VICTORIA, Seychelles — President Wavel Ramkalawan, accompanied by Vice President Ahmed Afif, met with the family members and relatives of three fishermen from the Takamaka district. The three men have been declared lost at sea since November 16, 2023. The meeting, held at the Takamaka community centre, was an opportunity for the President and his delegation to share a comprehensive overview of the search and rescue operation, which spanned a period of 11 days.
The three fishermen are David Suzette, Hansley Denis, and Steve Burka. Also present for the meeting were the member of the National Assembly for Takamaka, Honourable Terrence Mondon, Major Hans Radegonde of the Seychelles Coast Guard, Assistant Commissioner of Police Antoine Denousse, the district administrator Cynthia Hariba, and Dominique Savy of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, who is also a member of the Takamaka community. A number of other key officials directly involved with the case were in attendance.
During the meeting, the families were briefed on the current status of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of the three men. Family members were also able to engage in direct discussion with the President, and to put questions or issues to him and to the officials present. The session was the first detailed account that the relatives had received of the steps taken in the days and weeks after the men were reported missing.
Following the meeting, on behalf of all the families present, Bernard Denis, brother of Hansley Denis, expressed his appreciation to the President and to the officials. He thanked them for making the time to meet with the relatives, and for all the efforts made during the search. He also thanked the authorities for their ongoing support during what he described as a very difficult time for the families of the three men.
A press release from the Office of the President said the meeting formed part of the government’s commitment to keep the families of those lost at sea fully informed, and to ensure that the response of the state remains open and accountable. The release also said that the search and rescue operation had involved multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, the police, and the Civil Aviation Authority, and that the matter continues to be the subject of an active investigation.
