Hostages back home safe and sound
14.09.2009
President Michel sends message of congratulations
The last three Seychellois hostages – Conrad Andre, Gilbert Victor and Robin Samson – returned home safe and sound yesterday, seven months after the boat they were on was hijacked by pirates.
Vice-President Joseph Belmont, Head of the Hostage Negotiation Team, Minister Joel Morgan, Community Development, Youth , Sports and Culture Minister Vincent Meriton, who also headed the family support team, were at the airport yesterday afternoon to welcome back home the three men who arrived on a scheduled Kenya Airways flight.
Also at the airport to meet the former hostages were their families and friends.
President James Michel has sent a message of congratulations in which he has expressed his gratitude and joy for the safe return of the three Seychellois men captured on board the Serenity in February.
“We are so happy that you are reunited with your families after such a long time. As the government, we have spared no effort to ensure that your release took place despite the setbacks we encountered along the way,” President Michel said.
He also congratulated the hostage negotiation team, the Seychelles Consul in Nairobi and all the other persons involved in ensuring that our Seychellois compatriots returned home safe and sound.
“We have been able to secure the release of all Seychellois men held in Somalia. First the seven men from the Indian Ocean Explorer who returned in June, and now the last three from the Serenity. It is a clear indication of the high level of professionalism, negotiating skills and sense of responsibility of the team. We are all proud of their work, and thank them for their effort, tenacity, and triumph,” said the President.
Minister Morgan has thanked the Government of Puntland, in particular the Chief of Cabinet, for their assistance in transferring the three men from Galkyao to Garowe in Somalia, where they were handed over to an international agency. The agency then made arrangements for their safe transfer to Kenya.
“We are grateful to the Government of Puntland and to the international agency in Garowe, for the protection they gave to our Seychellois citizens, in ensuring the security of their departure from Somalia. It is a great relief to see the situation resolved,” said Minister Joel Morgan.
Minister Morgan also stated that securing the release of the three Seychellois was a highly difficult and complex matter and reiterated that no ransom was paid by the Government of Seychelles.
“It has been a very hard to be able to secure the release of the three Seychellois. It took a huge amount of effort and dedication by the whole team to achieve this. We are pleased with the grace of God and the invaluable support of President Michel that we were able to successfully negotiate their freedom. I wish to thank all the members of my team, here and overseas for their support, dedication and perseverance. It could not have been done without them.”
Seychelles Nation will come back on the return of the three men in its next issue.