Inter-island ferries are being asked to pay for their fuel in hard currency. This applies notably to ‘Qat Coco’, ‘Praslin Express’ and ‘Qat Rose’, whose management believe the measure to be extremely unfair, as they often do not earn the foreign currency to pay SEPEC. The 2008 budget provides that forex earners settle some of their bills, for instance to PUC in foreign currency. This should apply to hotels, which have high forex retentions or other ventures, such as yachting charters whose clientele also pay entirely in forex. The ferry boats which ply between Mahe and Praslin or Praslin and La Digue can in no way be considered foreign exchange earners. Though visitors must pay their fares in forex, they account for less than 5% of the clientele.
During the present south-east monsoon, when the sea is rough, business is also down. Some boats have already cut down on trips in a bid to save on fuel.
If anything they should be given concessions to help keep prices down since they render a huge service to passengers traveling between the main islands. They contribute greatly in fueling the economy of both Praslin and La Digue, two islands at the centre of tourism development. We cannot do without the ferries, especially since Air Seychelles planes are occasionally breaking down and are highly unpredictable. This Government in its desperation to extort hard currency is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs; they lack foresight to realize that this policy will eventually condemn the inter-island ferries to a future of doom and gloom!