saturday_20_june_2015 - We Love Seychelles – Sesel Sa
Transcription
saturday_20_june_2015 - We Love Seychelles – Sesel Sa
www.today.sc Saturday 20 June 2015 Newsline n News n Sports n Business n Life n Tourism industry: Helping the STA to help oneself (page 2) Roman Catholic Church Bishop Wiehe on his way out Rumours that Roman Catholic Bishop Denis Wiehe had resigned in reaction to the celebration of Seychelles’ first gay wedding last week, were denied yesterday by the diocese in Mauritius. B n Fantasy football: Winners of third Edition receive (page 4) their prizes n Constance Ephelia Seychelles: Chef Lu Htet reveals the tricks of sushi making SR 10/- ishop Denis Wiehe has written to the Vatican asking to be relieved of his responsibilities as Bishop of Victoria, the Catholic Church has confirmed. Pending the Vatican’s approval, Bishop Wiehe should step down. This approval, TODAY has learnt has not been granted yet. The news however surprised many in the Catholic Church in Seychelles. While the diocese says Bishop Wiehe made an announcement on the radio last week-end, Catholic priests we spoke to say they had not been informed of Denis Wiehe’s decision. This has led to rumours that Bishop Wiehe’s decision was linked to his displeasure at Seychelles’ first gay wedding celebrated on Saturday 13 June by British High Commissioner Lindsay Skoll at her residence. Denis Wiehe was appointed Bishop of Victoria on 1 June 202. But sources at the Diocese in Mauritius said Bishop Wiehe had told them the gay wedding had nothing to do with the Cath- olic Church and that it was the Anglican Church that was more concerned by this. “When they reach the age of 75, all Bishops are required by Church law to send their resignation letter to the Vatican where an ecclesiastic committee will study the request before approving or rejecting it. If they do grant approval, then Bishop Wiehe will step down as Bishop but will continue to act as a priest”, a source at the diocese in Mauritius told TODAY. Asked whether the Vatican has already approved the request, our source replies in the negative and adds that as at now, the issue of Bishop Wiehe’s replacement does not arise. But sources in Seychelles say it is doubtful Bishop Wiehe will be replaced by a Seychellois. Continued on page 2 International Day of Yoga (page 7) More than 1000 people expected at Stad Popiler A historic event that could find its place in the Guinness book of records. T n A gay soirée (pages 13) housands of people are preparing to gather at events around the world to mark the first International Day of Yoga marked tomorrow, as India pushes to raise awareness about the ancient discipline. The idea of a yoga day was first mooted by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, a yoga practitioner himself, who spoke about the benefits at the UN general assembly in November last year. 177 countries of the 193 members of the UN co-sponsored this resolution, Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles, Sanjay Panda told TODAY. More than 1000 peo- ple are expected to attend the open air yoga session. Events will be held tomorrow in 177 countries, includ- A 33-minute public yoga session will take place on Sunday. ing Seychelles, where yoga practitioners will gather at the Stad Popiler at 8am tomorrow for a yoga session that will last exactly 33 minutes. The yoga sessions will be held in all 177 at the same local time of 8am and will all last 33 minutes. Yoga lets people “discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature”, Mr Modi said at the time. More than 35,000 people will gather in New Delhi for the 33-minute public yoga session, hoping to secure a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Continued on page 2 12.80 13.55 12.90 13.50 14.50 15.25 14.50 15.25 20.25 21.35 20.25 21.30 p2 Saturday 20 June, 2015 Tourism industry Helping the STA to help oneself The Seychelles Hospitality Tourism Association (SHTA) and the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday with the aim to improve the tourism service sector by putting more value in tourism education. By A. De Giorgio P rofessionalise Tourism education. It is the only way, the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA)’s chairperson, Freddy Karkaria thinks the country will improve its service sector. “Even though Seychelles has come a long way, there is still a lot of space for improvement”, and improvement can only be achieved, Mr Karkaria said “if the tourism related stakeholders put more value in tourism education by supporting the Seychelles Tourism Academy”. It is this with this end in mind that the SHTA and the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday evening at the STA campus at La Misère. Flavien Joubert, the STA’s principal explained that like every organisation financed by government, the Tourism Academy “is allocated a budget but this is only sufficient for the payroll, administration and the daily running of the academy”. After the bills have been paid, he added, “the academy is regrettably left with insufficient funds which cannot cater for much needed new courses and other practical training activities. Luckily, over the past few years, the academy has been supported by a few tourism related businesses through amicable and verbal agreements which without a doubt made a huge difference to STA’s principal, Flavien Joubert (L)and SHTA’s chairperson, Freddy Karkaria following the signing of a MoU. our students and the tourism service sector”. The difference the help has made, Mr Joubert added, is primordial and the tourism industry cannot afford to lose that advantage or simply continue to rely on luck. “This is the reason we’re all here today,” the principal of STA, explained. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of government officials such as the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, the principal secretary (PS) for Tourism, Anne Lafortune and the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), Sherin Naiken as well as tourism stakeholders. Mr Joubert thanked all those businesses such as ISPC, Mason’s Travel, Air Seychelles and Beachcomber Hotels for their continuous support be it through funds or products and services. He then explained that the aim of the MoU between STA and SHTA is to strengthen the bond between the two bodies and to formalise the existing partnership that the academy has with some stakeholders whilst seeking new partners. Through this accord, both parties will also be able to assist each other in developing human resources by promoting careers in travel, tourism, hospitality and aviation, to name but a few. Helping the STA means helping oneself, Freddy Karkaria said to stakeholders in the tourism industry. “STA students are currently the key individuals who have the power to change things for the better and take the hospitality service in Seychelles to another level. So whether you are a fishing company, a catering establishment or a luxurious resort, you all somehow have an effect on the tourism industry and it is the way you take ownership of this sector that will determine your growth and future,” he explained. Speaking to TODAY, Flavien Joubert who shared his opinion on other tourism issues that he says seriously worries him. For instance, he believes that there is something wrong in the way many hospitality establishments determine their salary schemes. “I cannot understand why certain businesses are ready to pay x amount to their foreign employees but then somehow will not pay that same amount to qualified locals who can certainly fulfil the job requirements. This usually applies for management posts and occurs in many hospitality establishments,” he explained. The evening got even more interesting – for the palate - when guests were invited to STA’s dining room to enjoy a traditional Chinese buffet which was prepared by the academy’s culinary students under the supervision of a Chinese chef who has been in Seychelles since February to train Food Preparation and Culinary Arts students and lecturers. Also present for the dinner was the Chinese ambassador to Seychelles, Yin Lixian, who was the guest of honour of the ceremony. Bishop Wiehe on his way out Continued from page 1 Denis Wiehe, this newspaper was told, turned 75 on 21 May. His secretary also confirmed that he is still acting as Bishop. The Bishop himself was unavailable for comment. Denis Wiehe was appointed Bishop of Victoria on 1 June 2002 and will have completed 13 years as Diocesan Bishop on his retirement, if approved. It was in November 2014 the Vatican confirmed that the retirement age for Bishops will be 75. More than 1000 people expected at Stad Popiler Continued from page 1 In Seychelles, an interactive panel discussion will be held at the ICCS and participants include Minister Vincent Merriton. National Sports Council CEO Giovanna Rousseau and four yoga experts consisting of Robin Hanson, yoga instructor at Nature Seychelles, Adriana Auguste, the chairperson of the Yoga Association in Seychelles, Dr Joshna Gundecha, homeopathic doctor at The Station Wellness Centre as well as Brother Francis from the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University in Seychelles. In his message on the occasion of the first International Yoga Day, Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange said that it was “fitting that Seychelles should play its part in disseminating knowledge of yoga on account of our strong ties, both ethic and cultural with our Indian brethren who have long made their home among our islands, enriching our culture in so many ways. We all look forward to the suite of activities planned for the International Day of Yoga that includes open air yoga sessions, lectures on the origins and importance of yoga, a photographic exhibition and seminars featuring numerous yoga maestros from India and local practitioners. Meanwhile, globally, we are aiming for a record in the Guinness Book of records for the most extensive coordinated yoga sessions on the planet”. Mr St Ange added that the spiritual and physical healing powers of yoga “have been shown as hugely beneficial to the way we lead our lives and I can think of no more appropriate backdrop