at the perfect time and she is proud to state that Eden Island Marina/ Hunt Deltel are Lynn Gower of Seychelles Yacht willing partners and approve of Charter/ Floatilla Yacht Management the event.
Boat Show Seychelles 2014 will feature up to 20 boats Boat Show Seychelles 2014 will run over five days and will take place in February during the Carnaval de Victoria, as it is the most opportune time when we have international press, travel agents and key personalities in Seychelles. Listed to take part are diving centres, tackle retailers, water sports centres, fishing clubs/ associations, yacht charter companies, maritime schools and conservation agents such as Maritime Conservation Seychelles, Eden Island Plaza, maritime insurance brokers, certain overseas partners such as a sailing school, lo-
cal artists and an overseas recruitment agent to recruit local skippers and stewardesses for overseas posts. It is hoped that eventually the boat show will be complemented by an international fishing competition where keen fishermen from all over the world would charter boats from Seychelles. If you would like to be involved in Boat Show Seychelles 2014 contact Lynn Gower via email on sales@ syc.sc . Business Seychelles wishes Boat Show Seychelles 2014 the very best.
New SCCI Chairman Marco Francis Talks Business
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aving been elected to his post as chairman in March Marco Francis is confident and animated during our meeting at the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI) HQ in Victoria. On the inspiration behind why he applied for the role he says that he had been a member of the SCCI for 7 years and that when the opportunity was announced friends suggested that he put himself forward. With their support, he felt that he had a lot to offer, being a young businessman himself he had an insight into the dilemmas faced by the business community. Mr Francis started from humble beginnings and built up his businesses from scratch after his studies in the UK. He has various business interests and this prepared him for his chairmanship of SCCI.
As elected chairman of SCCI Mr Francis must take a lead role in representing the business community in Seychelles. He sees himself as the person to push their agenda forward and to make a stand to defend the rights of local businesses, working with government he hopes to develop the right business policies to encourage economic growth and the distribution of wealth. This he says will encourage entrepreneurship and the creation of jobs for local people.
The SCCI’s main objective is ‘to help create a conducive environment for free enterprise to operate, grow and create wealth for the community and to assist in enhancing local and foreign investment’ and since taking up his post Mr Francis has taken forward numerous plans of action to try and achieve this. It was important for Mr Francis to make the SCCI a non-political organisation asserting that the SCCI endeavour to support the business community without political agenda and regardless of their members’ political allegiances.
Mr Francis has pushed government ministries on policies that affect the business community, such as the Corporate Social Tax (CSR), instead of businesses paying 0.5% tax on their total turnover the SCCI are pushing for tax to be applied to profit only. The SCCI have been lobbying for an equal tax system. Currently the government policy is that those businesses registered on Trop-X Security Exchange pay less corporate tax than those not registered. This policy gives big businesses an advantage over smaller businesses that may not wish to register or who may not be able to afford the registration costs, the SCCI are requesting an equal tax rate for all businesses. One of the SCCI’s recent successes
has been to ensure that all hotels in Seychelles should have a taxi stand to allow local drivers access to their clientele. Having achieved this they are now pushing to limit the number of courtesy cars a hotel can have to one per hotel. The SCCI welcomed the government’s newly created department for Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation headed by Mrs Marise Berlouis and feel that the next step is for other government departments and ministries to be pro-business and to recognise that they must serve the business community. Already having a good relationship with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Employment, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport and the Ministry of Finance, Mr Francis feels that the progressive and collaborative relationship they share can be used as a model for other government ministries. Having received a lot of complaints from SCCI members Mr Francis would like to work with the Planning Authority to improve the bureaucracy involved when attempting to obtain planning permission. ‘At the moment’ he says ‘the Planning Authority is a merrygo-round. The SCCI want them to get up from their cozy chairs and
SCCI Chairman Marco Francis says that the new Chamber House is an additional priority. start working for the people. They should never forget that they are here to serve the people not themselves’. Mr Francis went on to say that he wants transparency and clear time frames for planning approval as the longer the process takes the more it costs the businesses. This waiting time he says often acts as a deterrent for ordinary business proprietors. In terms of additional priorities going forward, Mr Francis is keen to see the building work on the new Chamber House at Ile Du Port begin. He would also like to set up a Court of Arbitration so that the business community can resolve their disputes in a smooth, timely and relatively inexpensive manner. Finally, Mr Francis would like to create a partnership initiative with all government institutions to open up dialogue between them and the business community. He sees the SCCI as being a vehicle for synergy between policy makers and the business world.
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BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
Congratulations Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management Class of 2013
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n Friday 23rd August and after three years of hard work the Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management students of the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) donned their black gowns for their graduation ceremony, held at the UniSey Conference Centre in Anse Royale. They are the third cohort of students to graduate from this course, which has teaching staff working closely with Shannon College of Hospitality Management in Ireland. Speakers at the ceremony in-
Award and the STA Special Mention Award was awarded to Natasha Anthony.
