President restructures government |27 January 2015
• Four new ministers appointed, two step down
President James Michel has announced the composition of his new Cabinet as well as the appointment of a number
of chief executives in government ministries, departments and agencies, while other heads and senior-most staff retain their position.
Four new ministers have been appointed by the President while two ministers have stepped down.
The new ministers are Charles Bastienne (Minister for Home Affairs), Didier Dogley (Minister for Environment, Energy & Climate Change), Michael Benstrong (Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development & Business Innovation) and Wallace Cosgrow (Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture).
The two outgoing ministers are Pierre Laporte and Peter Sinon. President Michel, in his capacity as President of Parti Lepep, has appointed Mr Sinon, as deputy secretary general of Parti Lepep.
In the new structure of government, the President retains the portfolio for Defence, Legal Affairs, Information and Hydrocarbons.
Vice-President Danny Faure retains the portfolio for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Youth and Public Administration.
He has, in addition, been entrusted with the responsibility for Civil Society, including relations with religious denominations and organisations.
Together with the President and the Vice-President, the following ministers constitute the Cabinet, subject to the approval of the National Assembly:
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 Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport, Joël Morgan |
 Minister for Education, Macsuzy Mondon |
 Minister for Finance, Trade & The Blue Economy, Jean-Paul Adam |
 Minister for Health, Mitcy Larue |
 Minister for Tourism & Culture, Alain St Ange |
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 Minister for Land Use & Housing, Christian Lionnet |
 Minister for Home Affairs, Charles Bastienne |
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 Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development & Business Innovation, Michael Benstrong |
 Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Wallace Cosgrow |
President Michel has urged all ministers to remain connected to the people and to ensure the highest levels of service delivery with probity, professionalism and humility.
He reminded them that theirs is a position of trust, that they have a duty to “make things happen” and that they are at the service of the people of Seychelles.
The President also said that it was expected of them to always display the highest standards of integrity and commitment to duty.
Thanking the two former ministers for their hard work and their many achievements at the service of the people of Seychelles, the President emphasised that Messrs Laporte and Sinon will continue to contribute towards the development of the country.
The new principal secretaries are:
Pamela Payet – Ag. principal secretary for Finance & Administration (Office of the President);
Merida Delcy – principal secretary for Early Childhood, Primary & Secondary Education (Ministry of Education);
Dr Linda Barallon – principal secretary for Planning, Human Resources, Infrastructural Development & Post Secondary Education (Ministry of Education);
Patrick Payet – principal secretary for Finance & Trade (Ministry of Finance, Trade & The Blue Economy);
Rebecca Loustau-Lalanne – principal secretary for The Blue Economy (Ministry of Finance, Trade & The Blue Economy);
Michel Marie – principal secretary for Home Affairs;
Wills Agricole – principal secretary for Climate Change and Energy (Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Energy);
Alain Decommarmond – principal secretary for Environment (Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Energy);
Marise Berlouis – principal secretary for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development & Business Innovation (Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship Development & Business Innovation);
Michel Nalletamby – principal secretary for Fisheries & Agriculture (Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture).
The new special advisers are:
Philippe Michaud – special adviser (The Blue Economy) to the Minister for Finance, Trade & The Blue Economy;
Dr Steve Fanny – special adviser to the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development & Business Innovation;
Finley Racombo – special adviser (Fisheries) to the Minister for Fisheries & Agriculture;
Antoine-Marie Moustache – special adviser (Agriculture) to the Minister for Fisheries & Agriculture.
Other senior positions (secretaries of state, principal secretaries, special advisers, chief executive officers) remain unchanged with the exception of the following new appointments:
CEO Welfare Agency: Marcus Siméon;
CEO Seychelles Commercial Bank: Syed Naqi;
CEO Seychelles Pension Fund: Lekha Nair;
Adviser to the CEO Pension Fund: Willy Confait;
Ag. CEO Seychelles Fishing Authority: Vincent Lucas.
The new appointments take effect on February 1, 2015.