Government sets priorities for next three months |09 April 2016

At its meeting of Wednesday April 6, the Cabinet expressed satisfaction that all actions pledged by President James Michel for the first 100 days of his mandate, which ended on March 28, had been satisfactorily achieved, or had been initiated and were ongoing as planned.

All ministers have also submitted performance audit reports to the Cabinet, and these have been reviewed by a special committee chaired by the Vice-President.  The reports were being compiled to highlight specific areas of improvement required by individual ministries, as well as areas of concern running across the public sector, with emphasis being placed on improved service delivery. 

A final report will be presented to the President and Cabinet shortly.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also recommended a series of improvements and initiatives that government should prioritise in the next three months.

In its ongoing efforts to treat and rehabilitate victims of drug abuse, government will reinforce medical treatment and detoxification programmes. 

A programme for the supervised use of needles and syringes will be launched while the programme of rehabilitation of victims will be intensified.

In the area of community development, the roadmap and framework for the establishment of District Councils will be presented to Cabinet. 

Daycare centres will be built in Takamaka, Anse aux Pins and Grand Anse Praslin.  The programme of street lighting on secondary roads will continue.

A special fund will be set up to promote the development of talent in the arts, sports and culture.

Government will keep under review the benefits and assistance provided by the Agency for Social Protection.  Special funds will be established to continue supporting persons with physical or mental disabilities, and for the renovation of dilapidated houses in cases where the occupants are unable to afford to undertake essential repairs. 

Plans will also be submitted to Cabinet for the professionalisation of the Home Care service.

Government will follow through with its plans to provide free transport to patients from Praslin and La Digue who are required to travel to Mahé for specialised treatment at the Seychelles Hospital.  It will provide two boat tickets per month for post-secondary students from Praslin and La Digue travelling to and from Mahé.  There will be subsidised inter-island travel for pensioners.

A first framework on Quality of Life of Youth will be presented to Cabinet, as well as the formal structures to ensure coordination of youth policies across all sectors.

A revised Employment Policy will be submitted for Cabinet's consideration.  Legislation for the payment of a 13th month salary for all employees will be proposed.  Information will also be provided on the number of persons enrolled on the ‘My First Job Scheme’, and the costs involved.

The tax on salaries below R8,555.50 will be removed from July 1, 2016, and the rates of tax applicable from January 2017 will be published.  An audit of businesses will be undertaken to identify instances of under-collection of revenue.

Information will be made available on the cheapest rates of available brands of basic commodities at the STC, on tariff rates for water, electricity and gas.  Periodic publication of internet usage and cost are also planned.  A technical plan will be presented to Cabinet on the provision of free Wifi in designated areas.

The list of businesses and activities requiring authorisation from either the Licensing Authority, the Planning Authority and the Revenue Commission will be published.

Statistical information will be provided to indicate the performance of Port and Customs clearing.

In the area of land use, government will specify the plots of land designated for construction of small and medium enterprise facilities.  Government will also be following up on owners of land allocated for commercial or industrial use, where such land remains idle.

Government plans to start selling identified plots of land on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue to Seychellois families.  70 plots of land at Île Perseverance will be available for sale to young professionals under the self-fund scheme.

Construction will start on new housing estates at Pointe Larue and Baie Lazare.

14 graduate families will be presented with keys to their houses at Anse des Genets.

Work will also start on the planned building of 72 new housing units at Île Perseverance, and 68 others in different areas of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.  Repair works on existing housing estates will be intensified.

The scheme for 25% price reduction on PMC houses sold to tenants on purchase agreement will continue, as well as payment of 50% of rent by the Agency for Social Protection to tenants on minimum wage.

Proposals will be considered to encourage the private sector to use new alternative building methods.

In the area of agriculture, an action plan for a new hatchery will be presented to Cabinet.  Quarterly reports on agricultural production will also be produced.

The Health Care Agency will be outsourcing diagnostics and laboratory services.  Measures will be taken in the health institutions to minimise waiting time for specialist appointments.  Certain health services will be decentralised to districts, and list of decentralised services will be published.

Information will also be published on students on overseas training in medicine, and on their specialisations.

Teacher retention will be given priority, and the maintenance standards of schools will be improved.  Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the school curriculum, and on students’ discipline and performance.