Director of Shannon College of Hospitality Managment Mr Philip Smyth
General Manager of Constance Hospitality Academy
cluded STA principal Mr Flavien Joubert, Director of Shannon College of Hospitality Management Mr Philip Smyth and the General Manager of Constance Hospitality Academy in Mauritius and STA patron Mr Claude Narain.
Graduating Class 2013 with their teachers
There were a total of twelve graduates from all over Sey-
Principal of the STA Flavien Joubert
chelles; Emmanuella Andimignon, Natasha Anthony, Katia Bastille, Kelly Boucary, James Dupres, Laureen Esparon, Nelson Hoareau, Vanessa Jean-Louis, Dominique Larose, Maria Lyra, Tania Reginald and Beryl Udwadia.
Nelson Hoareau, winner of the President’s Cup, said that he was overjoyed to win the award, adding ‘I’m eager and ready to study at Shannon College and I hope I will once again be successful. The aim is to be a general manager in the tourism industry’. The students departed for Ireland on 27th August to follow a Bachelor’s Degree at Shannon College of Hospitality Management for 18 months.
As well as the presentation of diploma certificates there were five awards presented in a range of categories to reward high achievers. The Best Business and Finance Subjects Award was awarded to Beryl Udwadia; Best Professional Subjects Award was given to Dominique Larose; Best Industry Placement Award went to Nelson Hoareau who also won the President’s Cup
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Nelson Hoareau with his family
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Another Great Result for Local Triathlete Nick Baldwin
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eychelles’ only professional athlete, 25 year old Nick Baldwin, has had a busy 2013. After turning professional earlier this year he has competed in four major competitions; securing a top ten position in three of them. He has been flying the flag for Seychelles abroad and showing that he is certainly one to watch out for in the future. Although busy training in the UK, Nick took some time out to speak to Business Seychelles about his journey so far.
How did you discover your talent for the triathlon? I raced my first triathlon whilst studying Business Economics and French at university, but it’s fair to say that triathlon didn’t come naturally to me initially. In the early years my results weren’t in the least bit competitive, but I was competing for the sheer enjoyment. With the ambition of racing at the Ironman World Championships, I committed myself to training and my results improved as a result. It took 4-5 years of consistent training until I achieved some truly noteworthy results, so it didn’t happen overnight. What hurdles did you have to cross before you became a professional athlete? The biggest decision was when I graduated from university and had to decide whether to go down the corporate path or choose triathlon. At first I applied for a number of graduate schemes in finance, but in doing so realised that my heart wasn’t in it. Triathlon was my passion and what I wanted to do, so I set about committing to it and being the best that I could be. What kind of support did you get along the way? My family has always been extremely supportive of me and encouraged me to pursue my ambitions in triathlon. Without that support it would have been difficult to commit fully. Triathlon isn’t a cheap sport to compete in and I’ve been extremely fortunate to receive sponsorship from companies who have believed in me and my potential.
than myself. With that, I spent 6 months training in Boulder, Colorado (USA) which is home to many of the world’s best triathletes. In this environment you’re constantly fighting to keep up with others and you have to raise your game as a result. What does your training routine involve? A typical training week would include 20km of swimming, 500km of cycling and 90-100km of running, which is around 30 hours of training. Depending on the time of year, it may be slightly less or more. Does your training change depending on the race you are preparing for? It’s important to understand the demands of each race and know what challenges you’ll face on race day, so you prepare specifically for each race. For Copenhagen I expected the race to be tactical with some surges throughout the day, so my training was designed to take that into account, which meant that on race day I was ready for what was
Nick at the finish line at Ironman Copenhagen about to come. What has the past year been like for you? 2013 has been an important year, making the transition from an amateur triathlete to being a professional. As always there have been some great experiences and some brutal training sessions along the way! I also have the support of some great companies, who allow me to train full-time and compete internationally. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank ISPC Seychelles, Eden Island Marina, Vijay Construction and Air Seychelles for their support and for allowing me to compete at the highest level of triathlon. What is your proudest achievement of your career to date? Becoming World Champion in the 18-24 age-group at the 2012 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas (1.2 mile swim – 56 mile bike – 13.1 mile run) was a huge result and one that I’ll always be proud of. Most recently, finishing 4th overall at Ironman Copenhagen in a time of 8:18 is the stand out result of my debut pro season. What has been the biggest challenge?
