ALAIN ST. ANGE WINS ELECTION DEFAMATION CASE
(Posted 15th September 2021)
Photo caption: Frank Elizabeth and his client Alain St.Ange and Alexander Pierre and his lawyer Basil Hoareau addressing the gathered press at the Court House
Alain St. Ange, one of the three candidates for the Seychelles 2020 presidential election, was maliciously targeted by political activist Alexander Pierre just ahead of the 2020 elections.
The defamatory posts to discredit the tourism personality who had entered the presidential race in a bid to offer Seychelles a way out of its economic challenges was made ‘in bad faith, was malicious and false and that no reasonable excuse exists for the publication’ said Alexander Pierre in his apology tendered to the Seychelles Supreme Court. It also cost St. Ange votes, seeing him end the race in third place contrary to prior expectations.
On Friday the 3rd of September Alexander Pierre finally admitted liability and submitted to judgement and accepted to reimburse Mr St. Ange his court fees and legal fees over and above an apology letter in which he admits regret for his posts made in October 2019 . He was admitting they were made in bad faith, and that they were malicious and defamatory.
Mr Alexander Pierre went on to state in his apology document submitted to Judge Gustave Dodin on trial day that “I share the outrage and disgust expressed by Mr St.Ange. I admit that it was utterly wrong and insensitive on my part to publish it“.
It was lawyers Frank Elizabeth who appeared for Alain St. Ange and Basil Hoareau for Alexander Pierre.
Frank Elizabeth, the lawyer for Alain St. Ange said to the gathered press outside the Seychelles Supreme Court that the allegations had impacted on the election performance of St. Ange which is why a judgement and apology was being sought in court.
Alain St. Ange who won consequential damages only weeks ago against the Government of Seychelles in the Court of Appeal for the withdrawal by former President Danny Faure of his endorsement letter that was a requirement for the 2017 UNWTO elections for the post of Secretary General said after this latest legal victory that it was important to turn to the Judiciary when all else fails. “The Judiciary remains the guardian of all our rights” said St. Ange before adding that turning to them must remain the course of action when one is aggrieved and feeling that they have been unfairly treated.
Alain St. Ange was an elected Member of the Seychelles Legislature for two mandates before eventually being appointed a Government Minister for Tourism and Culture, later becoming Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine.
He retired from politics after the last presidential election in Seychelles and is now a Tourism Consultant of global renown and one who is called upon often to address Tourism and Aviation congresses and conferences where he continues to be at ease to speak off the cuff and from the heart.