than the natural beauty of the Seychelles Islands which with their perfect climate, harmony and tranquility, offer a unique opportunity to recalibrate mind, body and soul according to the rhythms of nature”. p3 Saturday 20 June, 2015 Exhibition Down the constitutional road A time to remember and to pay tribute. By AB A n exhibition on the evolution and history of the Constitution was launched on Thursday at the Palais de Justice, by the President of the Court of Appeal, Francis MacGregor in the presence of President James Michel, Founding President Sir James Mancham and various dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, the judiciary and the National Assembly. “At an occasion like this we look at where this Constitution came from, at the framers or pioneers of it and at the work they did and where they are today. It is a moment of ‘reconnaissance’ of their contributions to the Constitution of Seychelles,” said Justice MacGregor. The event was the last of a series organised by the Judicial Committee as part of the celebrations of Seychelles’ very first Constitution Day. The exhibition will remain open to the public until next Thursday. “The constitutional road is a well-trodden path that is not leveled and not downhill but leads uphill all the way,” remarked lawyer Bernard Georges in his address. Mr Georges added that the event’s focus was on the founders present at Thurs- James Mancham, Bernard Georges, James Michel and Francis MacGregor at the exhibition. day’s ceremony. The exhibition, he claimed had for aim of conveying the main elements of the 22-year period as well as the results achieved nationally during discussions on the Constitution. “The exhibits on display are designed to identify the persons involved, to show them at work, to look at what the official press said about the Constitution Commission, to remind us of that singular moment in our national life when our then leaders and a fortunate group of persons- chosen from diverse fields- debated our future before the cameras which brought them into our homes every night over several months,” he said. He added that the exhibition also displays examples of public participation in the process which he noted was crucial to the end result. The exhibition is conveniently in the form of articles, photographs, objects, judgments and learned papers written about and concerning the Constitution since 1993. For his part, Justice MacGregor focused his address in five parts; the purpose of events, the Constitutional discussions, the contribution of the judiciary towards the Constitution, sources of the Constitution and the road ahead. He also paid a special homage to three founding fa- thers and mothers of the Constitution; Danielle de St Jorre, who was then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chamery Chetty, former Finance minister and Karl Tamatave, who later became a Member of the National Assembly for Grand Anse Praslin. “The road or mission does not end here, there is tomorrow and the future of its road map or charter, of which the judiciary remains in principle and practice the guardian,” he said. The ceremony also featured a report of a letter by lawyer and rapporteur for the activity, Nichol Gabriel. Mr. Gabriel briefly addressed some of the most pertinent issues raised on Wednesday during discussions on the Constitution such as National Reconciliation. He also announced that the full report on the discussions will be made accessible to all online soon. The ceremony concluded with the guests visiting the exhibition and interacting with one another. In the words of Bernard Georges, many of them were already “live exhibitions” having their own stories and accounts of events to tell. “In the room, we have Seychellois equivalents of Jefferson and Franklin, of Montesquieu and Voltaire,” Mr Georges said. Letter to the Editor Disclaimer The views and comments expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of this newspaper The past is all they have as history will judge them Dear Editor, As a learned political observer, it saddens me to be exposed to how pathetic some professed leaders are, with a preparedness to dwell on the past with selective memories of how selfish, cruel and egocentric they are whilst refusing to admit they lack the very knowledge and intellect to lead a country. They have numerous loyal supporters like epiphytes prepared to feed on the dying carcass as they know if the current regime is removed from power they have much to lose and there will be the demise of their source of income, influence and the lifestyle they have become accustomed too, not to mention the repercussion as the truth is revealed the months that will follow. You have a pathetic non campus who should be enjoying the billions he has acquired through ill dealing and another who is still bitter about events, the injustice of decades ago, it’s all too boring and irrelevant for productive conducive politics let alone to benefit the economy and its inhabitants. What we need is fresh blood, energy, foresight and a willingness to challenge the status quo as there is always a better, fairer and more positive transparent way to move forward on the world stage. So many opportunities will presents themselves but who has the will and mettle to lead as an alternative to the present bunch of selfserving rats that are leaving the sinking ship as they know judgement day is on the horizon? Let’s be fair here - everyone in politics globally always have good intentions when they enter the devil’s playground. The focus is lost when they are exposed to opportunities greed and narcism, not to mention loyalty to the party line. There will be some of you reading this who will say “never has there been truer words written” and those who will say “what a load of nonsense”. Let the truth be known to those who are less learned and privileged, the false promises, the gifts, like the past will always be offered and never delivered nor fulfilled. From a citizen of global political interest. Constitutional Day How can Seychellois protect the Constitution Perhaps we need to start loving people more instead if they cannot protect themselves? of being self-righteous? Members of society attended the first ever CEPS organized Constitutional workshop in commemoration of Constitutional Day. P.Mawanda I n commemoration of Constitutional Day, the Citizens Engagement Platform, CEPS on Wednesday 17 organized a workshop. Under the theme- Citizens as Guardians of the Constitution, the objective of the whole workshop was to regroup civil society organizations and advocate for all Seychellois to participate in public affairs by knowing their rights. But how can people participate in anything when majority of them do not even know their rights? How can they be guardians of their constitution when they cannot even guard themselves because they do not know their rights? Seychellois have more than ten constitutional rights stated but most of them do not even get the chance to enjoy at least eight of them. In Seychelles, just like any other African country, the fundamental rights of so many people are abused. Today it seems like only those who can afford a good lawyer can reach the constitutional court if they have a constitutional grievance. So what happens with those who cannot afford a lawyer? With the office of the ombudsman in place, one would think that Seychellois’ rights would be strongly advocated and fought for. However this is not the case. So, where do people go to report any abuse of their rights? With almost no proper working mechanism in place, they go nowhere. Judge Bernadin Renaud who was one of the Panelists at the workshop suggested that CEPS establish a system where people can go report their grievances. But is that necessary with an ombudsman office already in place? “The ombudsman’s office exists but it looks like it is poorly run or managed by government. As said, if anyone who cannot afford a lawyer took a case to the ombudsman, the ombudsman would have to hire a lawyer to defend that person at the constitutional court. But the ombudsman office does not have such money, which leaves most of these cases as filed reports just gathering dust in some office. At the most, some of them are investigated but not brought to court.” A lady who attended the workshop told TODAY. The CEPS Chairman, Jules Hoareau, believes the solution to the problem is, ‘Government needs to ensure that the systems it has in place to cater for the rights of the people are fully equipped and are doing their jobs.’ If people do not know their rights and cannot easily report any abuses they encounter, how then can they protect a constitution? Defined as the fundamental principles according to which a state or organization is governed, a constitution is in simple terms a book that contains a set of laws that govern people in a country. It also states the rights of the people that are governed by it. The constitution in any country should be something easily accessible and easily interpreted. In 2010, the government gave out free constitutions to all schools in the country. On Monday 15 June, to commemorate Constitutional day, a Judicial Committee on Constitutional Day led by the President Court of Appeal, Francis MacGregor gave out simplified copies of the constitution to all head teachers in the country. But how visible is this plan, in helping tomorrow’s future get well equipped with the rules that govern them? Today spoke to a parent whose child attends one of the schools that received a copy of the constitution. According to this parent, this is just another way to waste material “One copy was given to every school that has over 200 children. That one copy will probably be placed in the headmistress’ office and no other copies will even be made from it cause of lack of finds. Most of these children are scared of their head teachers and will not go knock at their doors so that she can get a look at the constitution.” The 40 year old parent explained. While citizens could be the best guardians for their own constitution since it governs them, how possible is this when less than half of Seychelles population has access to a copy of the constitution either by soft or