What made you make the decision to leave Seychelles to train abroad? After deciding to train fulltime in 2012, I realised the importance of training with top triathletes who are better
Nick’s race time 0f 8.18 at Copenhagen is one of the fastest times set by an athlete in their 20s
Convincing others that being a professional triathlete is a serious job. People see a life of travelling and the
smiles at the finish line, but what they don’t see is the process that gets you there - the 4am alarm calls to go training, the intense interval sessions that leave you nauseous or the days where you feel you can barely walk because you’re so worn down. It’s not an easy profession, but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else – this is what I was born to do. What do you miss most about Seychelles when you are away? It’s tough to say goodbye to family and friends, but it’s never too long until I’m back. I miss the sea, especially when training inland or in the mountains. I’m really looking forward to returning for Christmas and New Year before resuming training for the 2014 season. If you were not an athlete what would you be doing? That’s a tough question! I’d likely be using my degree in some context, perhaps working in sports marketing, which is an area I’m very interested in. What are your goals and aspirations? I have the highest aspirations within the sport and truly believe that I can be competitive in future World Championship events. At 25, I’ve still got 5-10 years until I reach my athletic peak, so time is on my side. My time of 8:18 is one of the fastest times in history by an athlete in their 20’s, so I’m really excited about what the future holds. I’ll continue to work hard and stay focused on my ultimate ambition of becoming Ironman World Champion. Business Seychelles would like to wish Nick Baldwin all the very best in his future career. We will follow his journey with enthusiasm and support.
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BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
Protecting Your Home With Alert Surveillance
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lert Surveillance is a growing business run by Seychellois entrepreneur Eddie Prea, based in trendy, state of the art offices in Victoria’s Allied Mall. The business is a year and a half old and specialises in alarm systems for homes and businesses. I went down to their offices to find out what they had to offer the Seychellois consumer. Alert Surveillance offers various packages to their clients. They will visit your property, conduct a free
survey, install the alarm system, integrate it with your telephone network and monitor the premises 24 hours, responding to emergencies as they occur. Customers rent the equipment for a fixed term contract of three years. The company offers fixed packages to certain properties such as those on Ile Perseverance but most customers are offered a package after receiving a complimentary survey. The lowest package is priced at SCR355 per month and includes passive inferred beams and
magnetic switches on doors and windows. But higher price plans offer shock sensors, smoke detectors, glass break sensors and panic buttons. The panic buttons also include medical panic buttons providing wristbands and lanyards for the elderly or sick. Response units will contact the customer and visit the propriety to determine whether there is cause for concern and if there is they will contact emergency services and stay at the property until both the homeowner and emergency services get there. At the moment there is a two-man response team that covers the entire of Mahe island but eventually there will be a response team dedicated to each of the four regions: north, east, south and west, which will make deployment times even quicker. All clients also have the use of ‘home mode’, which allows them to activate alarms in certain parts of their home while they are at home. Meaning that areas that you are not using can be protected such as your garage or the downstairs area when you are upstairs.
Eddie Prea
tailor made alarm products for the Seychelles market, over a period of five years he gathered research and tested the products making sure that they were suitable for the Seychelles climate. Eddie’s vision is to one day put an alarm in every Seychellois household so that protecting your property is not seen as a luxury only the rich can afford. To show the company’s commitment to affordability they offer a flexible payment method, which allows customers to pay less one month and make up the payment the next. Customers can also opt to pay a year in advance and receive a month free. The business is currently in the process of developing new technology for banks and businesses alike which will indentify staff and allow them to use a personal security code to access
buildings, this will enable the company to indentify when facilities are being accessed and by whom. If staff are compromised and forced to open doors they will be able to enter a dress code that will open the door but at the same time trigger an alert with the response team highlighting that such a compromise has taken place. Another of the company’s future plans is to introduce a tracking system so that stolen goods can be tracked via satellite. This will be particularly useful in regards to valuable items such as cars, laptops and entertainment systems. Eddie is so confident in his products that Alert Surveillance is offering local businesses the chance to test their equipment by offering a two month free trial of their alarm systems.
The director of Alert Surveillance Eddie Prea has been in the electronics business for twentyfive years and has a wealth of experience. He set up the company after noticing that there was a rise in burglaries in Seychelles, realising that there was a lack of affordable alarm systems for ordinary households he started thinking about the rental template as a way to make protecting the average home affordable. He worked with Saqib Ali, an Electronic Security Consultant based in Dubai, to develop
If you are a local business in need of a security solution then why not trial an Alert Surveillance alarm system for free for two months. Simply call 250 1280
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USS Carter Hall Docks at President Michel meets Port Victoria with India’s Head of External Affairs ON THE DIPLOMATIC SCENE
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r. Sudhir Vyas, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India paid an informal visit to state house on 6th August to discuss areas of bilateral cooperation. These areas included the economy, the military, training, research and air links. As two long-standing partners of the Indian Ocean region they decided to maximise their coop- President James Michel met with Mr. Sudhir Vyas, Secretary (West) eration. of the Ministry of External Affairs of India at State House. Also in attendance at the This event followed the by Mr. Sudhir Vyas, Secmeeting were the Indian 8th India-Seychelles Joint retary (West), Ministry of High Commissioner, Mr Commission meeting, External Affairs of India. Thanglura Darlong, the which was held in May in Principal Secretary in the New Delhi. The Seychelles Prior to the Joint CommisMinistry of Foreign Af- delegation was led by the sion meeting in April 2012 fairs, Ambassador Maurice Principal Secretary in the the Indian President, PratLoustau-Lalanne and the Ministry of Foreign Af- ibha Patil put forward a $ President’s Diplomatic Ad- fairs, Ambassador Maurice 50 million package of credit viser, Ambassador Callixte Loustau-Lalanne, and the and a grant of $ 25 million D’Offay. Indian delegation was led for Seychelles.
Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Christopher Ibrahim handles line aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall
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ailors and Marines aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) arrived in Port Victoria, Seychelles for a port visit on Sunday 25th August. The port visit continues Naval Forces Europe and Africa efforts to strengthen partnerships with East African nations in order to improve regional stability. While in Seychelles the ship will host a reception for dignitaries and military
officials. Sailors and Marines will have the chance to explore the local culture and take part in a community project at a local school. According to Carter Hall’s commanding officer Cmdr. Gregory D. Blyden “Seychelles is looking forward to having us and we are very much looking forward to being here, Seychelles is an opportunity for our Sailors and Marines to relax and enjoy some well-deserved liberty.”
EU Congratulates Luxembourg MPRA on 5,000 hours of Patrolling Seychelles’ Waters
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ritish High Commissioner and holder of the local EU Presidency, Lindsay Skoll has congratulated the Luxembourg Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) for completing a milestone 5,000 hours of patrolling the waters surrounding Seychelles. This has been part of the EU’s anti-piracy and maritime safety operations for Seychelles and has yielded invaluable intelligence for counter piracy operations off the Horn of Africa, including actively disrupting 34 piracy activities. The Luxembourg MPRA has been operating under the EU Naval Force Somalia Operation ATALANTA since 2009 and has been an important player in the EU’s support for Seychelles’ anti-piracy and maritime safety operations. It clocked up the time after 885 sorties between 2009 and July 2013.
On a recent visit to the MPRA base at Pointe Larue International Airport, High Commissioner Skoll said “The EU-Seychelles partnership has made a tremendous impact on maritime safety in the western Indian Ocean. Piracy attacks in the region are now at their lowest level since 2009. The dedication and expertise shown by the Luxembourg crews have been superb”. She went on to say that we cannot yet declare an end to the threat of piracy in the region. “We must be careful not to celebrate too soon, and also recognise that in no small part the reduction in piracy is due to the ongoing
successful maritime security operations of both the Seychelles and its international partners assisting in the region; the Luxembourg commitment based here is an excellent example. The situation on land in Somalia is improving, but we must not allow piracy to resurge or crim-
inal elements to profit from the remnants of instability.” As well as its work on anti-piracy, the Luxembourg MPRA has also played a vital role in four search and rescue missions, which helped save the lives of over 40 people.
High Commissioner Skoll with the team
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BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
Should Hotels in Seychelles Use the International Hotel Rating System?
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t can be a huge dilemma choosing a hotel, trawling through recommendations and reviews, scanning through their images and reading their descriptions online can be misleading so having a hotel rating system can be really beneficial. There are varying rating systems used but they are all there to give the traveler an indication of the quality of service and facilities they can expect at that particular establishment. Most hotels use the Forbes Travel Guide, launched as
the Mobil Travel Guide in 1958, which uses a star system, with the more stars indicating greater luxury.
Star Definitions
catering to the guest’s specific needs throughout their stay.
***** 5 Star Hotels These exceptional properties provide a memorable experience through virtually flawless service and the finest of amenities. Staffs are intuitive, engaging and passionate, and eagerly deliver service above and beyond the guests’ expectations. The hotel was designed with the guest’s comfort in mind, with particular attention paid to craftsmanship and quality of product. A Five Star property is a destination unto itself. **** 4 Star Hotels These properties provide a distinctive setting, and the guest will find many interesting and inviting elements to enjoy throughout the property. Attention to detail is prominent throughout the property, from design concept to quality of products provided. Staffs are accommodating and take pride in
The Forbes Travel Guide employs inspectors to visit hotels unannounced testing various aspects of the establishment’s experience for two or three days. Hotels can be awarded star ratings of one to three, but all those deemed capable of achieving four or five stars receive a further undercover inspection where the hotel’s services are scrutinised in more depth.
*** 3 Star Hotels These well-appointed establishments have enhanced amenities that provide travelers with a strong sense of location, whether for style or function. They may have a distinguishing style and ambience in both the public spaces and guest rooms; or they may be more focused on functionality, providing guests with easy access to local events, meetings or tourism highlights.
