Friends of Aldabra have met President Dr Patrick Herminie to discuss the future of the hotel development on Assomption Island, saying the project should not continue without a full biodiversity assessment.
Speaking after the meeting, Victoria Duthil of Friends of Aldabra said the group had not previously had the opportunity to sit down with the President to discuss plans for Assomption Island and its proximity to Aldabra.
She said discussions with stakeholders over the past week had confirmed that a biodiversity assessment is a key requirement for lifting the stop notice currently in place on the project. The assessment, she said, is intended to establish a scientific baseline of all species present on the island.
Ms Duthil said the assessment should have been carried out before construction began, but work started about a year ago without it. She added that some stakeholders believe the study can be conducted alongside construction, a view she said is not supported by scientific standards.
“We have spoken to local scientists and international scientists, and we have gone over what the global standard is for biodiversity assessments in key areas like Assomption because of its proximity to Aldabra,” she said. “The answer is overwhelmingly the same: a biodiversity assessment has to be done without any construction happening.”
She said further work should not proceed until such an assessment is completed, adding that this was the last opportunity to record an accurate picture of the island’s biodiversity.
Ms Duthil said President Herminie had agreed with this position during the meeting.
“He has committed to having a full biodiversity assessment done before any construction continues.”
Friends of Aldabra said they are now awaiting official confirmation from the government and the Ministry of Environment. The group maintains that the assessment should run for at least a year and involve multiple stakeholders, with independent oversight, to ensure transparency and public trust.
The organisation has also confirmed that a constitutional case it filed in September, together with Seychelles at Heart, remains ongoing. The case challenges the previous government’s decision to proceed with the development, arguing that it infringes the constitutional right to a healthy, safe and resilient environment.
Ms Duthil said the case has been inherited by the current administration, with initial court proceedings held last week and the matter adjourned to early February.
She rejected suggestions that engagement with the new government could prejudice the case, saying the discussions are focused on shaping future decisions rather than addressing matters before the court.
“We are trying to ensure that from now on everything is done properly and due process is followed.”