hard copy? How can they protect something that is just an ideal to them? Most government and nongovernmental organizations have copies of the constitution on their websites. In this technological age, it would seem the best option. But can all citizens have access? “How many people in this country can afford to pay for internet? Yes, many people may have devices where they can download the constitution but does it make sense? My grandmother can hardly read an email from a computer. How is he then expected to be a guardian of an electric document?” A gentleman told TODAY. “For this to be a reality, for citizens to be guardians of their constitution, we need to educate citizens more on their rights and what this entails. More sensitization at grass root levels especially in schools needs to be done. As CEPS, we are planning on organizing various talks and debates in collaboration with other NGOs in relation to citizen rights.” Mr. Hoareau said. “When I was Ombudsman, one of my recommendations was that authorities continuously print as many copies of the constitution to enable easy access. If this had been done, all households would by now have a copy of the constitution. I was Ombudsman for 10 years and stressed this idea throughout my time in office. Back then, a copy of the constitution cost only one rupee.” Judge Renaud said. He added that while his initial recommendation regarding the constitution was that it should be written in Creole, given the three national languages copies should be made in all of them. The workshop was attended by the Leader of Opposition, David Pierre, members of the diplomatic core, members of the National Assembly, members of the Constitutional day organizing committee and several other people. Dear Editor, On Sunday, I attended a church service led by Father Kallais. He read a letter from the Inter-Faith committee and expressed his general displeasure at the news of the gay marriage which occurred at the British High Commissioner’s residence on Saturday. I believe that one of the main reasons why the church is whining is because they weren’t consulted. But have they realized how inconsequential they’ve become to the matters of state recently? The statement that they weren’t vilifying homosexuals was almost a side-note in the letter, whereas their main issue was that this happened on their watch! Therefore, my questions and comments are as follows: Firstly, are these clergies really angry with the British High Commissioner for marrying these people or for showing Seychelles that the church is asleep, ineffective and not consulted on such matters? Secondly, the head of the Anglican Church is the Queen of England. The Queen must follow the laws of her land - does that not therefore imply that the Anglican Church in whichever ju- risdiction must follow their leader’s stance? Wrong perhaps, but she is still the head. Of course, they must adhere to the laws of the country they find themselves in, but shouldn’t the priority or allegiance be to the Queen? That would be similar to what the Roman Catholic priests do with the orders of the Pope. Thirdly, Father Kallais conveniently forgets that he has a gay person very close to him. Who feels the judgment of his family - who may perhaps one day wish to have a partner to commit to like everyone else. As for Mr. Maurice LoustauLalanne spouting off his usual diplomatic mumbo-jumbo, he too should realize that many Government offices including the President’s Office and his own ministry have seen plenty of gays and lesbians pass through. The country itself is already polarized enough through partisan politics that the last thing we need as a nation is more stupid remarks or more Government interference in the private lives of our citizens. Perhaps we need to start loving people more instead of being self-righteous. I think answers will be more forthcoming then. A proud lesbian. Erratum In an article published in Friday’s edition on a new state of the art LED screen unveiled earlier this week, and intended for the National Day celebrations, we mistakenly said that the screen was bought for SCR20 million. The value of the LED screen is in fact SCR2 million. We apologise to the National Sports Council for the confusion. Saturday 20 June, 2015 p4 Fantasy football Winners of third Edition receive their prizes Wooooooohooooooooo is the overall winner while That’s Zamora is the runner up. By CM O n Wednesday, the winners of the Fantasy Football competition, collected their prizes during a small ceremony at the office of TODAY in Seychelles. The overall winner Wooooooohooooooooo lives overseas and was thus not able to collect his prize. The runner up was That’s Zamora (Stewart Martin). Prizes ranged from airline tickets, subscriptions to TODAY in Seychelles’ digital paper as well as a set of branded gifts for each participant comprising of a mug, sun visor, polo shirt, umbrella and a pen. Veronica Maria, TODAY’s Business Development manager thanked Seashell Travel for sponsoring a return ticket to Dubai. The winners were as follows: Runner Up, Stewart Martin received a return ticket to Dubai and a set of branded items. Third place went to Jean-Luc Palmyre, who won a tablet, one year subscription to eTODAY newspaper and a set of promotional items. Fourth place went to Juan Palmyre who won six months of subscription to eTODAY and a set of promotional items. Finally, the fifth place went to Collin Chang-Tave who won three months of subscription to eTODAY and also a set of promotional items. He was unable to make it to the prize giving ceremony. Proud winners include That’s Zamora’s Stewart Martin (far right). Basketball: National league Football Baya and Drifters’ unbeaten run at stake National team face a few hiccups in Mozambique Defending first division league Champions Baya and the current league leaders Drifters clash this Saturday in an eagerly awaited match at the Victoria gymnasium. By RR D rifters have made a tremendous start to the season where they reached the final of the Curtain raiser tournament where they lost to PLS Hawks but they exacted revenge when those two teams met in the league in May. The players of Coach Philip Arissol showed that they are a strong contender for the league title this season when they disposed of Mont Fleuri Dawgz last Saturday on a 87-73 score which shows the credential of this team which is taking the sport by storm. Coach Philip Arissol is quite pleased with the progress of his protégés so far this season and points to the fact that they have had a very good pre-season which is proving very beneficial. “The players took their preseason preparation really seriously and though I was not always available due to work commitments, they trained on their own which shows that they are taking things very seriously and want to achieve something,” noted Coach Arissol. Nonetheless the Drifters’ trainer is conscious that Champions Baya will be the biggest test his team face this season but says they will be ready for the challenge. “We have to prepare well for this match as it is going to be tough but we are playing well at the moment and the players’ confidence is growing with every win so therefore we expect an ex- Baya will try to uphold their unbeaten run against a resolute Drifters side. citing match and we will go all out for a win. However we know that we have to defend extremely well and avoid committing too many fouls which may come back to haunt us,” coach Arissol explained. For his part, the Baya coach Michel Malbrook says that his team are determined to prove that they are worthy of the title of champions and are all fired to defend their crown though he firstly expressed his disappointment with the basketball federation. “My team is in good form but we are disappointed and also annoyed with the federation as last week we requested the postponement of our match on bereavement ground due to the sudden passing away of our Malagasy player whose body was repatriated on Saturday. After being advised to write a formal letter for this request which we obliged, the federation did not agree for the postponement of our Sunday match against Beau-Vallon Heats. Therefore we were forced to turn up for the match but then the match was cancelled due to a lack of table officials which made us very frustrated,” coach Malbrook revealed. But coach Malbrook said that his team will be focussed for this top of the table battle and expects a closely fought match but one which will entertain the crowd. “We know what we have to do to win and we have our game plan and it will be a good opportunity to let out all our frustration on them and I feel it is going to be a tight but exciting match,” coach Malbrook predicted. The Baya-Drifters’ clash is surely a match not to miss as they put their unbeaten run on the line and hopefully there will not be a lack of officials to cause further cancellation of matches this weekend. By RR T But the team’s spirits are still high. he Seychelles national team faced a few hiccups as they prepare for their match today, in the CHAN tournament against Mozambique. The Seychelles senior squad left the country on Tuesday morning for Maputo where they will dispute this CHAN qualifying match but according to the team manager, Michel Albert who spoke to TODAY Sports on Thursday, the team is encountering a few difficulties which is affecting their preparation for this match. “Since we arrived, we have not been provided with a suitable training ground and we have had problems with transportation as the van we initially travelled in, has broken down twice and this is quite frustrating,” the Seychelles team manager revealed. However Manager Albert added that they are very happy with the hotel facilities where they are staying and said that despite the difficulties, the players’ morale remains high. “Thankfully the players have not allowed these problems to affect them and they are focussed on this match,” manager Albert claimed. Mozambique lost at home in the AFCON qualifiers last weekend to Rwanda and therefore will try every trick in the book to gain a psychological advantage over our team that once again will be without head coach Ulric Mathiot. It will be Cliff Nolin who will take charge of