Day: April 26, 2023

Kyiv’s allies on Monday slammed Russia for a Security Council meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about protecting the United Nations charter, which Moscow itself violated by invading Ukraine.

“By organizing this debate Russia is trying to portray itself as a defender of the UN charter and multilateralism. Nothing can be further from the truth. It’s cynical,” said European Union ambassador Olof Skoog.

On the first anniversary of the war in February, the UN General Assembly voted by an overwhelming majority to repeat its demand for the “immediate” withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

“If Russia cares about effective multilateralism, that is the first way to prove it,” said Skoog, surrounded by representatives from the 27 EU countries.

Russia holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council in April and organized the meeting as one of its “signature” events of its tenure.

In a note to member states laying out the premise for the meeting, Russia denounced the “unipolar world order” that took effect after the end of the Cold War.

It said that “presented a serious challenge to the efficiency and stability of the United Nations system.”

“Today the world is facing another deep-reaching systemic transformation. Namely, natural and rapid decline of unipolar world order and the emergence of a new multipolar system,” the note said.

Before the meeting, Lavrov said the United Nations system was “enduring a profound crisis,” and accused western countries, particularly the United States, of being responsible.

“It’s not all about Ukraine,” he told reporters.

“It’s about how international relations will continue to be shaped through the establishment of a sound consensus on the basis of balance of interests or through aggressive and volatile advancement of Washington’s hegemony,” Lavrov added.

Sitting next to Lavrov during the meeting, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “violation” of international law and the UN charter.

The war “is causing massive suffering and devastation to the country and its people, and adding to the global economic dislocation triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Guterres said.

He added that the world faces “unprecedented and interlocking crises” and “the multilateral system is under greater strain than at any time since the creation of the United Nations.”

“Tensions between major powers are at an historic high. So are the risks of conflict, through misadventure or miscalculation,” Guterres told diplomats.

Washington’s UN ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, clutched the world body’s charter in her hand and stressed the importance of defending its values.

“Our hypocritical convenor today, Russia, invaded its neighbor in Ukraine and struck at the heart of the UN charter,” she told the meeting.

Facing Lavrov, Thomas-Greenfield made a direct plea to him to release detained US journalist Evan Gershkovich and detained former US Marine Paul Whelan.

“Using people as pawns is a strategy of weakness,” she said, urging Lavrov to look into the eyes of Whelan’s sister, who was in the gallery of the chamber, and “see her suffering.”

Source: Seychelles News Agency

A UK Royal Navy-led task force under the command of Captain Jim Byron has seized around £17 million of illicit drugs in the Middle East.

In a press statement on Tuesday, the Royal Navy said that “US Navy destroyer USS Paul Hamilton – operating under Combined Task Force 150, commanded by Captain Jim Byron and his team in Bahrain – intercepted a suspicious vessel in the northern Arabian Sea in the small hours of Friday.”

The Hamilton’s boarding team seized and subsequently destroyed one tonne of hashish and 800kgs of methamphetamine with a combined UK wholesale value of £17.2 million.

The latest interdiction came on the back of a visit by Captain Byron to Seychelles, one of the potential destinations of the drugs.

“I’m delighted that we have once again been able to disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics in the northern Arabian Sea which will ultimately prevent them from reaching people in Europe, Africa and the Seychelles,” said Captain Byron.

Stopping any flow of illegal cargo into Seychelles was the subject of discussion Byron had with government ministers and the Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, Brigadier Michael Rosette.

“This kind of interdiction was a key topic of conversation during my visit to the Seychelles and I hope to continue this success in cooperation with our international partners,” he said.

Captain Byron met with Seychelles’ foreign affairs minister Sylvestre Radegonde on April 17 and both parties agreed that illicit drug trafficking is a shared problem that can only be tackled with shared solutions.

Radegonde explained that “illegal drugs are a big problem for Seychelles and we welcome cooperation to aid the fight in ensuring maritime security.”

Another avenue being looked into is the adoption of new methods and technology, namely surveillance drones, which will aid in real-time surveillance of Seychelles’ territorial waters.

The illicit drugs intercepted by the international task force since Byron and his staff took the helm in January amounted to £36.8 million, including more than six tonnes of hashish and over 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine.

The force is focusing on curbing illegal terrorist activity across more than 2.5 million square miles of ocean with several warships from the Combined Maritime Forces – more than 30 nations committed to security in the Middle East region – patrolling the vast area.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

On April 26, it will be exactly two and half years since Wavel Ramkalawan was sworn in as the President of Seychelles, representing the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (Seychellois Democratic Union) party, which was formed through an alliance of the Seychelles National Party, led by Ramkalawan, and several smaller opposition parties.

