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Letter to the Editor A depressing state of affairs |03 December 2019

Although I live in the UK, I am proud and privileged to be a Seychellois, through my late mother who was born in Victoria in 1930 and spent her childhood on Cerf Island. I’m also lucky to be a regular visitor to the islands, both to visit my father in Glacis and for relaxation and holidays.

My first visit was in 1974, and it is a statement of the obvious that Seychelles has seen many changes since then. Many for the better, but sadly, many for the worse.

Seychellois will be aware that climate change and global warming is without doubt a huge crisis facing humanity. Further, mankind’s approach to plastic pollution and waste is causing untold harm and damage to our ecosystem and living species, especially the marine life in our oceans.

On my recent visit to Seychelles I was therefore distraught to see the mess that Beau Vallon beach has become. This beach was once the premier tourist spot on the islands.

On my visit I walked from the Coral Strand to Fisherman’s Cove at high tide. I was shocked how the beach is now littered with plastic. Straws, cups, bottles, bags, lids, tubes and yoghurt cartons were distributed generously every few feet of this wonderful beach.

I could see no organisation responsible for cleaning it up. No-one caring. No plan. No signs. It was truly depressing.

I am unsure as to who is responsible for this state of affairs. Is it Government? The hotels? Local government? Shops? Does anyone really care? Is anyone doing anything?

Seychellois must know that this plastic not only kills fish, turtles and wildlife, it is also consumed and enters our food chain. We end up eating plastic in the fish we consume. Plastic straws especially are a menace. Surely all of us in the Seychelles don’t want this for our future and our children’s future?

And what do we think is the impression left on the thousands of tourists who visit our beautiful country and see this disgusting ‘un-Seychellois’ mess? Will they come back? Will they recommend us?

I was pleased to see that at the Fisherman’s Cove they use paper straws. But isn’t it time for the whole of Seychelles to fight this plastic menace? To introduce legislation to ban plastic straws? To recycle bottles? To create a serious clean-up organisation, whether voluntary or through government departments, or the Tourist Board, to return our beaches to the pristine condition they need to be? Is it time for a dedicated ‘Beach Force’ responsible for beaches across all the islands? To introduce in the education curriculum an awareness of the damage pollution does to our nation? To fund a serious public and sustained public information campaign so everyone self-monitors the disposal of litter and waste?

If we fail to act we will destroy our island paradise. Indeed one could argue that we are already destroying it. And we can’t afford to delay.

 

Ian McAteer

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

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