Seychellois praised for good behaviour during the Creole Festival |03 November 2022
No accident or major incident related to the Creole Festival was recorded and in general the police are satisfied with the behaviour of Seychellois during this period of festivities.
This was shared by Superintendent Antoine Desnousse and Sergeant Julinio Nourrice in a press meet yesterday at the police headquarters.
«I would like to thank the public for their remarkable behaviour during the Creole Festival and everywhere there was discipline and respect for the laws. We did not record any accident or injured people. This showed that Seychellois celebrated their ‘Kreolite’ well. I also thank the members of the police force who acted with maturity and if ever a police officer did not act properly with anyone due to the stress and long hours of work, I want to apologise on their behalf,” stated SP Desnousse.
Update on current issues
The person who hit the Russian tourist while jet skiing is already under investigation.
Last Saturday around 10.45pm, the Anse Royale police was alerted about an accident at the Anse à la Mouche ice plant involving a 65-year-old man.
“We were able to establish that the man was hit while crossing the road and fortunately we had a police officer who was off duty at the same time and attended to the victim immediately and called for support. The victim was stabilised before being sent to the hospital,” Sergeant Nourrice said.
Another situation arose on Monday when the Anse Boileau police station was alerted about a British tourist in distress at Port Launay. “The lady was given first aid by a doctor who was on the beach and the medical team of Ephelia until the ambulance came and then she was transported to the hospital for further treatment and she is still at the hospital in a critical state,” said Sergeant Nourrice.
On October 28, there was another incident where a man of 52 years was stabbed outside the night shelter and the suspect, a 30-year-old man, was arrested. The latter, who also stays at the night shelter, is now remanded until November 14.
Currently there is a Brazilian woman who is at the hospital after she attempted to take her life while being detained at the airport facility. Enquiry is ongoing and the police could not give more details on that matter.
Enquiry into the case of the police officer who was hit recently is still ongoing.
With regard to the detainee who attacked a police officer at the Anse Boileau health centre, Sergeant Nourrice said he (the detainee) was in the screening room waiting to see the doctor when he used a knife to threaten the police officer and tried to escape but thankfully the policeman with the help of a civilian were able to disarm the detainee. In the process, the police officer was injured in his hand with the knife.
Many people are asking where the detainee got the knife. “We are currently doing an enquiry and whoever is responsible for this mishap, will be held responsible,” said Sergeant Nourrice.
With an increasing number of accidents at sea and on the beach, SP Desnousse announced that patrols have increased and they are working in collaboration with the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority to make sure that the law allows for arrestations to be made. “With regard to the case where the Russian tourist was hit, there will be consequences as we want to deter such acts. We are having the same patrol at Anse Royale and Pointe au Sel,” concluded SP Desnousse.
Text and photo: Vidya Gappy