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Should hotels in Seychelles use one of the independent globally recognised systems such as Forbes Travel Guide to rate their services? We found overwhelming support for hotels to be evaluated by an independent organisation with 97% of respondents stating that they believe hotels should use a globally recognised system whereby they are awarded stars by inspectors. One
respondent said that they think a panel of customers should rate Seychelles’ hotels. Another said that the hotels should be allowed the privilege to award themselves a rating but that then that rating should be verified by an external standards agency.
** 2 Star Hotels The Two Star hotel is considered a clean, comfortable and reliable establishment that has expanded amenities, such as a full-service restaurant. * 1 Star Hotels The One Star lodging is a limitedservice hotel or inn that is considered a clean, comfortable and reliable establishment.
Disney looses up to $190 million on Lone Ranger film!
hief Financial Officer at Walt Disney Co. Jay Rasulo predicted that the company would endure losses of between $160, 000 and $190,000 after the theatrical failure of The Lone Ranger. Its figures will be released in the third quarter’s results ending September. The Lone Ranger was released on 3rd July and barely hit the $29 million mark in ticket sales across USA and Canada on its first weekend. The film
Hotels in Seychelles do not employ such a system; they do not use Forbes Travel Guide or any other model by which to rate their service. Instead hotels are free to award themselves their own star rating. Is this misleading to travelers who think that they are using a globally recognized categorization system comparable with hotels internationally? What do you think? Business Seychelles took to the streets to gather public opinion.
which cost $219 million to make is unlikely to break even. Despite the film’s losses Disney CEO Bob Iger assured that “We still think the tentpole strategy is a good strategy,” he said. “That one way to rise above the din and the competition is with a big film, not just big budget, but big story, big cast, big marketing behind it.” According to the film’s star, Johnny Depp, the failure of the film
was due to the reviews by critics, “I think the reviews were written seven to eight months before we released the film.”
But blame could also be seen to lie with the flailing popularity of the western genre in the 21st century. The Lone Ranger as a piece of popular culture has not been prominent for forty years and attempts to revive the TV series in the 1980s failed, as did a TV movie in 2003. Even with this evidence the producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski felt that the star power of Johnny Depp, who had turned Pirates of the Caribbean into a multibillion dollar franchise, would be enough to draw in audiences.
Unfortunately however, there has been a reduction in the ability for big name actors to draw in huge audiences over the last two decades.
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15 Years in Drug Rehabilitation
he use of illegal drugs has an affect on business productivity, healthcare costs and criminal justice costs and with President Michel having admitted that the biggest social problems affecting Seychelles today is drugs; it would seem that the rehabilitation services have got their work cut out. One such service is the Mont Royal Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre. Open for 15 years, first at Foret Noire then at North East Point due to a fire in 2011, the centre has played a crucial role in helping those with a dependency on drugs and alcohol to get clean.
Mont Royal Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, formerly government funded must now, due to IMF reforms, apply for grants and will eventually have to partly fund itself. So it is left to the Director Robert Moumou to try and think of entrepreneurial ways to generate an income for the centre. At the moment patients are asked to make a contribution towards their stay of SCR100 per week for a minimum of six weeks. The centre, which presently houses 28 male residential patients, was under the umbrella of CARE for 10 years but have now branched out on their own although they still work closely with CARE in terms of referrals and running educational programmes in schools. They also work closely with Seychelles Hospital, the Wellness Centre at Les Canelles with detoxification. The centre continues to work in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
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The centre runs a project with the Ministry of Social Affairs to support the homeless and local prostitutes as 90% of them are on drugs. They also work with the Drug and Alcohol Council and with the Employers Assistance Programme to support recovering addicts to remain in employment and to facilitate the treatment of workers facing drug problems. Mont Royal Drugs & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, which has a success rate of 29%, promotes abstinence and their programme focuses on talking patients off substances and teaching them life skills such as communication skills, problem solving skills and a code of ethics. It uses the Minnesota Model of mutual support and the 12 Steps Programme that was developed for treating alcoholism initially but is now used across various addictions. Once patients have finished their residential stint at Mont Royal Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre they are further supported through day care sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Treatment is offered on a case-by-case basis and each patient has a tailor-made programme, which is reviewed weekly, this includes medical and psychological treatments for their addiction. Mr Moumou asserts that their programme is on a par with European treatments standards having received exemplary staff training in Mauritius, Singapore and South Africa. According to Mr Moumou ignorance about addiction remains an issue in the community and often it is the patients’ families that con-
tribute to their relapse, encouraging them to have just ‘one drink’ at a celebration for example. Nonetheless each patient must have a key person to support them, usually a family member. Family support sessions are run from 3pm until 4.30pm on Wednesdays at 309 Victoria House, this provides them with an opportunity to address their needs and arrange reconciliation meetings with the addict. For any parents or employees who want to confirm whether their child or employees may be on drugs, drug test services are also provided with the possibility of counselling assistance afterwards. The centre’s staff come from a community studies and social work background, with all counselors needing a Diploma in Social Work to practice. The centre also provides its own training and each employee must complete the basic Addiction course. It is often assumed that those with drug or alcohol problems come
Facebook to Introduce Facial Recognition Database
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ccording to Reuters Facebook is to introduce a facial recognition database with users’ profile photographs. This would e used to improve the ‘Tag Suggest’ feature, which makes it easier when tagging friends into uploaded photographs. In the light of the recent US National Security Collaborations, in which Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Apple are all involved, there may be some who are unwilling to participate in this due
to privacy concerns, these people according to Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan, will
from deprived backgrounds but Mr Moumou disputes this claiming that his patients come from a wide spectrum from university graduates to electricians with most of them being educated and eloquent. He says that there is more of a correlation in terms of their ages with cannabis addicts tending to be around 14-16, alcoholics aged 30-35 and heroin addicts aged 24 plus. To further address the relapse and the difficulty patients have finding employment upon completion of their programme, the centre will set up a business, such as a cleaning business, to provide employment opportunities to former patients. If you or anyone you know is suffering with alcohol or drug addiction please contact the Mont Royal Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre on 4241 700 / 432 4755 or visit their office at room 309 Victoria House. You can also email them at
[email protected] for any queries or assistance.
