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President Wavel Ramkalawan yesterday conducted visits at key locations on Mahé of project at Beau Vallon, Corgat Estate, Anse Gaulette as well as the Baie Lazare Police Station.
The purpose of the visits was to view first-hand how far the mitigation projects were being implemented and discuss pertinent issues on site that have been brought to the attention of the technicians and members of the community.
He was accompanied by the Minister for Land Use and Housing, Mr. Billy Rangasamy, the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change & Environment, Flavien Joubert, the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency (SIA), Mr. Jitesh Shah, Principal Secretaries, and other senior government officials.
At Beau Vallon, the President visited the construction of the 170-metre sea wall coastal rehabilitation project undertaken to prevent degradation of the beach during the North West trade winds.
Funded under the Environment Trust Fund, the project cost nearly SRC2 million.
A second phase of the coastal rehabilitation project is expected to start in the near future.
The President and his delegation then proceeded to the Corgat Estate, Mont Fleuri, where the delegation viewed the desilting works and boundary wall construction being undertaken as part of the flood mitigation works in that area.
This follows, the heavy rains in March, which affected inhabitants living in that area.
The Presidential then visited the second sea wall rehabilitation project at Anse Gaulette, Baie Lazare in order to stop heavy erosion.
He was welcomed there by the elected member of the National Assembly for Baie Lazare, Mr. François Adelaide.
The 280-metre sea wall project is being financed by the Government, amounting to SRC5.3 million.
President Ramkalawan then visited the Baie Lazare police station, which has been closed since August this year, due to maintenance required on the building.
Following the tour and discussion with the technical team present, the President ordered that the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency undertake renovation works on the building as soon as possible so the station can resume operation at the soonest.
To conclude, following the visits the President said, “I am very satisfied with both coastal rehabilitation projects.
The wall at Beau Vallon went exactly as planned and today we all understand why it was necessary.
Now, the area is protected from degradation.
We are now planning to beautify the place and install benches to make it a nice leisure spot where people can sit and enjoy the sunset.
At Corgat Estate and Anse Gaulette the works have progressed well and nearing completion.”
President Ramkalawan also thanked and expressed his appreciation to the teams who worked on the various projects and encouraged the Government entities to maintain the same enthusiasm towards executing other projects that the country has to undertake.
The signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) under the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) grant financed by the Government of India took place in a short ceremony yesterday at Maison Quéau de Quinssy.
The two MoUs are (1) for the financing of a new access road in upper Petit Paris in the district of Cascade and (2) for the financing of two road access projects, the Adela road of Pointe Larue district and the Bodamyen road of Anse Aux Pins district.
The first MoU was signed by Mr Billy Rangasamy, Minister for Land Use and Housing, and Mr Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism on behalf of the Government of Seychelles and the newly accredited High Commissioner of India, H.E. Mr Kartik Pande on behalf of the Government of India.
The other MoU was signed by Mrs Rose-Marie Hoareau, Minister for Local Government and Community Affairs, and Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism on behalf of the Government of Seychelles and High Commissioner Pande signed on behalf of the Government of India.
In a press conference following the signing of the MoUs, Minister Rangasamy and Minister Hoareau thanked the Government of India for its continuous support in the development of infrastructure in the communities in Seychelles for the benefit of its people.
On his part, High Commissioner Pande stated: "India and Seychelles enjoy warm and cordial relations.
India is a trusted development partner of Seychelles and these two MoUs signed today will further consolidate bilateral development cooperation."
The third MoU will be signed by Mr Justin Valentin, Minister for Education and High Commissioner Pande at a later date during the year.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave, and other high officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Lands and Housing and Ministry for Local Government and Second Secretary and Head Chancery of the Indian High Commission Mr Vikram Grewal.
President Wavel Ramkalawan, accompanied by Vice President Ahmed Afif, chaired the second meeting following the recent landfill fire in Providence.
