Tributes poured in on Saturday morning, 20 December, following the death of former parliamentarian Charles De Commarmond, a long-serving figure in Seychelles politics.
Messages of condolence were shared widely on social media, with former colleagues and members of the public paying tribute to his contribution to public life.
Former parliamentary colleague Chantal Ghislain wrote in a post: “Our dearest brother Deco, we will surely miss you. May your soul rest in eternal peace.”
Mr De Commarmond retired from the National Assembly in 2020 after 33 years as an elected member. His parliamentary career spanned both the one-party state and the multi-party era that followed constitutional reforms.
He served as a member of the National Assembly from 1983 to 1987, again from 1991 to part of 1993, and continuously from the inauguration of the Third Republic in 1993 until his retirement in 2020.
During his time in government, Mr De Commarmond also held the position of Leader of Government Business under former presidents James Michel and Danny Faure. He previously said he was proud to have witnessed the evolution of the National Assembly from a one-party system to a multi-party democracy.
Beyond politics, Mr De Commarmond was active in the arts, taking part in several original stage productions in Seychelles.
His death marks the second loss of a former parliamentarian this month. Earlier in December, the country also mourned Stephen Pillay, the former elected member for Au Cap.