In 1832, Ollier was deeply impressed by the conflict between the abolitionist John Jeremie, sent by the British government to end slavery, and the French slave owners in Mauritius.

In 1843, together with Edward Baker, his partner in the Sentinelle newspaper, he addressed a petition to Queen Victoria asking for the election of coloured representatives, which would strengthen the loyalty of this community to the British Crown.

When the newspaper Le Cernéen, run by the white planters oligarchy, was struck with a libel suit, Ollier defended his political enemy in the name of press freedom.

Rémy Ollier succeeded in convincing the English colonial government to open the scholarship system to non-white applicants, and in 1844 the first two coloured students travelled to England.

Rumours of foul play by his political adversaries continued to circulate, and until today the circumstances of his death remain unclear.