this away fixture. The Seychelles match will kick off at 5pm Seychelles time and TODAY Sports wishes them the best of luck. Cote D’Or pull out of Inner Island Cup Cote D’Or’s club president Robert Payet has revealed that his team have pulled out of the Inner Island Cup for several reasons. “Firstly we have five players with the national team whilst two of our Malagasy players are going back home for treatment. We have another three players who are injured and now two face suspensions. We are partly disappointed as we thought this competition was going to be played in a friendly atmosphere but this is not the case and on top of that, the officials are incompetent. So for the benefit of my team, I feel it makes more sense to pull out or else we will not have players to participate in the national league as they will all be injured as a result of this tournament,” explained Mr Payet. Nonetheless matches will continue in this competition as today Lightstars host Anse Reunion on Praslin and La Passe meet Revengers on La Digue. The Seychelles team are facing difficulties in Mozambique. Saturday 20 June, 2015 p5 Saturday 20 June, 2015 p6 Saturday 20 June, 2015 p7 Constance Ephelia Seychelles Chef Lu Htet reveals the tricks of sushi making Constance Ephelia unveiled its new sushi menu with a delightful introduction from Chef Lu Htet, a sushi expert from Myanmar. A demonstration workshop was conducted on Tuesday. TODAY learnt the tricks of sushi cuisine at the Cyann Restaurant and shares them with you. N. Dennis met the renowned Chef JeanGeorges who taught me creativity and innovation in making sushi rolls and sashimi. He is my sushi teacher. I treasure each and every technique that I learnt from him. When I was offered the position of Sous Chef at the Cyann Sushi Bar, I was really excited for the opportunity to bring a Japanese influence to the vibrant Constance Ephelia Seychelles culinary scene. I Chef Lu Htet reveals the trick of cutting the sushi into six pieces. f you plan to dine at Constance Epehlia’s Cyann Restaurant, make sure not to miss the chance of experiencing the striking flavours of Chef Lu Htet’s sushi rolls and sashimi. What’s the secret behind these delicate creations? Where does Cyann Restaurant’s Myanmar mastermind find his culinary inspiration? TODAY sat down with the head sushi chef himself to find out what the tips and tricks of sushi cuisine are. What brought you to Constance Ephelia’s Cyann Restaurant? Growing up in Myanmar, I always wanted to become a sushi chef as I was fascinated with Japanese cuisine for its rich tradition and intricate artistry. At the age of 19, I went to the culinary school to join the Yangon Hotel as Commi III for one year (January 2005 to February 2006) and later became a Commi I at the Inn Yar Lake Hotel in Yangon Mayanmar (April 2006 – December 2007). Before coming to Seychelles, I worked as a Commi I sushi chef at the W Hotel and Residences in Doha, Qatar for seven years (April 2008 – April 2014). This is where I Sashimi can be eaten with rice and miso soup. What is the secret behind your new sushi menu? Hygienic is the first secret of the sushi bar. The new sushi menu requires different techniques and ingredients but they all have one thing in common: the clean, fresh and finest fish available from the local market. All the seafood and vegetables are fresh and locally produced except the nori sheet. At the Cyann Sushi Bar, I create my own style by adapting the best local products such as the red snapper, octopus, captain blanc, bonito and tuna. To add a twist to the traditional sushi template, I integrate avocado with spicy mayonnaise, flying fish roe and herbs. The most important part is the 90 gms rice that needs to go into every sushi roll. The most interesting sushi that I serve my clients is the Unagi, which is made with fresh water eel. It is blanched and fried before being served as rolls. My signature Maki are: shrimp tempura, shredded crab, crispy calamari, spicy tuna and crispy soft shell crab. The traditional rolls are: California, tuna avocado, cucumber, and avocado and cream cheese. My sushi keeps the originality and integrity of the recipe but has an European touch integrated with its traditional version. What are the basic ingredients to use when making good sushi? Sushi making is undoubtedly an art. The basic ingredient that goes into making a simple sushi are: Rice, soya sauce, nori sheet, wasabi, ginger, fresh fish and other dry ingredients such as kelp, flying fish roe, herbs and more. You need a sushi mat to make the roll and a sushi knife to cut it. How do you eat a traditional sushi? Why does one eat sushi with wasabi and ginger? Traditionally, sushi is eaten with chopsticks but people who are not comfortable with chopsticks can use a fork. Eel is already blanched, but most other sushi, when raw, should be dipped in soy sauce with a little dash of wasabi before eating it. After eating a rich piece of sushi, it is always refreshing to crunch on some pickled ginger which is offered as a condiment. Wasabi and ginger are sushi companions. However they are both capable of enhancing the subtle flavour of the fish while dining. Wasabi is also called as the Japanese horseradish. Its stem is used as a condiment and has an extremely strong pungency. It also helps to defend against bacterial infections in the body and mouth. Pickled ginger is most commonly found next to wasabi and soy sauce as a garnish. This condiment is meant to refresh the palate in between sushi varieties, which ensures that the subtleties of each fish variety can be tasted. It has minor anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties and it is thought that eating it with raw food can assist in the prevention of sickness and it is good for digestion. Can people eat sushi every day? Yes, I actually recommend people to eat sushi everyday as it is very simple and healthy. One of the main advantages of sushi is that it is very good for the health. It is unfortunate that many people have the wrong impression of sushi. But sushi is made with fresh ingredients without any additives. No oil is used in the process and eating sushi is a great way to lose weight. Did they enjoy the raw fish? Journalists and other PR officials present at the sushi workshop had the opportunity to create and make their own sushi rolls, under the guidance and watchful eye of Chef Lu Htet. Having made the sushi and sashimi, journalists were invited to taste each other’s – and Chef Lu Htet’s creations and rate them! Here’s what they had to say: “I have tasted sushi before but Chef Lu Htet’s sushi rolls were incredibly good. I quite liked the taste and enjoyed the local ingredients blended with raw fish. My favourite one was the California roll and also I enjoyed the eel which was prepared really well,” said Jerry Sinon, the business reporter from Pure FM. The sales and guest relations manager of Constance Ephelia, Christophe De Froberville said that, “it is a good combination of traditional sushi with the new menu created by Chef Lu Htet. It is quite an interesting affair for Seychellois to discover this new type of sushi products as it is not very common in Seychelles. My favourite one was the soft shell crab roll. I also tried tasting eel which was different and interesting to discover something new and unique”. “It is the first time I taste sushi roll. I like my fish cooked with herbs and curry powder. I was a bit uncomfortable while eating the eel sushi roll but I liked it as the preparation was different. I would give Chef Lu Htet a 5/5 marks,” said a representative (name withheld upon request) of Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) radio. The public relations executive of Blast Communications, Linda Philoe-Bristol is allergic to shrimps. She said “I enjoyed the tuna avocado roll and California roll as it was well prepared. Though eating raw fish is a first I learnt from Chef Lu Htet was that ‘I need a good knife to cut my sushi’, said Vesna Rakic, the director of Sales and Marketing Seychelles. The sales coordinator of Constance Ephelia, Ehad Bhaukaurally said that, “before I started working in the hotel industry, I had never tried sushi because it did not interest me. But I gave it a try here at the hotel and now I cannot stop eating sushi. The main aim of the workshop was to discover the new chef and his new sushi menu. I think to make a good sushi you need to have all the ingredients ready and set.” Asked to describe Chef Lu Htet in three words, this is what he said: “passionate, creative and innovative”. “I am not a great sushi fan but I found it interesting. The most shocking one was the eel as Seychellois do not eat this fish. I tried the raw tuna, it was good as well as I learnt the technique of using the knife,” said Natifa Constance, a radio presenter and producer of SBC Radio. A platter with different kinds of sushi. for me, I enjoyed the taste and will go for more”. “I am a big fan of sushi but the eel sushi has certainly been the highlight of this workshop. I have always seen it on the menu but never had the courage to try it. Today I saw the preparation and that gave me the courage to taste it. And guess what? I really enjoyed it. The one technique Ms. Bristol making a tuna avocado sushi roll. The awards and achievements of Chef Lu Htet Best Brunch 2014 Time Out Doha Best Contemporary Restaurant 2014 Time Out Doha BBC Good Food Middle East Awards Restaurant of the Year 2013 Best Restaurant 2013 Time Out Doha Market by Jean George Best Business Lunch 2013 Time Out Doha Market by Jean George Winner of the Middle East’s Leading Business Hotel 2013 World Travel Awards Winner of the Middle East’s Leading Hotel and Residences 2012 World Travel Awards Best Restaurant Qatar Choice 2012 Market by Jean George Best Business Lunch and Best European Contemporary Food 2011 “Times Out Doha” market by Jean George Winner of the Middle East’s Leading Hotel and Residences 2011 World Travel Awards Winner of the Qatar’s leading Meetings and Conference Hotel 2011 World Travel Awards. Saturday 20 June, 2015 p8 Aviation industry International Monetary Fund USD2.3 million disbursement for Seychelles approved Ethiopian Airlines reduces frequency to Seychelles The IMF Executive Board approved the disbursement after it completed the second review under the Extended Fund Facility. Ethiopian Airlines now operates only on Fridays and Sundays and this is due to low season, the airline said. Source: einnews.com N. Dennis T he Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed on Wednesday the second review of the arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with Seychelles. The completion of the review enables the disbursement of an amount of about USD 2.3 million, bringing the total disbursements to about USD6.9 million. In completing the review, the Executive Board also approved the authorities’ request for waiver and modification of performance criteria. The 36-month, USD 16.1 million (the equivalent of 105 percent of Seychelles’ quota) arrangement under the EFF was approved by the Executive Board in June 2014. Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Mr. Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair issued the following statement: “Sound macroeconomic management has strengthened the Seychelles’ economy significantly. The near-term growth outlook is favourable and prospects in the tourism sector remain strong, with noticeable gains in both traditional and non-tradi- E Total disbursement so far is USD6.9 million. tional markets. “Policies have aimed at reinforcing resilience and entrenching macroeconomic stability. The authorities remain on track to achieve their objective of reducing the debt burden below 50 percent of GDP by 2018. Balancing this objective with the need to address critical infrastructure needs will require tight control of current expenditure and improved governance and financial performance of state-owned enterprises. Further progress in building international reserves has ensured an effective buffer against external pressures. “The authorities should continue to improve the forward-looking elements of their monetary policy framework, including inflation forecasting and liquidity management. The exchange rate should continue to be allowed to adjust freely to changes in the economic external and internal conditions. “To support sustained and inclusive growth, structural reforms should aim to increase the role for the private sector in the economy and enhance competition. In this regard, caution should be exercised in expanding the roles and mandates of public enterprises. Accession to the World Trade Organization is welcome, while further improvements in the business climate should aim to make growth more inclusive by broadening access to credit, enhancing infrastructure, and reducing skills mismatches in the labour market.” thiopian Airlines has reduced its flight frequency to Seychelles from three flights a week to two flights a week, Meseret Tekalign, the area manager of Ethiopian Airlines, based in Seychelles, confirmed to TODAY. This newspaper was informed of the reduction in the number of weekly flights by an aggrieved businessman who was told on no less than two occasions that the Ethiopian Airlines flight he wanted to book to Seychelles had been cancelled. “We normally operate thrice weekly to Seychelles. But as it is a low season period for Seychelles until the end of July, the airline has decided to operate on Fridays and Sundays,” she confirmed. It is expected that Ethiopian will increase the number of flights to and from Seychelles as from August on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays. The airline resumed flights to Seychelles on 1 October last year after a six-month interruption. It announced in January 2014, that it would stop flights to Seychelles because the load factor on the flights to and from Seychelles was not high enough, making the Ethiopian Airlines Business Class Seat - Boeing 777-200LR route unprofitable. The announcement was bad news to Seychelles as it compromised the Seychelles Tourism Board’s plans to provide an alternate stop-over in Addis Ababa for travellers from Europe, China, the Americas and Africa, other than Dubai and Abu Dhabi. But after extended negotiations between Seychelles’ Transport Minister Joel Morgan, the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority and the Ethiopian authorities, the airline agreed to make a comeback. News of the decrease in frequency however does not bode well for the future of the route but Ethiopian Airlines says it is due solely to the low season. In fact, Mrs Tekalign said that Ethiopian is “planning to increase its frequency from three to four times a week in peak season”. The additional flight is expected to be operated on Wednesdays. Saturday 20 June, 2015 p9 Airtel Ambassador YayaTouré On Wednesday, Airtel launched its new ‘It’s Now’ campaign and announced that footballer YayaTouré will be the company’s new brand ambassador. This was during a brief ceremony held at the Maison de Football Auditorium, Roche Caiman. N. Dennis to explore opportunities around them. On the minus point, guests and young footballers had come with high expectations of seeing Yaya Touré and were disappointed by his absence from the event. Mr. Dina explained that Yaya Touré would actually visit Seychelles later this year and that Seychelles would be his first stop in the Afri- I can region. Commenting on the new campaign, Mr. Dina said that, “Airtel is an ambitious front-runner in the technology industry and has helped millions of Africans to plug into the global community. We push the boundaries of technology, constantly innovating, and drawing on our entrepreneurial spirit to provide our customers with a window to the world. There is no time better than the present to start living your dreams and this why the call of the campaign is - It’s Now.” “The campaign motivates the younger generation to act now, such as it is now the time to live their dreams, to start a project, ap (Continued on Page 10) Mr. Dina addressing the guests at the launching event. vory Coast’s captain and Manchester City’s midfielder YayaTouré is the new African face of Airtel’s “It’s Now” campaign, the managing director of Airtel, Amadou Dina announced on Wednesday. “Africa is a continent with pos- sibilities and potential. Airtel is privileged to kick off the ‘It’s Now’ campaign and partner with football star Yaya Touré as our PanAfrican brand ambassador,” Mr Dina said during the launch of the telecommunications company’s new campaign at the Maison de Football in Roche caiman. The campaign seeks to nurture and help talents grow in Africa through various consumer touch points such as sports, lifestyle and music while providing customers with connectivity and technological solutions that will enable them The young footballers- Raman and Perry disappointed of not seeing Yaya Toure. Saturday 20 June, 2015 (Continued From Page 9) ply for a job, learn a skill or make that change. Take that step now, and let Airtel be your partner in making your dreams come true,” added Airtel’s MD. In a press statement, Airtel Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Christian de Faria, said that the campaign reiterates the company’s commitment to support the youth in Africa as well as to drive economic growth by unlocking people’s potential. “We are excited to be signing the pact with Mr. Touré who is respected in Africa and beyond. As the first player to win the African Player of the Year award for four consecutive years, Yaya Touré is an inspiration to everyone working to achieve their potential and striving to be at their best every day,” said Mr. de Faria. Speaking about his partnership with Airtel, Mr. Toure said in the press statement that “throughout my career I have been fortunate to have a great deal of success on the field. However, I know that the strongest performances come only when you commit 100 per cent to the tasks at hand and display the strength and mettle to give it your all.” “The ‘It’s Now’ – campaign is close to my heart as it calls on Africans to embrace the opportunities around them to better their lives. I am glad to be working with Airtel, with its wide reach within Africa, in order to inspire many people,” Delegates at the event. p10 added the Manchester City’s midfielder. Mr. Dina concluded that the partnership will see Mr. Touré supporting Airtel’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) particularly in youth empowerment for development. Present at the launching event was the principal secretary of Information Communications Technology (ICT), Benjamin Choppy, the chief executive officer of Nouvobanq, Ahmad Saeed, the Chairman of Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) Elvis Chetty, the chief executive officer of Seychelles National Youth Council, Alvin Laurence, the head of Sales and Marketing of Airtel, Bernadette Larue and young foot- YayaTouré “I just had a normal African childhood” Source: wikipedia “I just had a normal African childhood: We played football a lot, but it was always in the streets and always without shoes. Boots were very expensive, and when there are seven off you in your family and you say you want to buy a pair, your father wants to kill you,” YayaTouré said of his childhood. Born on May 13, 1983, in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, YayaTouré began his European soccer career in Belgium in 2001. After rising to prominence in the Greek and French leagues, the midfielder helped FC Barcelona win six titles in 2009. Touré then became teammates with his older brother in Manchester City and emerged as a favourite for helping the English club end its lengthy championship drought. p11 Saturday 20 June, 2015 Flavien Joubert “I’m afraid to fall asleep and never wake up” TODAY caught up with one of the pioneers of the Seychelles’ tourism industry, Flavien Joubert. In this interview, the Principal of the Seychelles Tourism Academy reveals many interesting things, such as his greatest fear, what song he would like played at his funeral and the three individuals he’d invite to his dream dinner party. helping hand. What annoys you the most about people? I cannot stand people who complain when they have no reason to. Do you have children? Yes. I have two daughters, Natasha is in her early 30’s whereas Jessica is ten years old. Are you more of a cat or a dog person? I’m