VICTORIA, Seychelles — The chief executive of the Islands Development Company (IDC), Cyril Bonnelame, has strongly denied allegations of dredging taking place on Assomption Island, in an interview to local media on the site on Tuesday.
Mr Bonnelame made the comment following a tour of the project by local media who had been invited to view progress of the hotel project being undertaken by Ocean Breeze Investments Limited. The site visit, at the invitation of the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) in collaboration with the Department of Environment, the IDC and the Seychelles Planning Authority, followed recent allegations on social media regarding various environment violations on the island and a petition lodged last week by the local organisation Friends of Aldabra.
During the visit, partners involved in the project briefed the media on the steps being taken to ensure that the development meets the country’s environmental standards, in line with the proximity of the island to the Aldabra UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The IDC and SIF said they remain open to dialogue with civil society and the wider public, and will continue to provide regular updates on the project as it progresses. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring that all activities on the island are conducted in line with national and international environmental obligations.
