Work on Ile Soleil to stop to allow stock assessment on abnormalities |13 November 2021

President Wavel Ramkalawan has given the decision to halt the work currently being undertaken on Ile Soleil by the 2020 Development Company to allow a thorough assessment into abnormalities and ambiguities found in the project before work can restart.

It was the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, Devika Vidot, who made the statement following a visit to the island at Anse Aux Pins yesterday afternoon by a delegation led by President Wavel Ramkalawan. Vice-President Ahmed Afif also formed part of the delegation.

The visit came as result of numerous concerns and issues that were brought to the attention of the Office of the President, the cabinet of ministers and the ministry.

The aim of the visit was for the President and Vice-President to have first-hand knowledge of some of the issues ongoing on the island, especially in relation to a reclamation project, considered as a mess, and under par infrastructure.

Also present were senior officials from the ministry and that of Lands & Housing, Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, the Seychelles Planning Authority and board members of the 2020 Development Company in charge of the development project on the island.

The relevant authorities were present to give their input and analysis on the actual work being undertaken by the company.                   

“Based on what has been seen and based on what the authorities have expressed, a decision has been taken for some of the works to stop in order for a thorough assessment to be undertaken first,” the minister said.

The minister added that the office of the 2020 Development Company had recently been closed down pending an ongoing investigation in its activities.

Minister Vidot noted that the 2020 project has been seen to contain a lot of conflict of interest and the company itself is also in debt.

She assured that those directly connected with the island will be attended to through the ministry.

Minister Vidot stated that a meeting will be held next Tuesday for all stakeholders concerned with regard to the abnormalities and ambiguities found and on the way forward for the development of the island.

The visit started at a connecting bridge on the north side of the island facing the airport runway, which had been built on a sand bank instead of over a channel. A few metres from the bridge in the lagoon was an uncompleted reclamation project which the President had described as “a total mess” with regard to the extension of the island.

The delegation then went down to the bridge which is connected to the Anse Aux Pins district next to the market where its durability and the surrounding works was questioned.

The visit ended with a tour round the residential facilities and others under construction.

Ile Soleil is a 123,000 square metre reclaimed island built by the government for residential and commercial purposes.

The project is being managed by the 2020 Development Company, a government-owned company responsible for the development of Ile Soleil to attract investment from Seychellois and foreign investors.

There are altogether 52 plots on the island in simplex, duplex condominium and commercial plots. Many of these plots have already been sold with some constructions completed and others coming up.

The island is expected to welcome a community of some 1000 people with some 200 families.

Apart from residential areas, the island will hold commercial areas including a school, hospital, promenade, children’s park and recreational areas for skating, cycling and water sports as well as other facilities in the vicinity.

It will generate employment opportunities through 250 to 500 jobs that will be created.

The accompanying photographs show some highlights of the visit.

Patrick Joubert

Photos by Thomas Meriton