have the opportunity to opt out of the ‘Tag Suggest’ database. Egan went on to hint that the company may go on to use the facial recognition database in other capacities; ‘Can I say that we will never use facial recognition technology for any other purposes? Absolutely not. If we decided to use it in different ways we will continue to provide people transparency about that and we will continue to provide control.’
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A Seychelles golf experience has rejected conventional grass driving ranges in favour of the Indian Ocean
The luxury Four Seasons resort on the island
he Seychelles isn’t somewhere that typically features on golfers’ radars – the golf course on the mainland of Mahé has just nine holes. Reconstructing the destination’s ocean setting and its islands’ limited landmass as a selling point, the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles has launched a Sunset Golf experience that turns the surrounding Indian Ocean into a driving range.
BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
Overwater golf driving range launched in the Seychelles
grades within 48 hours, releasing fish food into the water. Only one session takes place per evening, with
With a 6pm tee-off time, the one-hour session on Petite Anse beach takes place as the sun sets. During that time, golfers are invited to drive as many balls as they wish into the sea, starting as the sun sets on the west coast beach and finishing once darkness has fallen. A number of yard markers have been erected in the bay to enable golfers to calculate their reach. In order to fully adhere to environmental concerns, the resort uses Ecobioballs. Similar in appearance to conventional golf balls, the balls’ outer shell biode-
each costing €40. The price includes 20 Ecobioballs, a cocktail, use of clubs and driving mats; service charge and local taxes are extra.
At the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, golfers drive their balls directly into the Indian Ocean Photo: Four Seasons
IECD Collects Data on National Childminding Services
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he Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD) are creating a childminding programme aimed at supporting childminders to improve and maintain high standards of service in Seychelles. Conducting the study will be seventy data collectors from across various government depart-
ments and ministries and in preparation they took part in a three-day intensive training programme at the STC Conference Room. This is inline with the consultative approach that has been adopted by the IECD. Mrs Shirley Choppy, IECD’s Chief Executive Officer, has said that the study will be vital in helping the authorities in un-
Childminders meeting on Mahe
derstanding the challenges faced by those in childminding services. The study, she asserts, will provide insight for the formulation of policies, standards and programmes to assist childminders to provide the best possible care for Seychelles’s 0 to 3 year olds.
IECD Technical team for childminding hundred childminders in Seychelles and preliminary consultations and pi-
lots found that they intend to be fully engaged with the study.
