The real issue behind the Assomption Island hotel project?

NOV 19 2025 · 20:07

The real issue behind the Assomption Island hotel project? A broken ESIA process. Let’s look at the timeline: Apr 2024: Seychelles Cabinet fully endorses the project Jun 2024: The Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is published Nov 2024: Seychelles Planning Authority grants development approval The ESIA is supposed to inform decisions, not arrive months after political approval. Endorsing the project before the environmental evidence exists turns the drafting of an ESIA into a box-ticking exercise without real meaning or influence. This raises a deeper question: 👉 Is this how we value the environment? Something added at the end instead of guiding decisions from the start. This isn’t just an Assomption problem. It exposes a systemic weakness in how developments are regulated across Seychelles. But it’s also an opportunity. Seychelles can fix the process: 🐢Ensure ESIAs happen before any political or planning endorsement 🪸Require early scoping and genuine community engagement 🐋Establish clear, enforceable, best-in-class ESIA regulations Protecting Seychelles’ environment, heritage, and global reputation starts with repairing the system meant to safeguard them. Note: The Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is often referred to simply as an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment). #ProtectAssomption #ProtectAldabra #Seychelles #FriendsofAldabra