His accession was after 43 years of rule by one party, led by President France Albert Rene, and later President James Michel and President Danny Faure. It was a party which changed its name over time; first being the Seychelles People’s United Party, then the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front, the Parti Lepep (the People’s Party), and is today known as United Seychelles.

Ramkalawan had participated in opposition politics since 1991, later becoming a member of parliament and soon became the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.

In October 2020, he won the elections against the incumbent President Danny Faure with 54.91 percent of the vote, the first time an opposition party had won the presidential elections since the country’s independence in 1976.

Ramkalawan entered office at a very testing time, in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic, when the country’s economy, which is primarily based on tourism, was at a standstill.

SNA met with Ramkalawan to learn more about what he has achieved during that time until today.

SNA: It has been exactly two years and a half since you took office. How has the time been?

WR: Personally, I want to reflect on where it all started and what state the country was in. On October 26, the airport was closed, and there was the FA4GR [Financial Assistance for Job Retention] programme in place as businesses were not operating and unable to pay their staff.

When it comes to COVID-19, we had not reached community transmission, but we were spending on quarantine facilities among others, and it was around December that community transmission started. By the end of December, we weren’t sure how to pay workers their wages and we had already taken the decision not to give a 13th-month salary as that was part of the more stringent economic measures.

Shortly after we started the vaccination campaign and reopened the country, relaunched the economy. We obviously received a new breath, and this is where the government really started to work.

Ramkalawan was among the political leaders and health workers who took the vaccine when the campaign started in January 2021. (Rassin Vannier) Photo License: CC BY

We started getting the finance we made sure that projects that had started – such as the construction of schools, the library, the hospital, and the port – could restart. On another level, we entered an agreement with the IMF for budget support to keep the economy afloat. Unfortunately, as we started this, the war in Ukraine started and transportation prices doubled and tripled at some given point causing us to take a few steps back.

Our biggest blessing was that the tourism industry was relaunched, even without our traditional European market at the start. The Russian market helped us a lot in that aspect. In 2022, when things got easier, we started passing the benefit to the people.

We looked at how we could assist people who are receiving below SCR9,000 [$703] by providing SCR300 [$23] towards their electricity. For all pensioners who were getting less than SCR9,000 [$703], we gave an extra SCR500 [$40]. Breakfast and lunch at government schools were provided. During the same year, as we saw things getting better, we established performance-based management and gave 50 percent of the 13-month salary guaranteed and provided the rest upon evaluation, to get people to perform better.

We carried out reforms in the police force and today we no longer see Facebook posts about police officers beating people; creating a sense of trust and as such people are no longer scared to report their cases at police stations.

The number of [foreign] dhows that have been intercepted, the number of drugs destroyed, and the number of people arrested show the fight that we are leading against drugs. When it comes to corruption, the biggest case ever has been brought to court so that we can recover our $50 million [from a loan from the UAE that disappeared from government accounts in 2004].

In 2023, we managed to improve our Fitch ratings. Inflation in Seychelles is at 3 percent whereas global inflation is at 7 percent. We are now more disciplined regarding our budget, and we have a little surplus.

On an international level, we got recognised and were able to go before the UN committee to fight for the multi-vulnerability index (MVI). The Prince of Monaco, Albert II, came to State House and honoured us. Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayan, the President of the UAE, especially with the long-standing relations with the UAE, came to visit the State House and recognised that things have taken a new dimension.

We also received the King and Queen of Sweden, the King of Malaysia, the President of Slovenia, and the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta.

Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayan, the President of the UAE, with President Ramkalawan at State House. (Rassin Vannier) Photo License: CC BY

This means that they have trust in Seychelles, and this comes with the foreign direct investments (FDIs), which are investments that have started.

Fregate Island Resort is about to start, the Reef Hotel deal is being finalised, the Anse a la Mouche hotel project is to open soon, the Platte Island project has upped the game with Waldorf Astoria, and Avani and Banyan Tree (Le Cheval Blanc) are being completed. This shows the level of trust.

SNA: What would you say you and your government have done to better the lives of the people?

WR: In the health sector during the past two and half years, we have been able to increase our number of oxygen-producing plants from one to three, we have received a modern MRI [magnetic resonance imaging] machine and now we are in the process to fix all the lifts at the hospital. We have a new school for our nurses and social workers.

For the next two and half years, if we continue with this stability we will do even more. When we talk about more money in the pockets of Seychelles, I say that there are two ways to achieve this – either you have some money in your pocket, and I help you keep it there or I put more in your pocket.

We have done both by reducing the price of electricity by 42 cents in January and now by 49 cents. In April, you have been able to make a savings of SCR600 [$47]. Fuel has gone down and when we provided breakfast to your children, another SCR400 [$31] stayed in your pocket.

