Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18thed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6. In addition to these 155 islands, as per the Constitution of Seychelles, there are 7 reclaimed islands: Ile Perseverance, Ile Aurore, Romainville, Eden Island, Eve, Ile du Port and Ile Soleil.

In 1971, with the opening of Seychelles International Airport, tourism became a significant industry, essentially dividing the economy into plantations and tourism. The tourism sector paid better, and the plantation economy could expand only so far. The plantation sector of the economy declined in prominence, and tourism became the primary industry of Seychelles. Consequently, there was a sustained spate of hotel construction throughout almost the entire 1970s which included the opening of Coral Strand Smart Choice, Vista Do Mar and Bougainville Hotel in 1972. An island nation, Seychelles is located in the Somali Sea segment of the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and about 1,600km (860nmi) east of Kenya. The Constitution of Seychelles lists 155 named islands, [51] and a further 7 reclaimed islands have been created subsequent to the publication of the Constitution. The majority of the islands are uninhabited, with many dedicated as nature reserves. Seychelles' largest island, Mahé, is located 1,550km (835nmi) from Mogadishu (Somalia's capital). [52] English Translation of "Seychelles" | Collins French-English Dictionary" (in English and French) . Retrieved 29 December 2018. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Report Submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate by the Department of State in Accordance with Sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as Amended, Volumes 8-15. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1997. ISBN 0160541905.

Energy

Seychelles is home to two terrestrial ecoregions: Granitic Seychelles forests and Aldabra Island xeric scrub. [62] The country had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 10/10, ranking it first globally out of 172 countries. [63] Environmental issues [ edit ] On 26 October 2020, Wavel Ramkalawan, a 59-year-old Anglican priest, was elected the fifth President of the Republic of Seychelles. Ramkalawan was an opposition MP from 1993 to 2011, and from 2016 to 2020. He served as the Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2011 and from 2016 to 2020. Ramkalawan defeated incumbent Danny Faure by 54.9% to 43.5%. This marked the first time the opposition had won a presidential election. [37] [38] In 2014, Seychelles had the highest incarceration rate in the world of 799 prisoners per 100,000 population, exceeding the United States' rate by 15%. [47] However, the country's actual population was less than 100,000; as of September 2014, Seychelles had 735 actual prisoners, 6% of whom were female, incarcerated in three prisons. [48] Contombley is a popular form of percussion music, as is Moutya, a fusion of native folk rhythms with Kenyan benga. Kontredans, based on European contra dance, is also popular, especially in district and school competitions during the annual Festival Kreol (International Creole Festival). Moutya playing and dancing often occur at beach bazaars. Music is sung in the Seychellois Creole of the French language, and in French and English.

The President's standard is the proposed new national flag with the armorial bearings positioned equidistant from the top and the bottom edges of the red portion of the flag. The flag of Seychelles ( French: Drapeau des Seychelles) was adopted on 8 January 1996. [1] The current flag is the third used by the country since its independence from the United Kingdom on 29 June 1976. [2] The colours used in the current flag are the official colours of two of the country's major political parties: the Seychelles People's United Party and the Seychelles Democratic Party. A teacher training college opened in 1959, when the supply of locally trained teachers began to grow, and in short time many new schools were established. Since 1981 a system of free education has been in effect, requiring attendance by all children in grades one to nine, beginning at age six. Ninety-four percent of all children attend primary school. [98] In January 2013, Seychelles declared a state of emergency when the tropical cyclone Felleng caused torrential rain, and flooding and landslides destroyed hundreds of houses. [27] [28]

Environment

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In March 1608, a trading fleet of the English East India Company set sail for India. Lost in a storm, the Ascension's crew saw "high land" on 19 January 1609 and headed for it. They anchored "as in a pond". They found an uninhabited island with plentiful fresh water, fish, coconuts, birds, turtles and giant tortoises with which to replenish their stores. The Ascension sailed, and reported what they had found, but the British took no action. It was not until 1964 that any new political movements were created. In that year, the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP, later Seychelles People's Progressive Front, SPPF) was formed. Led by France-Albert René, they campaigned for socialism and independence from Britain. The late James Mancham's Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP), created the same year, by contrast represented businessmen and planters and wanted closer integration with Britain. The Seychelles flag has witnessed a compelling evolution, reflecting the nation’s journey, aspirations, and shifting identity.The early (pre-European colonisation) history of Isle de Séchelles or Seychelles is unknown. Austronesians from Borneo, who eventually settled on Madagascar, perhaps lingered here circa 200-300 AD. Arab navigators, on trading voyages across the Indian Ocean, were probably aware of the islands, although they did not settle them. Human Development Report 2021/2022" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 8 September 2022 . Retrieved 8 September 2022. Find sources: "History of Seychelles"– news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( February 2021) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Use of the rupee in Seychelles started during its colonial period. The country’s colonial Governor Charles O’Brien enacted a Paper Currency Ordinance in 1914, which sought to establish mechanisms for issuing of currency in the country. Emergency issues of bills in values of 10, 5 and 1 rupee, as well as 50 cents, were produced by the government that year. In 1918, the government started producing standard issues of notes. The first standard issue bills were in denominations of 1 rupee and 50 cents. In 1928, bill with values of 50, 10 and 5 rupees were issued. In 1951, coins with a value of 50 cents and 1 rupee replaced bills of the same value and 1968 saw the introduction of notes worth 100 and 20 rupees. 1n 1972, coins with a value of 5 rupee replaced bills of the same value.

The government was threatened again by an army mutiny in August 1982, but it was quelled after 2 days when loyal troops, reinforced by Tanzanian forces & several of the mercenaries that had escaped from the prison, [6] recaptured the rebel-held installations. By the end of World War I, the population of Seychelles was 24,000 and they were feeling neglected by Great Britain. There was agitation from the newly formed Planters Association for greater representation in the governance of Seychelles affairs. After 1929, a more liberal flow of funds was ensured by the Colonial Development Act, but it was a time of economic depression; the price of copra was falling and so were wages. Workers petitioned the government about their poor working conditions and the burden of tax they had to bear. Governor Sir Arthur Grimble instigated some reforms, exempting lower income groups from taxation. He was keen to create model housing and distribute smallholdings for the landless. Many of his reforms were not approved until World War II had broken out, and everything was put on hold. The Seychelles flag was first adopted in 1996. It has five bands of colour, radiating from the bottom-left corner of the flag. The coloured bands are blue, yellow, red, white and green. In 1976, Seychelles gained independence from the United Kingdom and became a republic. It has since become a member of the Commonwealth. [19] In the 1970s Seychelles was "the place to be seen, a playground for film stars and the international jet set". [20] In 1977, a coup d'état by France Albert René ousted the first president of the republic, James Mancham. [21] René discouraged over-dependence on tourism and declared that he wanted "to keep Seychelles for the Seychellois". [20]

French colonists then brought large numbers of creole slaves from Mauritius to the Seychelles - they became the ancestors of the present population.