definitely a dog person. In fact, we have four at home, named Puppy, Miley and the names of the other two vary according to what mood we are when we wake up the next morning (laughs...). What is your greatest fear? I am afraid to fall asleep and never wake up. If you could choose one superpower, what would it be? I would choose the power to stop every war in the world and bring peace. In the summer of 1974, I was caught up in a civil war whilst studying in Cyprus and I ended up from student to being a refugee. What did you dream of becoming when you were growing up? Since the age of ten, I had this urge to help people and so I wanted to become a priest very badly. In fact, I had even undertaken seminary studies Signing some of the copies of his first cocktail book which was officially launched last December. What’s your ideal holiday destination? I’ve travelled quite a lot in my lifetime but the charming city of Brighton on the south coast of England happens to be my favourite holiday destination of all. I’ve studied and worked in Brighton for 15 years. What’s your favourite place in Seychelles? That would be Beau Vallon beach especially at sunsets. Do you have any hobbies? I like to read and swim, I find both very therapeutic. How do you unwind? I live at Port Glaud right near the beach so I go for a swim nearly every day. Can you cook? Best dishes? I started off in the tourism industry as a chef, so yes, I presume that I can call myself a good cook. I’ve been com- plimented more than once for my octopus curry. A joyful 17-year old Flavien Joubert. for four years but then those priests who were in charge of recruitment, decided to put a stop to my vocation. According to them, I loved girls more than I loved God (laughs...). What’s your favourite TV series or movie? I am not much of a TV fan but I do happen to like some movies in which Sylvester Stallone features. What is your earliest memory? I think I was eight and I remember my father telling me about his experience as a soldier during WW1. Which book changed your life? I know it’s a children’s book but I would have to go with Little Red Riding Hood. It is the one book which made me realize at such a tender age to be careful of those who disguise themselves as friends. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? To survive at any cost and never give up. What song would you like played at your funeral? “Hello” by Lionel Richie. What would you say are your main qualities? According to my friends, I’m very sociable, charismatic and positive at all times but above all, I’m always ready to give a Flavien posing for a souvenir photo with his beloved wife, Nadege. If you could go back in time, where would you go? I think at the exact time when oil/petroleum was discovered. Simply because its discovery has changed the course of life on earth as well as threatened its environ- ment. In the film of your life, who would you choose to play you? I’d choose Eddie Murphy for his unique sense of humour. I had the luck of meeting him during the time I was working for Quincy Jones (the former record producer of Michael Jackson). If your house was on fire, what’s the one possession you would save? I will surely try to save my marriage certificate. After I pass away, this will be the only document that will be able to prove I was in love and that I had a beloved family. If you could invite three people, dead or alive, to dinner, who would they be? Eddie Murphy, Quincy Jones and B.B King. p12 Saturday 20 June, 2015 Lifeline Celebrity Profile: Chris Kyle (1974–2013) BBC denies Clarkson invited back to Top Gear Chris Kyle was a Navy SEAL marksman whose autobiography “American Sniper” became a bestseller and was made into a major Hollywood film starring Bradley Cooper. Source: Bio.com The BBC has denied it invited Jeremy Clarkson back as host of Top Gear, months after he was axed from the job. Clarkson told the Sun, for whom he writes a regular column, that an unnamed BBC executive had “asked if I’d come back to Top Gear” last week. But Clarkson said he refused: “It would have been impossible to make the show I’d want to make,” he said. The BBC has named Chris Evans as the new host. A spokesman said: “We haven’t offered another Top Gear contract.” Fifty Shades of Grey rewrite savaged by critics Early Life The late Navy SEAL sniper, Christopher Scott Kyle was born April 8, 1974, in Odessa, Texas. The son of a church deacon, Kyle grew up on a ranch and experienced a childhood that was shaped by outdoor pursuits. He loved to hunt deer and pheasant and later competed in a number of bronco busting contests. For two years he studied agriculture at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, before leaving for a job as a ranch hand. His lifelong interest in the military eventually led him to the Navy in 1999, where he quickly gained admittance to the SEALS, the force’s elite special operations unit. Military Life After weathering a demanding selection process, Kyle was selected for and trained as a sniper. Over the course of his 10-year military career, Kyle served four combat deployments to Iraq. His marksmanship became renown not just within the American military, for whom he was charged with protecting, but among insurgents as well, who nicknamed him “The Devil of Ramadi.” His enemies had also put a $20,000 bounty on the head of any U.S. sniper. Kyle’s steel nerves and patience for tracking his subjects earned him two awards of the Silver Star and five awards for the Bronze Star. n all, Kyle claimed to have killed more than 160 people, a record for a U.S. military sniper though the number could not be officially substantiated. “After the first kill, the others come easy,” he later wrote in his bestselling 2012 book, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History. “I don’t have to psyche myself up, or do something special mentally – I look through the scope, get my target in the cross hairs, and kill my enemy before he kills one of my people.” Post-Military Years Kyle retired from the military in 2009. In his post Navy life, Kyle followed a number of different pursuits, many of them no doubt aided by the fame his book brought him. With his hulking presence and quiet demeanor, Kyle encapsulated the image of a military hero and as sales of his books soared, he appeared on talk shows and participated in the NBC competition show, Stars TODAY in History Critics have savaged EL James’s rewrite of her erotic bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey, with one calling the writing “bad throughout” and another accusing it of “rapturous self-regard”. Grey re-tells the events of James’s 2011 original from the perspective of its antagonist, Christian Grey. The book, writes the Evening Standard’s David Sexton, “loyally repeats every line [and] every excruciating email”. According to the Telegraph, the result is “as sexy as a misery memoir”. June 20th is the 171st day of the year 1631: Pirates sack Baltimore 1819: First steamboat crosses Atlantic Earn Stripes. In addition, Kyle co-launched a non-profit group, FITCO Cares Foundation, which supplies fitness equipment to war wounded veterans. Kyle’s childhood passion for guns remained with him. He founded Craft International, a security company that is marketed with the motto, “Despite what your momma told you, violence does solve problems.” Kyle was also an outspoken opponent of President Obama’s push to tighten gun controls. Murder and Aftermath Kyle’s life came to a tragic end on February 2, 2013, when he and a colleague, Chad Littlefield, were shot at a gun range outside of Forth Worth, Texas, by Eddie Ray Routh, an ex-Marine who had a long history of mental illness. Kyle, who was 38 at the time of his death, had worked with the 25-year-old Routh in the months prior to the shooting. ‘American Sniper ‘ Film In 2014, Kyle’s book American Sniper was released as a major Hollywood film, starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle and directed by Clint Eastwood. Lauded by some critics and fans while generating massive controversy over its depiction of violence and take on the Iraq War, the commercial blockbuster received six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Music Cyndi Lauper and Van Morrison added to Songwriters Hall of Fame Cyndi Lauper, Van Morrison and Lady Gaga have all been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Source: BBC T Tommy Chong treated for rectal cancer Tommy Chong - one half of the 1970s comedy duo Cheech and Chong - has revealed he has rectal cancer. “I have good news and bad news. First the bad news, the cancer came back and it is a real pain in the butt,” the 77-year-old comedian tweeted. “The good news is I now have to use more marijuana to treat the cancer.” Chong said he would report back on his progress on his Chong and Chong podcast. “Please wish me luck while I kick cancer’s behind,” he wrote. Chong came to public attention alongside comedy partner Cheech Marin in 1971, with the comedy album Cheech and Chong. Kyle’s murder drew an outpouring of support, especially in his home state of Texas, where an estimated 7,000 people attended a public service for the late SEAL at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. In addition to his wife, Taya, Kyle’s survivors include his two young children. In October 2014, prosecutors announced they would not seek the death penalty against Routh. Routh’s trial lasted two weeks and deliberations less than two and half hours. On February 24, 2015, the jury found Routh guilty of murder and the judge sentenced the veteran to life in prison without parole minutes after the verdict was rendered. On this day in 1631, the village of Baltimore in Ireland was attacked by North African pirates, who sold the majority of the inhabitants into slavery. The attack was led by a Dutch captain-turned-pirate called Jan van Haarlem, who launched the covert attack with a crew of Dutchmen, Algerians and Ottoman Turks. They captured 108 English settlers, who worked in a small herring fishery in the village, and a few Irish residents. Most of them were put in irons and sent to work as galley slaves, while others spent the rest of their days in the seclusion of harems in North Africa or