Status: Partly Free
Legal Environment: 17
Political Influences: 16
Economic Pressures: 17
Total Score: 50
Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 70
Religious Groups: Roman Catholic (86.6 percent), Anglican (6.8 percent), other (6.6 percent)
Ethnic Groups: Seychellois (mixture of Asian, African and European)
Capital: Victoria
The constitution provides for freedom of speech, but also protects the reputation, rights, and privacy of citizens, as well as the interests of public safety, order, morality, and health, which could potentially restrict reporting. Civil libel lawsuits resulting in steep monetary penalties have been used repeatedly against the independent media. In February, the weekly Regar was ordered to pay exorbitant damages in the latest of a series of lawsuits. Although the private press continues to criticize the government, some self-censorship persists. The state retains a near monopoly over the broadcast media, whose coverage adheres closely to official policy positions. High licensing fees have discouraged the development of privately owned broadcast media.
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