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Battle for largest hotel in Seychelles begins

VICTORIA, Seychelles (eTN) - After the forced closure of The Plantation Club and Casino, the largest hotel in Seychelles, and after the appointment of a provisional liquidator, the majority shareholders in the holding company, Allee Development Corporation, has started the battle to protect their investments.

The first court test comes only after the hotel has been forced to close and a provisional liquidator appointed to dispose of the company's assets has already started work. The majority shareholders, represented by Seychelles attorney Bernard Georges, brought a plaint that challenged the ex-parte order given by Judge Ranjun Perrera granting the governments request to appoint Mauritian company Ernst and Young as provisional liquidators. They are also asking the court to reject the government's request for the company to be wound up.

Attorney Bernard Georges asked the court to declare the appointment of Ernst and Young as provisional liquidators null and void because it did not follow a provision of the Companies Act, which bars a foreign body corporate from being appointed in that capacity. He noted that both the application from the government and Judge Perrera's order had referred specifically to the company as the provisional liquidators. The lawyer argued that this was sufficient ground for the appointment to be cancelled.

Representing the Seychelles government, Deputy Attorney General Ronny Govinden argued that although the appointment had named Ernst and Young, the person in place was an individual, namely the director, Gerard Lincoln. In the deputy attorney general's opinion it did not make any difference. Although the points of law quoted by Georges appeared indisputable, neither Govinden, nor Judge Perrera felt it was enough to quash the order.

Bernard Georges also moved to contest the ex-parte order to appoint a provisional liquidator. He said that this had been done simply on the government's request without any evidence or argument that it was necessary and that it had not been shown or claimed that it was urgent. The Seychelles deputy attorney general argued that the law did not impose any such requirements.

Observers see the situation as a "fait accompli" and that the Seychelles government with its 8 percent shares in the holding company are today already getting the hotel's company would up and the company's assets handled by a person of their choice.  Full story>>

Mount Elgon security stepped up

(eTN) - Tourism stakeholders have complained about the very late deployment of security forces to Mt. Elgon National Park, where a Belgian tourist was shot dead two weeks ago. The troops are now belatedly combing the area to find the perpetrators of the crime, and other law breakers, after the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has all but admitted that the park has in the past harbored criminals engaged in cattle rustling and poaching. Several stakeholders spoke of complacency by the authorities and said they were not happy with reaction and demanded a constant proactive stand in regard of security and no further lapses in surveillance.

Said one senior figure from the safari operating fraternity, opting for obvious reasons for anonymity: Saying this will never happen again is a bit rich. UWA has to do a lot more to prove this. Things happened in parks before and every time we are given the same promises. We want UWA and others security forces to be more serious when dealing with tourist sites. They have to be there all the time and need to be awake all the time, because there is always complacency creeping in. Then, when it is too late, they cry wolf but meanwhile it is our industry which suffers.  Full story>>

Poll crisis slows Kenya Airways' revenue stream, says CEO

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