working as laborers. The pirates were led to the sleeping village by a man called Hackett – the captain of a fishing boat who had been captured earlier – in exchange for his freedom. He was later hanged on the clifftop outside the village for his role. On this day in 1819, the SS Savannah became the first ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean using a combination of steam and sail power. After departing from the American coast, the ship encountered the schooner Contract, whose commander wrote that he saw a vessel with “volumes of smoke” billowing out. Assuming it was a ship on fire; he pursued it for several hours but was unable to catch up. Days later, it passed the sailing ship Pluto at 10 knots, sparking its crew to give off three cheers for the “happiest effort of mechanical genius” to ever hit the sea. When the unusual ship reached England, it was greeted by hundreds of boats, including a British sloop-of-war, and thousands of people on roofs and piers. The historic voyage lasted 29 days and 11 hours, during which time the engine was used for 80 hours. he stars received their honours at a three-hour ceremony in New York, and many expressed surprise in their acceptance speeches. “I still can’t believe I make a living making music,” said Lauper. “I’m blown away.” The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, was also inducted posthumously alongside the band’s lyricist Robert Hunter. Country artists Toby Keith, who has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, and Bobby Braddock, who wrote Tammy Wynette’s DIVORCE, were also honoured. And “poet laureate of the blues” Willie Dixon, who died in 1992, was cited for songs including Hoochie Coochie Man, I Just Want to Make Love to You and You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover. Northern Irish songwriter Van Morrison accepted his award a week after being knighted in the Queen’s birthday honours. The star performed a duet with Michael Buble on Real Real Gone, and noted that songwriting royalties had kept him afloat during dry spells in his career. “The name of the game is hustle,” he said. His appearance was particularly notable because he pulled out his induction at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Gaga won the contemporary icon award, receiving her trophy from jazz star Tony Bennett, with whom she recorded an album of duets last year. “I think she’s definitely underrated as a songwriter,” said Hall of Fame president Linda Moran, “partially because she was first known more as a personality.” The singer also covered the 4 Non Blondes hit What’s Up in tribute to fellow honoree Linda Perry, who penned that song, as well as Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful and Pink’s Get The Party Started. Other performers included Carly Rae Jepsen, who sang Lauper’s ballad Time After Time; and Buble, who crooned a finger-snapping version of Van Morrison’s Moondance. p13 Saturday 20 June, 2015 Letter to the Editor A gay soirée D ear Editor, From the moment I arrived at Joachim and Steven’s home in north Mahé, I knew that Steven is going to outdo himself with the Creole dishes. He is in the kitchen, adroitly chopping bright red tomatoes and tossing them into a rougay kordonnyen sale. My taste buds quiver in anticipation as the smell of octopus curry drifts across. I can visualise the contents of his saucepan: tender pieces of zourit and cinnamon leaves swirling in bubbling coconut milk and spices, the magic formula of which he alone knows. Joachim puts an arm proudly around Steven’s waist. “He’s really seduced me with all this aphrodisiac Creole food,” he says, sporting his eternal grin. “That’s why I’m never ever going to leave him. When are all these strident homophobes trying to elbow their way past one another on Facebook going to accept that we gay people are so bloody talented?” There is a chuckle in the doorway. “Hey, Doreen and I are not gay, but we’re not completely without talent – wouldn’t you agree?” It is Egbert, holding a bottle of white wine and a large pack of grapefruit juice. He and his wife Doreen are Joachim and Steven’s heterosexual neighbours - and first-class graphic artists both of them. They always get invited to these “soirées”. Their eight year-old daughter, Chantal, is at a birthday party and someone will bring her over later. As I make a mental note to ask Chantal about her progress in mathematics, a car drives down the alleyway and parks outside. “This must be Marc and his Praslinois boyfriend Nicolas,” says Steven, going out to meet them. “They were supposed to bring Yvonne and Jeva.” There is the sound of a car door being shut followed by a loud explosion of female laughter outside. Yvonne and Jeva have been living together as a couple for over ten years. Everyone agrees that dinner is even more than what we have come to expect from Steven. The tangy freshness of his satini zironmon is the perfect foil for the pungent jolt of the octopus curry. Years ago, I read somewhere that “the palate should be kept fresh, teased, surprised, excited throughout a meal”. This is certainly what we are experiencing. As we eat, the conversation becomes more focussed on “the gay wedding” held last Saturday. “I’m so happy that the British High Commissioner took this initiative,” Nicolas says, as I admire his dreadlocks. ”It’s sad though, isn’t it, that all these things When are the homophobes going to accept that gays are bloody talented? have to be massaged into us from outside – you know, turtle conservation, human rights, gender rights, gay and lesbian rights...” “I agree,” Doreen responds. “We Seychellois don’t seem to take these issues seriously if one of our own tries to raise them from inside the country. They’ve got to have the sanction of international organisations or western embassies first.” “What I find so frustrating,” Steven intervenes, “is that these conservative zealots – I’m tempted to say idiots – don’t seem to realise that us gay and lesbian people may have perfectly practical reasons to want to get married, just like heterosexuals do, apart from wanting public acknowledgement of our relationship with our partner. For heaven’s sake, isn’t marriage an internationally recognised human right for all people?!” I am certain we have been through this a number of times before, but still his outburst is followed by everyone joining in to mention a practical reason for gays and lesbians wanting to get married: inheritance rights if a partner dies, an equitable division of property if a relationship ends, dependency and indemnity compensation if one’s partner is in the military and dies while on active duty, facilitated residency for partners from another country... I look around the room. They are all couples. Suddenly I am thinking of Nguéko, probably still on his way to Paris from Brazzaville. We won’t be able to meet again until I take leave in September. In the background Sam Smith is singing I’m not the only one. “Above all,” I say, “legalising same-sex marriage would mean affirming the inherent worthiness of us gays and lesbians as valued Seychellois citizens that deserve equal rights under the law.” Jeva cautions that only 18 out of 194 countries allow same-sex marriage througho u t their entire territory – most countries of Western Europe, of course, as well as Canada, Brazil and some other Latin American countries, New Zealand, South Africa – although it is also legal in 36 U.S. states, and some other countries allow various types of same-sex civil partnership. The conversation shifts to Nelson Mandela’s legacy in the fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in South Africa. Jeva, who seems to have a memory for such things, recalls that in 1994 Mandela appointed the first openly gay judge to sit on South Africa’s High Court. Thanks to Nelson Mandela’s insight and wisdom, South Africa became the first country in the world to include constitutional protection for same-sex loving persons. There is a momentary diversion when a green bush cricket suddenly appears, flutters across the veranda and lands on one of Joachim’s potted caladiums. I run across to watch it delicately preening its long antennae. Marc and Yvonne remove plates and serving dishes from the table as Joachim and Steven bring the dessert. “C’est une salade de fruits, chers amis,” Steven announces, “simple et savoureuse ! ” I don’t know about “simple” – I don’t recall seeing such a variety of tropical fruit, from papaya, mango and banana to pineapple, mandarin and passion fruit, in one salad – but it is most certainly “savoureuse”. Somehow, Steven has managed to weave in a faint hint of ginger as well. The topic of conversation is still the outpouring of hatred we have been subjected to on Facebook and elsewhere. “Marriage cannot be only for procreation,” Marc is saying. “Otherwise infertile couples or couples who do not wish to have children would not be allowed to marry.” Jeva comes up with more interesting data. “Did you know,” she asks, “that experts at the University of Melbourne published a study last year that shows that children raised by same-sex parents scored higher than others in terms of general health and family cohesion?” Already deciding that I’m going to have another helping of Steven’s “salade de fruits des îles”, I mention the way the topic of gay and lesbian marriage has been treated in some Seychellois newspapers recently. I was particularly saddened to see gay marriage included in a list of “trivial enough issues” on the front page one newspaper. A column in another said that “the concept of gay marriages in our Seychellois society is a matter of personal opinion” but then went on to contradict this by harping on about “the Christian spirituality of our Creole society and culture”. “I would have thought that legal marriage is a secular institution and that it should not be limited by religious objections,” I tell the others. “Anyway, I have friends who are devout Christians in a gay Christian organisation in France called David et Jonathan. There are progressive churches, like the Metropolitan Community Church, that support gay and lesbian rights – and only last month France’s main Protestant church, l’Eglise Protestante Unie de