There are an estimated two
Data Collectors at IECD Training Workshop
BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
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Cleaning Up Seychelles with Paradise Hygiene
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aving started trading in June of this year Paradise Hygiene is a young business with big ambitions, as is apparent from talking to Sales and Support Manager David Gabriel ‘in the short term I want this business to become the largest hygiene provider in Seychelles, in the longer term, about 10 years time, I hope the company will expand into parts of India and Mombasa’. Paradise Hygiene is a supplier of cleaning products to the hospitality industry in Seychelles and see themselves as very much working in partnership with clients to enhance the service given to the customer. According to Gabriel, also a major shareholder in the company, Paradise Hygiene came about because its proprietors felt fed up of
the stagnant market, which had been dominated by the same two companies for a decade; and on realising that customers were not happy they decided that they would form their own company and offer a better service. Their main competitors are Interocean Trading who specialise in Ecolab products and Apex who specialise in Diversey. By comparison Paradise Hygiene offer a range of three brands, British brand Cleenol, German brand Seitz and Qatari brand Alaska and also boast that their staff have over 25 years of expertise, well over that of their competitors. According to Gabriel, they are the only cleaning suppliers that offer their clients training for their staff, currently offering training in laundry, housekeeping and food safety. In addition to this Paradise Hygiene also do exclusive audits for hotels in food safety, service deliv-
ery and guest satisfaction surveys. Paradise Hygiene according to Gabriel prides itself on its commitment to its staff and believes in investing in its employees. He asserts that employees should be paid well; receive high quality training and have the opportunity to rise within the company. Current Paradise Hygiene clients include Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay and Praslin Beach, Deroches Island, Pam’s Catering, Hanneman Apartments and Eden Casino. The company were recently responsible for cleaning and waxing the floors of Eden Casino ready for its launch party. According to Gabriel Paradise Hygiene ‘have a small base of very happy customers rather than a large volume of customers that are not fully satisfied.’ With their head quarters and 50 square foot warehouse located in Providence Industrial Estate; not only do Paradise Hygiene have wonderful views from their office but are also perfectly situated just off the high way so they can get around the island qucker, visiting customers. They currently make a promise to customers that they will reach them within two hours of being called
out. Gabriel believes in one to one marketing, it’s important for him, he says, to get to know each client and their needs and with this in mind he visits them weekly. ‘We don’t believe in problems’, he says ‘we believe in solutions. We eventually want to be a one-stop shop for all our client’s cleaning needs’. For more information on Paradise Hygiene’s goods and services call them on 257 3203 or visit their website at www.paradisehygiene. com.
Cooperative des Artisans Celebrates its 75th year
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own to Victoria town, adjacent to the national post office is the Cooperative des Artisans, a building that lays emphasis on the true culture and heart of the Seychelles. Since 1938, Cooperative des Artisans has been a place whereby traditional artifacts are valued, maintained and preserved. With the increasing use of machinery and modern technology it is refreshing to find a place that celebrates traditional craftsman. Amalgamated together, the Seychellois veterans and apprentices responsible for the protection of local products came together at the 75th Anniversary celebration of the Coopertive des Artisans, on the 13th September 2013, to release and exhibit their crafts. Their works reflect the passion and interest of a generation, some of it making reference to the colonial age. According to Mr. Anerphy the pieces ‘cover the aspiration and vision of our local artisans’, and that ‘a true artist needs to believe and stay committed at what they do best and should never fail to get engaged in the development of our society’. Whilst one of the
onlookers observed that ‘the activity is very wistful as if is trying to deliver a special message to the public saying that our Creole personality needs to be preserved from the ongoing pressure to modernise’. At Cooperative des Artisans 75th anniversary celebration visitors experienced some of that Creole personality first hand as they were greeted by the alluring scent of vanilla and cinnamon and newly crafted wooden artifacts. Mrs Benjamine Rose, PS for Culture, through her addressing speech stated that the organisation will remain very active in the Seychelles economy by providing a hundred percent Seychellois work, stressing that the business needs to keep on producing authentic local products to stay competitive in the market. She commended the Cooperative des Artisans for its practice of passing on craftsmanship techniques from generation to generation. One of the ways that the cooperative intends to do this in the future is through its very own website, which it will do with support from the department for
PS Rose welcomes guests Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation. The different activities to mark this milestone anniversary at the cooperative include: using recycled material to produce household products, Fatak broom making and traditional doll making. The end of the activities coincides with the Creole Festival Day in October. Business Seychelles would like to wish the Cooperative des Artisans a very happy birthday and every success in their future endeavours.
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BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
South African Mining Business Must Pay Its Way Says Anglo American CEO
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outh Africa sits on four fifths of the world’s mining reserves, yet Anglo American Platinum, the word’s largest platinum producers who are based in South Africa, are running at a loss due to low prices and strikes by its workforce.
In a bid to quell the losses they have been trying to restructure, although plans to lay off 14,000 workers had to be quashed after serious government opposition. It is thought that now only 7,000 employees will lose their jobs. When asked about the company’s commitment to staying in South African platinum, Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani said “Yes we are..., as we are for all of our commodities. But if they don’t deliver, they won’t stay in the portfolio.
Nothing is sacrosanct.”
Last year the company lost billions of dollars due to violent strikes which saw dozens of people killed. It is thought that these strikes may begin again in the gold sector with the workforce requesting an increase in pay of 150% that the company is saying they cannot afford. Cutifani has argued that investors are sick of the bad news coming out of South Africa and as a consequence shares have plummeted by 40%. ‘Investors have South African fatigue. If you look at the series of bad news stories that have come out of South Africa since 2011 it really has weighed
South Korean firm Pantech Set to Release the First Smartphone with Fingerprint Recognition
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pple Inc. will release the iPhone 5S on 27th September with fingerprint recognition for increased security. However they are unlikely to be the first with Seoul based technology firm Pantech an-
nouncing the release of their Vega LTE-A (left), also with fingerprint recognition software, on the newly launched LTE-Advanced network. The new Vaga LTE-A includes 5.6 inch HD screen powered by a 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon
Anglo American miners striking on share prices.’ The National Union of Mine800 processor running Android 4.2.2, 1080 pixel display and 13 megapixel camera but its unique feature is its fingerprint sensor located at the back of the phone.
workers (NUM) have said that they will give gold producers 48 hours notice before they strike.
