24 year old Victoria Duthil, campaign manager and a paid member of Friends of Aldabra, criticised the government over the composition of its Assomption Island environmental task force.
She said Friends of Aldabra had been calling for such a body for several months. According to her statement, Friends of Aldabra submitted a proposal to the President on 15 December seeking stronger environmental oversight on the island.
Ms Duthil said the establishment of the task force was “a necessary step”. However, she said Friends of Aldabra had concerns about the composition of its membership.
She said the task force includes senior officials from the Island Development Company (IDC), the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), the Planning Authority, and the Principal Secretary for Lands.
Ms Duthil said IDC is the contractor for the Assomption Island project. She said the project moved forward without meeting all environmental requirements.
Duthil said Friends of Aldabra had concerns about IDC’s role on the task force. She said construction delays and stop notices affect the company’s operations.
Ms Duthil also referred to the Seychelles Islands Foundation. She said SIF initially opposed the hotel development on Assomption Island and later changed its position in early 2025.
Duthil said SIF is responsible for biosecurity and biodiversity management on the island. She referred to a biodiversity baseline assessment intended to document ecological conditions before construction.
Ms Duthil said SIF proposed carrying out the assessment alongside ongoing construction. She said Friends of Aldabra had concerns about this proposal.
She also referred to the Planning Authority. Ms Duthil said the authority approved permits allowing up to 1,100 workers on Assomption Island. She said the Environmental Impact Assessment set a limit of 500 workers.
Ms Duthil said the institutions represented on the task force were involved in earlier decisions related to the project.
She said Friends of Aldabra considers institutional representation necessary. However, she said the task force should also include independent members.
Ms Duthil called for the inclusion of civil society representatives, local non-governmental organisations, Seychellois scientists, and environmental experts. She said these members should not be linked to previous decisions on the project.
She said broader representation would allow public confidence in the task force’s work on Assomption Island.