On the other hand, we have changed the aid weights for a disabled person. All home carers have received an SCR500 increase, we have revised wages in the public service, where we have added certain allowances to the basic salary, which means that at the end of the year, your 13th-month salary will be higher.

When applying for a loan, your salary will have more weight. For people who are on part rental, we have moved from SCR1,400 [$109] as the threshold and increased it to SCR1,900 [$150], meaning that more people will be able to get this assistance.

SNA: The Final Report of the Truth Reconciliation & National Unity Commission (TRNUC) was handed over to you late last month. What is the next step?

WR: As soon as I received the report, I made it public and sent it to the National Assembly for members to debate it. I cannot take any decision on this. I need to allow the Assembly, as the law asks, to do this.

I am now waiting for the debate and once they present me with the result, this is when I will make a declaration, be it when it comes to compensation or other elements, this debate will be public like all assembly deliberations. I know that the compensation aspect will be one of the elements that will bring about certain contradictions, debates, anger, and disappointment.

Gabriel McIntyre handed the commission’s final report to President Wavel Ramkalawan. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC BY

SNA: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, with situations being much more difficult in Seychelles, there seems to be a high level of frustration in the country. What is being done to bring back a certain level of understanding?

WR: I think the expectation that the people of Seychelles had was really high. People expected that overnight, 43 years are normalised. This is impossible. I think that this might have brought some frustration. People who felt that they were victimised when it came to getting a piece of land or a house, expected that they would get a piece of land or a house immediately.

It is frustrating for some people to see that certain people in high positions are still there – this has also created a level of frustration. For us to be able to normalise 43 years, it takes time. Among all this, we provide people with the freedom to express themselves, but this comes with responsibility.

As a government, we operate on merit, and I think that people have mixed this meritocracy with their expectations and when things take time, people get angry and frustrated and say that this is not what they voted for.

It is this transformation and transition that will allow us to come out as a strong nation that works for what they want and does not depend on charity and has pride.

SNA: We all saw the BBC broadcast on drugs in Seychelles and one of the main points raised in it is a lack of a rehabilitation centre. What is being done to have such a centre?

WR: We have already taken a decision. The rehabilitation centre that the UAE is funding will be built opposite the English River Health Centre which means it will be close to a health facility in case something happens. Sometimes people want us to do this on another island, but this can be dangerous. When a person goes through rehabilitation, they go through withdrawal, depression, and many other things. Our professionals also need to be taken care of on a mental level.

When a person complains about bedsheets at the hospital, I also must look at the mental health of our professionals, look at the babies being born with a drug addiction problem, and look at how maintenance of the casualty and maternity units should be done among others.

SNA: The fight against drugs remains one of your priorities. You recently met with diplomats, are they ready to help on an international level?

WR: The fight has two faces. On one side there is cutting off supply, and this is where we have a lot of cooperation with our partners. We have the Europeans through mainly two of Reunion’s vessels – ‘Floréal’ and ‘Champlain’ – helping with patrols in the region. With their help, we are disrupting this trade. With India and the United States, we are getting certain information, which also includes the illegal trafficking of arms among others. We have done a lot of arrests at the airport as well.

On the other side, locally we have squads disrupting the business. Dealers are persisting as this is fast money and we constantly need to step up.

There is also the methadone programme where we are helping people to continue working. For example, a great percentage of our stevedores at the port is using heroin. Having them on the programme allows the industry to continue to grow. There is the rehabilitation side as well. It is true that we do not have all the manpower we need.

On an international front, the UK government has said that it will help us internally with our fight against drugs and provide us with training. The Cuban ambassador shared that they have specialists, and therapists who can help us.

The UAE has agreed to provide us with the centre. We will be knocking on more doors. They appreciate the effort that the government is putting into this and our determination. When we stop an Iranian dhow, we are stopping drugs that might have ended up in other countries as drugs do not have borders.

SNA: In May you will start meeting with the people in the districts. Would you say you are starting to prepare yourself for the next campaign?

WR: I meet people on a daily basis. With the fact that the State House is open to everyone, I am provided with the possibility to meet with a lot of Seychellois. I go to church every Sunday. These meetings are not meant to be a form of reconnection. As of May 15, I want to go to all districts to hold a conversation with the people, and to get their propositions, critiques and questions. We will visit all 26 districts and I hope that by mid-June we will be done. We will visit a district each weekday and another on Saturdays. In a week we will visit 6 districts.

SNA: When will the people know of your decision to run again for the presidency or not?