Although the Vega LTEA will be the first to feature the fingerprint recognition software, as they are exclusively based in South Korea most consumers will eagerly be awaiting the launch of the iPhone 5S. The new iPhone will be making use of AuthenTec’s, acquired Mobile phones with new fingerprint recognistion software by Apple Inc. last July, Smart Sensor. The iPhone 5S will also feature as playing music or calling different AuthenTec’s anti-spoofing technol- contacts. ogy which ensures that only real The advantages to the technology fingerprints are read. The technol- are that it removes the need to enter ogy can also be set up to differen- in personal information, the need tiate between fingers and associate to remember pin codes and can fathem with different functions such cilitate e-commerce.
Indian Pune Plant Produces its 300,000th Volkswagen Car
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une’s $177 million plant, the biggest investment by a German company in the subcontinent, reached its milestone 300,000th car on Tuesday 6th August, a white left hand drive version of the Vento. The Vento has been described as a car typically made for the Indian consumer according to Mahesh Kodumudi,
being the 3,00,000th car to roll out of Pune Plant.”
President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, “The Vento in itself is a milestone for Volkswagen in India. Though it was a car designed and built for India, it got wide acceptance in the international market as well and slowly grew to reach even the lefthand drive markets. Today, this car has achieved another milestone by
The plant which be- gan business in May 2009 also manufactures the Polo, the Skoda Rapid and Skoda Fabia. The plant has a daily turnover of 189 cars and an annual capacity of 110,000. Its fleet of cars is manufactured for the domestic mar-
ket as well as for export to over 30 countries internationally.
Pune Plants’ 300,000th Volkswagen Car
BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
SEPTEMBER 2013
Ralf Brings Us Water
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New album cover
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Ralf performing at the album launch
fter making music for 32 years, Ralf is a household name in Seychelles. Having started his career at the tender age of 17 he has now recorded 11 studio albums and his love and passion for music is stronger than ever. Ralf has always enjoyed music; at the age of 11 he remembers writing poetry, which he then began to put to music at 15 whilst in the National Youth Service. At the time Ralf could not play any musical instruments but after being disappointed with the music being produced for his songs by musicians he decided that he would start learning the guitar in order that he could produce the accompaniment to his lyrics himself. 34 years later Ralf is playing percussion, piano as well as the guitar on his new album, Water.
sales soared resulting in the album selling out in shops within two weeks. It was rereleased with a new cover on 2nd August. The new cover was redesigned to show him and his band, The Suns, who he has been performing with since 2000, in action on stage.
The new album, Water, is named after a reggae song on the album, which evokes the sounds and smells of Victoria. It had originally been released on 7th July but following a sell out concert album
Ralf once recorded an album of traditional rhythms of Seychelles and would like to explore this going forward in his career and is looking forward to working with innovative production teams to
On listening to the album, there is definitely a travelers theme running through it. Island in the Sun is a fun song penned about a friend of his that visits Seychelles every six months and enjoys drinking Seybrew along the coastline. There is the beautiful and atmospheric intro, Aldabra, which creates a picture of the warm Indian Ocean lapping its beaches. Beautiful Day is enticing and has soft creamy tones whilst Revey Nou is traditional erotic moutya.
create a sound that can have international appeal. One of the artists that he is having talks with and would like to work with in a bid to reignite traditional Seychellois music is Jean Marc Volcy.
Dimans Moutya with SeyMas
Ralf is the chairman of the Seychelles Music Association (SeyMas) whose members are dedicated to preserving and promoting Seychelles’ musical heritage. One of the ways SeyMas’ is doing this is through Dimans Moutya, which they are putting on every quarter at locations across the country. The first Dimans Moutya was
on Sunday 6th July and was a big success attracting well over 5,000 attendees. It is hoped that this success will be repeated at the next one, which will take place at Beau Vallon on Sunday 6th October. The event will be aimed at the whole family with activities taking place from 10am until 10pm. There will be Kreol food on sale, as well as locally made products and a line up of Kreol musicians entertaining the audience. Performers will be paying homage to the deceased Francois Havelock, who was a Beau Vallon resident. The moutya show will start at 5.30pm and will feature a traditional band and dancers.
Moutya performers at the first Dimans Moutya in Anse Royale
20
SEPTEMBER 2013
BUSINESS SEYCHELLES