France, voted to allow its pastors to bless same-sex marriages.” A car arrives to drop Egbert and Doreen’s young daughter, Chantal. She shows me the jigsaw puzzle she has won in a game at her friend’s birthday party. I notice from the writing on the box that there are 150 pieces that when assembled, will form a picture of “glorious butterflies that flit and flutter through a blooming garden”. Both Chantal and I love butterflies, so this should not be too difficult. As we lay out the pieces on a low table, Steven is fuming again. “You know, their criticisms on Facebook and against the British High Commissioner remind me of the argu- ments against interracial marriages in the old days. I recall my grandparents saying that people thought if a white person married a black person this would send the wrong moral message and devalue the institution of marriage! What’s the big deal? If two people love each other, why can’t they be allowed the same rights and responsibilities, no matter their sex? ” Yvonne reaches out and squeezes his arm. “Don’t forget all the complex reasons why people say all these horrible things about us,” she says. “Jeva came across this very interesting paper in a psychology journal the other day. They’ve done studies in the US and the UK that show many homophobic people are actually self-loathing gays – secretly, they often harbour same-sex desires themselves. One of the researchers said that in many cases these are people who are at war with themselves and they are turning this internal conflict outward.” I don’t tell them I remember reading about another study: it concluded that men who are the most outspokenly homophobic are also the ones most likely to be aroused by gay pornography. Chantal and I have completed our third butterfly and second flower when my mobile phone vibrates. I’m engrossed in watching Chantal assemble another brightly coloured wing and a few minutes elapse before I finally look at the phone. It is an SMS from overseas. My pulse is suddenly racing. It is a message from Nguéko. I blink and then peer at the screen. “Salut. Je t’aime trop tu sais.” Suddenly, I am no longer sad and angry. For now, the bigotry, the prejudice, the fear of us and the hypocrisy no longer matter. Where just a while ago there was frustration and pain, clarity and purpose now blossom again. Pat Matyot Anse Nord-Est, Mahé Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of this newspaper. Saturday 20 June, 2015 1 Pick-Up Ford. Single Cab. Scr 295,000. Te: 2578516 Urgent Sale: One White Kia Pick-up. 3 years old. Price Rs 250,000. O.N.O One White Toyota XL Saloon. Licensed till October 2015. Price Rs 50,000. O.N.O. Tel: 2783891 Anytime oped land, registered under parcel number C1248 situated at La Plaine Ste. Andre, Au Cap. And Parcel V8825 being 0.2195 hectare or 2,195msq consisting of three-bedroom dwelling house and a separate 1 bedroom flat in basement situated at Sans Soucis. Contact number 2512700 for viewing. For long term rental for one to two years Urgent Sale One pair Yamaha Speaker. 1000 Watt each. Price Rs 5500. O.N.O. Tel: 2783891 anytime. For Sale two properties: 1.914 hectare or 19,140msq of undevel- Semi-Detached Two Bedroom Two Bathroom Apartment Location Beau Vallon Fully furnished surrounded by secure wall with neat and clean garden. All rooms have air conditioning and ceiling fan. Internet connection available but tenant will need to pay for whatever internet package desired. Accommodation is suitable for companies who need accommodation for their expatriate staff 21 Jan – 19 Feb How much can you accomplish in a single day? If you are a typical Aquarian you can do more in 24 hours than most people manage in 24 hours and that’s good because it will be non-stop today. Your energy levels are so high it’s not real. 23 July – 22 Aug There is no point trying to get along with someone who obviously does not want to get along with you. The more you try to please them the more distant and unfriendly they will become. Accept the situation and go your own way. 20 Feb – 20 March A few days from now you will be in a position to do what you please, but before then there is something you must do to please a loved one. On the home front especially you should give without thought of what you might get in return. 23 Aug – 23 Sept Others may say you have been lucky, that you don’t really deserve what you have got, but the truth is you have worked long and hard to make an impression. Luck is what you make of it and you are entitled to enjoy your good fortune. 21 March – 20 April Your mind is so active that good ideas are flowing thick and fast. Wherever you are and whatever you may be doing you should keep a pen and some paper close by at all times. Put your thoughts into words the moment they come to you. 24 Sept – 23 Oct You will be faced with a rather stiff test today but you have what it takes to come out on top. The planets indicate you can handle anything life throws at you. No matter how tough the test you will sail through with flying colours. 21 April – 21 May You have no choice but to admit that you have wasted a lot of money for no good reason. But don’t be too hard on yourself because in a matter of days you will be having the kind of fun that money can’t buy. 24Oct–22Nov If you have still to decide on making some sort of commitment you must make up your mind soon. Others are beginning to lose patience with your half-hearted attitude and won’t hesitate to go elsewhere in search of a partner. Is that what you want? working on contract. SR 16,000 per month. Kindly phone Mary 4247300 or 2523037 for appointment to view. Available immediately. House For rent Two bedroom, brand new house at Beau-Vallon. Fully furnished. Interested person please call 2525066 for viewing. African Traditional Doctor • Love problems • Money problems • Business cleansing and protection • Jobs and property protection • Addiction problems • Winning lotto and lucky charms • Marriage and relationship problems www.traditionalhealingspells. com or Email: [email protected] Down 1. Possessing the necessary skills 2. A round fruit with a single pit 3. An inclined surface 4. An abnormal condition of the lungs 5. Big Bird’s street 6. Step 7. Snake-like fishes 8. Macaws 9. Fortified wine 10. Assertion 11. Hi 12. Consumed 13. Hoar 21. Left or right 23. Prefix meaning more than one 25. Detect 26. A beautiful and graceful girl 27. “Once ____ a time” 28. Grows on a tree 29. A division in a long poem 32. Repasts 33. One who moves into a country 34. Gemstone 35. Fictional captain 36. Dross 38. Cooking appliance 42. Incapable 43. View as Yesterday’s solution Across 1. French for “After” 6. Line formed by joining 2 pieces 10. Cook 14. Accuse 15. A three-tone Chadic language 16. Anagram of “Real” 17. Hunks 18. Winged 19. A range of male singing 20. Intensity 22. Grins 24. A giant slain by Odin (Norse mythology) 25. Old Scottish for “Salmon” 26. Throbbed 29. Jail room 30. Sword 31. Discharges 37. Wanders 39. N N N N 40. Force forward 41. Enamored 44. Mother 45. City in Norway 46. A short passage at the end of a literary work 48. Parts of a garment that cover the arms 52. Floating mass of ice 53. A morsel of corn 54. Monument 58. A mild expletive 59. Chieftain 61. A stringed instrument 62. Tardy 63. Withered 64. Inward 65. Trudge 66. Strike 67. Shop 1. Who was the longest reigning Arab ruler, until 1995? 22 May – 21 June Because the sun leaves your birth sign this weekend it is unlikely you will be able to finish a number of things you started in haste. It is though still possible to complete one really important task. You know what it is, so get on with it. 23 Nov – 21 Dec Although relationship problems have caused some concern in recent weeks you managed to keep a sense of perspective and did not allow minor differences to become major disputes. That’s good. The benefits will come over the next few days. 2. Who was the first British actor in the 90s to win the Best Actor Oscar? 22 June – 22 July 22 Dec – 20 Jan You need to put your affairs in order, both at home and at work, because in a matter of days you will be too busy with other people’s problems to worry much about your own. Routine matters must be dealt with now, not later. 8. In ancient China people committed suicide by eating what? Published by TODAY Publishers (Seychelles) Limited, P.O. Box 999, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles Printed by “The Print House (Pty) Ltd.”, Providence Industrial Estate, Mahé, Seychelles. Tel: +248 4290 999/950/951 Fax: +248 4325999 [email protected] 3. What was invented 1903, and patented in 1906 by G C Beilder? 4. What fresh-water mollusks produce red or pink-colored pearls? 5. How many karats is pure, unalloyed gold? 6. What bean provides the colored inks used in most U.S. daily newspapers? Grand Anse, Praslin Tel: +248 4237 441 Fax: +248 4237 442 7. Who was the original lead singer with The Supremes? Editor - Deepa Bhookhun [email protected] 9. On average, what do 100 people a year do with ballpoint pens? 10. A person who bites their nails is called a what? Quick Quiz Answers: 1.King Hussein of Jordan 2. Daniel Day-Lewis 3. The Photocopier 4. Mussels 5. Twenty-four 6. The soybean 7. Diana Ross 8. Salt - one lb will kill you 9. Choke to death on them 10. Onychophagist Although recent events have had a negative effect on your self-belief you will make up for it when the sun moves into your sign at the weekend. Today you are advised to wind down, conserve your energy and not take yourself too seriously. 47. Penetrates 48. A sharp blow 49. Not against the law 50. Muse of lyric poetry 51. Finished 52. A type of hat 54. A star in the constellation Cetus 55. Within 56. Partly open 57. Ore deposit 60. Cat sound How To Play The objective is to fill the blank squares with the correct numbers •Every row of 9 must include all digits 1 to 9 in any order •Every column of 9 must include all digits 1 to 9 in any order •Every 3 x 3 sub-grid must include all digits 1 to 9 in any order Fill the other empty cells with numbers between 1 and 9 A number should appear only once on each row, column and 3 x 3 region Business Development Manager - Veronica Maria [email protected] ISSN: 1659-7265 Saturday 20 June, 2015 p15