Seychelles assembly complaints, from Regar, independent Seychelles news

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Silencing the Assembly in Seychelles
Regar, Seychelles independent news
28 May 2004

Seychelles opposition members fear there is a deliberate tactic to reduce National Assembly business to nothing.

Photo: Regar

Opposition members have over 50 motions or questions waiting to be brought up in the National Assembly. Some of these have been waiting for as much as a year. The SNP members have expressed frustration at the slow pace of Assembly business, and the fact that matters of serious concern which they have tabled are not coming up at all on the agenda.

Since the beginning of the second session two weeks ago, there has been nothing of much substance on the Order Paper. The Assembly has been asked to ratify a number of international agreements which were necessary but with little relevance locally. Only one question from an SNP member has come up.

This situation hits hard at Opposition members, especially those who have been elected, members pointed out.

SPPF members can seek answers to their questions from government ministries or push for action on problems they encounter in their constituencies through the Ministry of Local Government. SNP members have no avenue except through the Assembly.

SNP members talked frankly about their frustrations in a meeting with President Michel days after his inauguration.

Motions and questions submitted by the opposition are on matters ranging from government services and projects for their districts to national issues like crime, corruption, the GST and other economic measures.

In some cases, the Assembly is not even following up on initiatives which have been accepted. A committee which was set up to review crime and security in the country has not even met, although President Michel has now called for the support of the public in fighting crime.

The tabling of Assembly business rests with the Speaker who has also failed to follow a provision of the Constitution which requires for him to consult the Leader of the Opposition to determine the priority of Bills to be placed on the Order Paper.

Opposition members see this as part of a deliberate move to silence the voice of the SNP. While members have been called upon to address issues and to bring a more cordial atmosphere to the Assembly, this is also ensuring that they do not raise any controversial issues at all. It is simply reducing the Assembly to nothing.

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