Sesel Sa! January - March 2015 Jan - March 2015 | Page 73

E-Cars
By Nathalie Hodgson
Once an island where ox-carts were the fastest means
of public transport and traffic jams were made up
of back-to-back bicycles, caused by waiting for the
chickens to cross the road, La Digues tranquil islandpaced life has changed dramatically and everyone
has taken note. Today La Digue is a must-see on every
tourist’s itinerary, and with additional options of
transport to the island, it is always bustling with local
and overseas visitors.
The Sustainable Energy Ministerial Task Force,
instituted by President James Alix Michel, singled
out La Digue as the showcase to adopt eco-friendly
and energy saving initiatives to support the growing
needs of La Digue’s tourism industry. One such roll out
began in 2012 when it was announced that by 2020,
all vehicles on the island will be replaced by electrical
vehicles. For this purpose, a concessionary loan
scheme will be introduced, as well as a tax reduction
on the importation of electrical cars.
Based on the incentives being given to vehicle owners,
it will be a mandatory requirement for them to replace
their vehicles within a set time frame of four years. The
policy includes loans and tax incentives that will apply

to all vehicle owners operating on the island, and
cover the import tax incentive that will also apply to
all electrical vehicles being imported into the country.
We sat down with Paul Rouillon, a local Seychellois
businessman who is supporting this initiative and
importing electric cars for the residents and business
owners of La Digue. With 20 years in hospitality, Mr
Rouillon has vast experience with the ever changing
needs of the tourism industry and always had this
idea in his ‘things to accomplish list’. After leaving the
Raffles resort on Praslin in January 2013, he dec