The meeting was held at the State House yesterday afternoon with the relevant authorities and agencies.
The first meeting of the committee was held on October 12, where President Ramkalawan commissioned them to prepare their respective Action Plans.
The meeting began with a presentation by the Deputy Director General of the Waste and Landscape Management Agency, Mr. Rahul Mangroo, where he explained the preparation plan for the proposed Seychelles National Landfill, including the budget, the location where it has been demarcated the landfill, the buffer zone, the routes to be used in case of an emergency, and other important aspects for the emergency response plan.
This was followed by discussions with each entity reporting to the meeting on how far along they are with purchasing equipment.
From the SFRSA, they shared an updated list of new equipment that they urgently require.
The meeting also discussed strategic locations for the installation of water pumps and other equipment at the landfill.
It should be noted that, although the first draft of the Emergency Response Plan has been prepared, it will only be finalized once all the authorities of the different entities involved in security and emergency response have acquired the necessary equipment and trained personnel.
The next meeting will focus on the means by which all respective entities will put the plan into action and establish an effective system to facilitate coordination.
Also present at Government House for the meeting were the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Errol Fonseka, the Minister of Land and Housing, Mr. Billy Rangasamy, the Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Climate Change, Mr. Flavien Joubert, Executive Director of Infrastructure, Mr. Jitesh Shah, Executive Director of Industrial Estate, Mr. Roy Collie, Executive Director of SFRSA, Ms. Tallie Domingue, Deputy Executive Director of SFRSA, Mr. Jones Madeleine and other officials of SFRSA, the Deputy Executive Director of the Landscape and Waste Management Agency, Mr. Rahul Mangroo, the Director General of DRMD, Mr. Robert Ernesta, and other DRMD officials.
President Wavel Ramkalawan visited the Ministry of Land and Housing at the Independence House yesterday morning. This visit follows President Ramkalawan's announcement to improve service delivery in the public sector. The President was received by the Minister of Land and Housing, Mr. Billy Rangasamy, the Principal Secretary for Housing, Mr. Denis Barbe, the Executive Director of the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency (SIA), Mr. Jitesh Shah, and the Executive Director of the Seychelles Planning Authority (SPA), Ms. Angela Servina. The visit began in the Customer Service division, on the ground floor of Casa Independencia, and then went to the second floor, where the President was introduced to the staff of the Department of Land and Housing, as well as the SIA, where he had the opportunity to address them. The Head of State urged them to improve the level of service provision, to facilitate the requests that come from citizens who wish to acquire land, planning requests for construction projects, and housing requests. “This Ministry is one that is very important, as you serve the public on a daily basis. My visit here today is to better understand the day-to-day operations of the various departments, to see where there are challenges and how we can further improve the efficiency and quality of service offered to citizens. I am here today to encourage and show my support, but at the same time, I urge you all to be honest, fair, and transparent in your daily tasks. I know you are under a lot of pressure due to the demands of the public, but you must stay focused and show the utmost professionalism in everything you do.”, President Ramkalawan added. However, as the Ministry looks for ways to address those limitations, the President called on citizens seeking assistance to also take responsibility to do their part, contribute, and meet the ministry halfway. Staff members had the opportunity to express their concerns and difficulties with the high demand for land and housing, which is the main cause of frustration for applicants. Following the visit, President Ramkalawan chaired a meeting with the Minister and the leadership of the various departments of the Ministry.
President Wavel Ramkalawan, accompanied by Vice President Ahmed Afif, chaired the autopsy meeting following the recent landfill fire in Providence last month.
The meeting held at State House brought together all relevant authorities and agencies directly involved in the incidents.
Before opening the floor for discussions, the President, on behalf of the country and on his personal behalf, conveyed his most sincere thanks to all those who worked tirelessly or in one way or another provided their support during the three days of the landfill fire .
“We are very grateful for all your hard work.
Some members of the different teams were on site for long periods with limited rest between shifts to ensure the fire could be brought under control.
