A press conference was held today at Liberty House to provide details on the proposed Coast Guard facility on Assomption Island. The briefing was attended by the Major General, Michael Rosette of the Seychelles Defence Forces.Minister for Finance, Pierre Laporte and the Minister for Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources, Marie-May Jeremie.
Addressing the media, Major General Rosette highlighted the strategic importance of maintaining a presence in the region. “We have in the past observed a lot of illegal activities in this region, and for us it is important to continue to maintain our presence,” he stated.
Minister Laporte noted that the proposed facility would be fully manned by Seychellois and represents a national project. While Seychelles welcomes collaboration with international partners, he emphasised that the initiative remains a Seychelles-led development. He added that during the recent State Visit to India, the project was presented to the Indian Government for potential assistance, though details of such support are yet to be finalised.
Minister Jeremie reaffirmed that all required procedures will be followed prior to approval for improvements to the existing Coast Guard facilities on Assomption. She stressed that environmental requirements applicable to the ongoing hotel development on the island, including biodiversity assessments, will remain in place and be strictly adhered to. The assessment will provide a comprehensive overview of the island’s biodiversity and its ecological significance.
The Minister underscored the importance of Assomption Island, particularly given its proximity to the world-renowned Aldabra Atoll.
The press conference was attended by several media houses.