WR: I will use the people to do this. They elected me to serve them and if the people of Seychelles recognise that one mandate is too short to achieve all that needs to be done and recognise that I have started a lot and done a lot, and they want to provide me with another mandate, then I will make the declaration.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Government agents have been urged to be more vigilant in dealing with criminal elements in a bid to detect crime early. Speaking during a meeting with various sections of Kisii residents at Tendere grounds in Bomachoge Chache Sub County, area woman Representative Donya Aburi decried failure by Kilifi County local leaders to detect that the controversial pastor, Paul Mackenzie was causing deaths of tens of people. These sentiments come amidst claims that over 100 are likely to be exhumed from Shakahola forest, following deaths instigated by weird beliefs by Mackenzie followers, in what has shocked the country. At the same time, Aburi expressed concern over rampant cases of Female Genital Mutilation in the County, defilement and domestic violence saying it was akin to radicalization, because it could lead to ripple effects of serious crimes in the society. ‘Many criminal incidents are not addressed immediately to ensure fast justice for victims and action against culprits before they cause more damage,’ she noted. The women rep further decried teenage pregnancy in the county, which currently stood at 66 percent, a factor that could lead to serious crimes, due to a generation that will most likely be exposed to poor parenting. ‘This matter is a sitting time bomb that requires urgent concerted efforts to address,’ she said. Aburi reiterated that she will not relent in speaking out on ills meted against the residents and urged other leaders to do the same in their areas of jurisdiction.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The County Government of Nyeri through the Department of Trade, Tourism, Culture and Cooperative has rolled out a loan kitty open to both individuals and registered groups. The revolving fund under the County Enterprise Development Fund (EDF) will among others offer Business Expansion loans, asset financing and agribusiness funds at 5 per cent reducing balance within a period of 24 months. The minimum amount of money individuals or registered groups can borrow from the kitty is Sh50, 000 to a maximum of Sh500, 000. Cooperative societies on the other hand can access up to Sh1 million of the money. Applicants interested in accessing the funds have been advised to download and fill the application form from the Nyeri County Government website www.nyeri.go.ke. Duly filled forms should thereafter be forwarded to the respective Ward administrator or area chiefs before the close of the deadline on May 31 2023. While announcing the launch of the fund in Nyeri, Trade, Tourism, Culture and Cooperative CEC Diana Kendi noted that while the loan was geared towards economic empowerment among locals, it would also go a long way in addressing youth unemployment in the area. Kendi said the majority of the young people in the county have sunk into the abyss of alcoholism and substance abuse out of frustration due to dwindling income generating opportunities amidst a worsening global economic crisis. The officer therefore said the revolving fund will play a pivotal role in creating income generating opportunities for thousands of young people and in so doing help address the rampant alcoholism in the county. ‘We have seen an increase in alcoholism and substance abuse here in Nyeri and as a county government we have put different initiatives to curb this vice. One of the initiatives is of course to put a center that is supported by the health services to help those who are already addicted. However, what is really leading the youths into drug abuse is financial challenges and we found it fit to launch an empowerment program by providing affordable capital to start some small businesses payable within two years,’ she said. Kendi also disclosed that this year they have set aside Sh62 million for the kitty compared to Sh30 million during the start of the program in 2018. During his inaugural address to the Nyeri County Assembly in October 5 last year following his reelection into office Governor Mutahi Kahiga announced plans to gradually increase allocation to the Enterprise Development Fund from Sh55 million to Sh 500 million to be loaned at an interest of 5 per cent. The County boss said the move would address the challenges of unemployment among young people by creating more than 100,000 extra job opportunities. ‘To create employment opportunities for the youth and cottage industries, my government will gradually increase Enterprise Development Funds (EDF) lending from Sh.55 million at an interest rate of 5 per cent. The EDF lending is projected to have a ripple effect that would create job opportunities for more than 100,000 people. In addition to creating business in the informal sector, we have constructed and rehabilitated 43 markets and constructed 180 stalls across all the wards to improve the business environment and enhance accessibility to goods and services,’ he said during the event.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A section of residents of Homa Bay County affected by floods have urged the government and well-wishers to come to their aid. This follows heavy rains pounding the region and which has led to the deaths of three people in the last one week. The fatalities included a man and his wife killed by lightning in Lambwe East location in Mbita Sub County. Josephat Otieno and his wife Jael Anyango, 28, were killed in their house at Aluor Village, Lambwe East Location. Area Chief Benard Ouma said the couple were watching TV when they were struck dead. In another incident, a 38-year-old man identified as Fred Otieno was killed by floods near Kodero beach in Rachuonyo North Sub-county after a downpour. He was swept by the waters as he walked home and the body was found near the shores of Lake Victoria. Rachuonyo North Sub-county Police Commander Lydia Parteiyie confirmed the death saying it’s suspected the victim was drunk. The residents led by the chairman of Beach Management Units in West Karachuonyo ward Samuel Osendo urged the government and well-wishers to support the flood victims. ‘I also appeal to the county government to construct proper drainage system to curb flooding,’ Osendo said.

Source: Kenya News Agency