Even when I visited the site, I admired their determination and courage.
Thanks again.
Today we meet first and foremost to identify key weaknesses and find pragmatic solutions for the way forward and I look forward to fruitful contributions and frank discussions,” said President Ramkalawan.
The discussion focused on the key issues raised, such as operational failures, communication challenges, and individual limitations experienced by each of the agencies involved during the fire incident.
The meeting was also an opportunity for each entity to present the actions and proposals necessary to remedy the situation and ensure that future incidents are addressed in a more synchronized manner with greater collaboration between agencies and departments.
After this initial discussion, the agencies present were instructed to design concrete actions and decisions agreed upon during the meeting, so feedback on all proposed actions is scheduled for the next meeting on October 27.
Also present at Government House for the meeting were the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Errol Fonseka, Minister of Land and Housing, Mr. Billy Rangasamy, Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Climate Change, Mr. Flavien Joubert, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship, Ms. Devika Vidot, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bonnelame, ASP Marcus Jean, Executive Director, Infrastructure, Mr. Jitesh Shah, Executive Director, Industrial Estate, Mr. Roy Collie, Deputy Executive Director, Landwaste Management Agency, Mr. Rahul Mangroo, Mr. Mario Larame, Ms. Brigitte Roucou, Mr. Ronny Joseph, the Director General of DRMD, Mr. Robert Ernesta, Mr. Daniel Cetoupe, Mr. Cliff Alissop and officials from the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services, Mr. Regis Bethew, Ms. Tallie Domingue, Mr. Jones Madeleine and Mr. Jason Labrosse.
Through the excellent friendship ties that exist between Seychelles and the United Arab Emirates, the two countries hope to further consolidate their cooperative ties through the implementation of various projects of mutual interest.
The Minister of State at the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, currently on an official visit to Seychelles on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates Emirates and Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, visited two key projects funded by the United Arab Emirates this morning.
Accompanied by the Minister for Land and Housing, Mr. Billy Rangasamy, he visited the Orchid Housing Estate in Grand Anse district, Mahé.
The visit was an opportunity for the two ministers to see first-hand what has been completed so far, as well as to discuss new possibilities for expanding the project. With the presence of the key agencies and technicians, the visit also provided an opportunity to raise the technical challenges that need to be addressed for the way forward.
The UAE minister then visited the wind turbines on Ile du Port. He was received there by PUC Chairman of the Board Mr. Lenny Alvis, Executive Director Joel Valmont, Deputy Executive Director Bradburn and Mr. Sunassee. He was given technical explanations of how the project is helping the country in the production of electrical energy.
The two projects have been made possible largely through grants provided by the Abu Dhabi government and administered by the Abu Dhabi Development Fund.
Following the visit, on behalf of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, reaffirmed his country's commitment and further active support in the socio-economic development of Seychelles.
The Minister will be the guest of honor at the military parade to be held on Sunday to mark the 46th anniversary of our independence, which is also celebrated as the country's National Day.
The President of the Republic, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, and the First Lady, Mrs. Linda Ramkalawan yesterday attended the 44th National School Athletics Championships (NSAC) as part of the activities to commemorate Constitution Day at Stad Linite. unit). This championship was held after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 46 schools competed in different categories, including primary and secondary schools, private schools, and post-secondary institutes. Best overall for this event was Grand Anse Praslin Primary School with 119 points, La Digue Secondary School with 252 points and for Post-Secondary, Seychelles Business Studies Academy (SBSA) with 166 points. Distinguished guests who also presented glasses at the event included Ms. Stella Afif, Minister for Education, Dr. Justin Valentin, Minister for Health, Ms. Peggy Vidot, Minister for Land and Housing, Mr. Billy Rangasamy, Minister for Youth, Sports and Family, Mrs. Marie-Céline Zialor and CEO of the National Sports Council, Mr. Jean Larue.
