Friends of Aldabra has criticised the Seychelles government over the decision to allow some Assomption Island construction to continue.
The conservation group raised concerns after Environment Minister Marie-May Jeremie addressed the National Assembly.
She said existing hotel villas on Assomption Island could proceed.
However, the group says the decision comes before the results of a public inquiry.
It also says the biodiversity assessment has not yet started.
In a video statement, Friends of Aldabra representative Victoria Duthil said the move contradicts earlier commitments made by the government.
“The Seychelles government are coming back on their commitments and once again the wildlife of Assomption and Aldabra are at risk,” she said.
Duthil said the minister announced on Thursday 5 March that the government would allow the existing hotel villas on Assomption to continue.
“This decision to allow part of the hotel construction to continue comes before the results of the Assomption public inquiry and before the biodiversity assessment on Assomption Island has even started,” she said.
She also referred to earlier remarks by President Patrick Herminie.
According to Duthil, the president said in December 2025 that no construction would take place on Assomption Island for at least a year so that a biodiversity assessment could be carried out.
“In December of 2025, President Herminie promised the Seychelles people that no construction would happen at all on Assomption Island for at least a year in order for a crucial biodiversity assessment to be done,” she said.
Duthil added that the investigation into the hotel project was also expected to help determine whether the development should continue.
She questioned why the information about construction continuing emerged during a public inquiry hearing rather than through a public announcement.
“This government says that it’s all about transparency,” she said. “Then why did we have to find out that construction was continuing during the last few minutes of a public inquiry hearing?”
Friends of Aldabra also raised concerns about the composition of the task force overseeing decisions related to Assomption Island. Duthil said the group believes the task force does not include independent voices. She added that it also lacks independent experts.
“Seychellois people deserve clarity and transparency,” she said. “Seychellois people deserve to be clued into the decisions that are being made about our natural heritage.”
The group said it has emailed the government with its concerns and encouraged members of the public to do the same.