Alphonse Island, owned by the Islands Development Company (IDC) headed by Mr. Glenny Savy, has been leased to “Great Safari Plains”, a South African company.
“Great Safari Plains” headed by South African Colin Bell, last year was sub-leased 26 of 30 plots on Desroches, ( totaling 15 acres) which had been given to the French refuse disposal company STAR as payment for its services. STAR had been given a 70-year lease by IDC to the thirty ½ acre plots on Desroches by the IDC.
The terms and conditions of the deals with the South African company involving projects on Desroches and Alphonse remain rather shrouded in mystery. But whereas on Alphonse “Great Safari Plains “ is taking over an existing resort which it could continue to run as a hotel with fly-fishing as the main attraction, on Desroches the development of 26 villas each with servant quarters, to be sold as holiday homes is planned.
Desroches is the largest island in the Amirantes group, about 5 km long with some of the best diving sites in
After MK Resorts relinquished its lease on both islands in 2005 because of poor occupancy resulting from poor services and high operational costs, Glenny Savy negotiated a management contract with Naiade hotels of Mauritius for the existing resort on Desroches. Naiade is linked to Ireland Blyth, a major company involved in tourism and other activities in
