Following his State of the Nation Address, the President of the Republic, Mr Wavel Ramkalawan announced the first phase of the Government restructuring, this morning at State House.  The speech which was broadcast live on SBC radio and television as well as Telesesel saw the first round of reforms of Boards, CEOs and Agencies. A second phase of restructuring will be made at a later stage.

“Today is exactly 99 days since the new administration took office. During these times we have had the opportunity to look at the different structure of institutions in the country. This include in the public administration as well as all the different agencies and other organisations. As you will recall, I did mentioned about some changes that will need to take place during my SONA and today’s announcements is a reflection of what the government has already decided  based on  competences, impartiality and efficiency,” said the President.

In regards to different Boards, President Ramkalawan noted that the existing Boards was costing the government 36.2 million of rupees whereby with the elimination of some and restructuring there will be a reduction of 12.2 million rupees. The President further call on all those that will stay on these boards, including Public employees sitting on the budget dependent boards and committees as well as new members, to consider giving their services voluntarily for a year.

The post of special advisors to be abolished and those with expertise will be given new positions.

     1. Vice-President Office;

1. Close the Department of Information.

     2. Office of the Designated Minister

1. The post of Principal Secretary in the office of Designated Minister will be phased out.

      3. Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Trade

1. The Special Advisor Post within the Ministry will be phased out.
2. The Fair Trading Commission Board will be phased out. The law will be amended for a tribunal structure through the Judiciary and the discussion is currently ongoing with the AG’s Office.

      4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism

1. The STB Act 2005 will be repealed.
2. STB will be brought under the direct purview of the Department as the Marketing/Promotion headed by a DG.
3. The current Tourism Department will be converted into a Directorate General, retaining the current functions and headed by a DG.
4. The new Tourism Department be headed by a Principal Secretary.
5. A five-member Advisory Council to be appointed to advise the Minister on tourism-related matters.

     5. Ministry of Internal Affairs

1. The Post of Special Advisor for Immigration and Civil Status will be phased out.
2. There is a Trafficking in Persons Committee; currently there are 10 members. It will be reduced to 7 members.

     6.  Ministry of Transport

1. The Road Transport Commission will be merged with the Department of Transport.

      7. Ministry of Health

1. APDAR will be transferred as part of the Health portfolio. The Act establishing the board will be repealed.

      8. Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family

1. The Posts of Special Advisor to the Minister Family Affairs and Special Advisor for Youth will be phased out.
2. The Department of Poverty Alleviation will be phased out.
3. The Board of the National Sports Council (NSC) will be phased out.
4. The Seychelles National Youth Council (SYNC) board will be phase out.
5. The National Council for the Disabled and the National Council for the Elderly will be a division within the Department of Family Affairs. Their respective boards will be phased out.
6. The board of the National Council for Children will be phased out.
7. The Youth Enterprise Board will be phased out and Government will propose one structure for all of the grants.

      9. Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry

1. The boards of these entities will be phased out: Seychelles Investment Board, Enterprises Seychelles Agency and Industrial Estates Authority.
2. National Institute for Science Technology and Innovation (NISTI) will be restructured.

    10. Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs

1. The Post of Special Advisor for the Ministry will be phased out.
2. Mr. Kevin Perrine – new Principal Secretary for the ministry
3. Currently Local Government has 15 members on the Internal Assessment Committee and another 4 members on a Vetting Committee. Only the Vetting Committee will remain with 4 members.

    11. Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment

1. The Post of Special Advisor for the Ministry will be phased out
2. The Seychelles Agricultural Agency and National Biosecurity Agency will be merged within the Department of Agriculture as two divisions. Therefore, both boards will be phased out
3. However, to ensure the border control function, the post of Chief Biosecurity officer will be created.
4. The Seychelles Energy Commission will be transferred as a division within the Department of Climate Change and Energy. The board will be phased out.
5. The National Botanical Gardens Foundation and Seychelles National Parks Authority will be merged and their respective boards phased out.  The new entity ‘Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority’ with a commercial board will be created;
6. The LWMA board will be reduced to 7 members

   12. Ministry of Education

1. The Post of Special Advisor for the Ministry will be phased out.

   13. Ministry of Employment & Social Affairs

1. The Government will reconstitute the Agency of Social Protection Board
2. Children’s Fund. Instead of a Fund, a budget allocated to Social Affairs will be supervised by a panel.

   14. Independent Institutions

1. The ACCS will be converted into a Council with the present commission done away with.
2. The ACCS will also take on the role of administering the declarations of Public Officers and the declaration of assets by Constitutional appointees and thus the role of the Public Ethics Commission and the Public Persons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests) Commissioner will be phased out.
3. The Complaints Office will be phased out as each ministry will handle their own complaints.

 

15. Boards

 

Seychelles Ports Authority

Mr. Gilbert Frichot – Chairperson

Mr Nichol Elizabeth - Member
Mr Brian Loveday - Member
Ms Audrey Rose - Member
Captain Philipe Hoareau – Member

 

Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA)

Mr. Marlon Orr - Chairperson

Mrs. Sherin Francis - Member
Mrs Magalie Essack - Member
Ms. Kelly Chetty - Member
Mr. Garry Jupiter - Member
Mr. Yannick Roucou – Member

Financial Services Authority

Mr Patrick Payet - Chairperson

Ms Seylina Verghese

Mr David Esparon

Mr Robert Stravens

Mr Philip Moustache

Ms Samantha Esparon

Ms Cindy Vidot

Ms Wendy Pierre

Mr Richard Rampal

 

Postal Services Board

Mr Norman Weber - Chairperson

Mr Ayub Adam

Ms Audrina Dine

Ms Judeth Dodin

Ms Tessa Henderson

 

Seychelles Pension Fund Board

Mr Marc Hoareau - Chairperson

Mr Patrick Payet

Ms Elsie Morel

Ms Brenda Morin

Ms Jovinella Rath

Ms Shannon Jolicoeur

Ms Shella Mohideen

Mr José St Ange

Ms Sarah Lang

 

Ms Nisreen Abdul Majid - Chief Executive Officer of SPF

 

Seychelles Trading Company Board

Mr Imtiaz Umarji - Chairperson

Mr Ashik Hassan

Mr Jerry Adam

Mr Jamshed Pardiwalla

Mrs Siana Bistoquet

Ms Astride Tamatave

 

L’Union Estate Board

Mr Frank Hoareau - Chairperson

Mr Damien Thesee

Ms Nadine Maillet

Mr Vincent Cedras

Mrs Carline Jeannevol

Mr Carl Mills

Mr Melton Ernesta

 

National Bureau of Statistics

Ms Caroline Abel - Chairperson

Mrs Elizabeth Agathine

Ms Marquise David

Ms Shirley Adrienne

Mr Brian Commettant

Mr Gerard Adonis

Ms Raghavi Naidu

Ms Joelle Perreau

Mrs Jane Houareau

 

Industrial Estate Authority

Chief Executive Officer - Mr Roy Collie

 

The Boards of Seychelles International Mercantile Banking Company (Nouvobanq) and Development Bank of Seychelles will also be restructured once the proposed board of directors complete the due diligence process with the Central Bank of Seychelles.

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