Troukler

Mystery Hotel on Farquar?

Following a front page article last week in ‘Regar’, 28/06/07, about a mystery hotel on the island of Farquhar, this newspaper was contacted by telephone this week by an anonymous caller. The caller did not reveal his identity because he feared that our telephone conversation was being eavesdropped.

According to the caller, the hotel on Farquhar has been in existence for well over two years. It was built with taxpayers’ money (our money, some SR 15,000,000 a year) but the proceeds from this very profitable venture - estimated to be in excess of fifty thousand euro (€50,000) a month (or seven hundred thousand rupees (R700, 000) at current black market rate) are going straight into the pocket of someone very close to Jules Egbert Savy (JES).

Jules Egbert Savy, for those who have just flown in from Farquhar, is the gentleman being detained at Modderbee Prison, Benoni in South Africa. He was arrested as he entered SA on a legitimate Seychelles passport issued by the local immigration authority under a covertly assumed identity. It is believed that JES paid handsomely for this stately name, in foreign exchange without a doubt. A passport was duly issued in the new name with the help of a lawyer friend, in collaboration with another highly placed friend within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who was offered a car as payment but opted for cash, “dollars thank you very much” instead. The stipend was duly paid into a South African bank account.

It is also believed that JES spent enjoyable fishing holidays on Farquhar with close relatives, before going on to Madagascar for his eventual trip into South Africa. A loan of one hundred thousand US dollars was sought and given to one of the “owners” of Farquhar not too long ago. There, on Farquhar, JES and his local friends rubbed shoulders with unscrupulous characters from Mauritius equally au-fait in the art of deceiving the system.

Apparently, at least once every year, the resort on Farquhar is turned into a convention centre to host a get-together for the most deceitful characters in the region, Mauritius/Seychelles. They compare notes, sell passports, exchange business cards, do dirty deals and honour those in their midst at the top of the Deceitful League. JES had the pleasure of presenting someone close to him with the top accolade on his last trip in January this year. This very particular gentleman made history by winning the title for three years consecutively – he gets to keep the trophy for good.

The People is the only local newspaper which gets to attend this yearly event on Farquhar - a female member of staff attended this year’s gathering. It is said that she enjoyed herself so much on her last trip there, over-eating and putting on considerable weight prompting an early overseas shopping trip for new clothes. It is a shame that we haven’t had the opportunity to read about the goings-on, on Farquhar Island between the pages of The People, so far. Could it be because one of the owners of Farquhar Island goes on overseas trips in our private plane, bringing back valuable gifts and without ever going through immigration and customs procedures on his return? It is also alleged that he offered JES a quick get-away in that plane if JES ever needed it. It would have cost JES an arm and a leg in precious forex!

Who was it who said “Sesel pou Seselwa” – more like “Sesel pou bann blan ek bann milyonner”. And who was it who said The People newspaper was watching over the interest of the small people? Can we have some answers to these questions in The People next week please MAR.