§ 22. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why a long delay was allowed to elapse after the sinking of the schooner "Louis Alfred" at Mahé in the Seychelles, by the Government ferryboat "Paulette" before the Governor agreed to hold an inquiry; who has been appointed to conduct the inquiry; and whether instructions will be given for this to take place with all possible dispatch.
§ Mr. J. AmeryThe "Louis Alfred" was not sunk but only damaged in collision.
The Seychelles Government hoped to arrange a preliminary inquiry under Section 5 of the Enquiry into Wrecks Ordinance, but since a Government vessel was involved it would have been inappropriate for this to have been conducted by the receiver of wrecks and it was impossible to find any suitably qualified independent person to conduct it. Consequently, a police inquiry was at once held instead.
There was no official request for a formal inquiry from the owners of the schooner, and, to avoid delay the Government on 19th December, 1958, offered to go to arbitration. The owners have not yet replied to this offer, but if they reject it, a formal inquiry will certainly be held.