Concerns about Assomption Island have been raised again by Friends of Aldabra following developments related to a proposed Indian-assisted Coast Guard facility and a separate hotel project.
Victoria Duthil of Friends of Aldabra made the comments after a protest took place in Victoria on 28 February 2026. Demonstrators gathered in the capital to oppose the Indian-assisted Coast Guard facility planned for Assomption Island.
According to the statement, public concern has grown over how decisions are being taken by President Dr Patrick Herminie and his cabinet.
Ms Duthil said the situation surrounding Assomption Island remains unclear. She stated that the government had previously committed to halt construction on the island for one year to allow a biodiversity assessment.
However, she said the president has since indicated that construction of the Coast Guard facility could begin at any time.
“What about the hotel development that this administration said they would stop?” Ms Duthil asked.
She also referred to comments by Minister Jeremy, who said Qatari developers are funding the biodiversity assessment.
Ms Duthil questioned the arrangement. She said the involvement of developers raises questions about the future of the proposed hotel project.
“Why would the developers do that without some form of assurance for the future of the hotel?” she said.
Ms Duthil said the biodiversity investigation was expected to inform decisions about the island’s future. However, she said decisions appear to be moving forward before the results have been released.
She added that the overlapping promises have created confusion among the public.
“With all of these overlapping and sometimes contradictory promises, Seychellois people are confused. Which promises will be kept and which ones will be ignored?” she said.
Ms Duthil also stressed the environmental importance of Assomption Island and Aldabra.
She said the environmental value of the islands should not be overlooked and should not become an afterthought.
“We need clarity, we need transparency, we need institutions that we can trust,” she said.
She also called for a task force made up of individuals who were not involved in earlier decisions related to Assomption Island.
According to Ms Duthil, people in Seychelles want to be involved in decisions that affect the country’s heritage.
She said public consultation should help shape the future of Assomption Island.
“We need clarity from this administration and we need public consultation to meaningfully shape the future of our heritage,” she said.