WORLD BANK TEAM ASSESS DAMAGES AT US$4.5m

A news conference has been held following the visit of a World Bank team to Farquhar to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Fantala. Also attending the news conference was Mr Glenny Savy, CEO of Islands Development Company and Adrian Skerrett, Chairman of Island Conservation Society. Doekle Geert Wielinga, a senior disaster risk management specialist from the World Bank told the news conference that the impact of the disaster will be felt by the country over the next three years. 

The cyclone caused US$4.5 million in damages and losses. This is equivalent to 0.3% of Seychelles GDP. “The Government of Seychelles will lose around US$500,000 in revenue which it collects as value added tax and business tax from Farquhar during the island’s gradual recovery,” said Mr. Wielinga. The preliminary findings show that the Indian Ocean island’s recovery needs stand at around US$8 million, he added.