President James Michel starts community visits in Grand Anse Praslin: |22 April 2016

‘The visit has brought out positive elements’

After for the last two years concentrating on the development of small and medium businesses and calling on them on numerous visits around the country, President James Michel has this year decided to switch his effort towards community development through closer contact with the people.

The president chose Grand Anse Praslin to conduct the first in a series of visits which he plans to pay to communities and families. After touring the district and stopping at a total of eight households, Mr Michel commented that his “visit has brought out positive elements”.

He also took the opportunity to reflect on the results brought by his contact with businesses.

“For the last two years I have concentrated on small businesses to see how they are developing and to encourage Seychellois to take ownership of the economy. As a result, we have seen a boom in the creation and development of small businesses. The only problem remains access to credit, but we are working on that. I am now visiting the communities to see the actions which are going on, as I had announced for my first hundred days in office. I have visited families to see how the projects can be improved upon. It is on a positive note that I say the visit has brought positive elements and we will now see how we will move on,” President Michel said after visiting a family in the sub-district of Mont Plaisir.

Commenting on the development seen in Mont Plaisir itself, the president noted that he had seen “a transformed Mont Plaisir, with various housing projects still going on”.

The president’s tour of Grand Anse Praslin had also brought him to other areas like Collie Estate, St Joseph, Amitié and Anse Kerlan. Through his interaction with people he met, he was appraised on concerns such as housing, employment, availability of land for agriculture, drainage, health services, street lighting and the extension of the Amitié airport which may cause some families to be relocated.

The presidential delegation to Praslin also comprised the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Vincent Meriton, secretary general in the Executive Office of the President Affairs Lise Bastienne and director general for public affairs in the Office of the President Doreen Arnephy. Member of the National Assembly for Grand Anse Praslin Marc Volcère as well as the district administrator Moses Barbé also accompanied Mr Michel on the tour.

Minister Meriton has on his side said by interacting with people in the community, the president has had the opportunity to evaluate the work of agencies which are offering services to the families and see if those services are well delivered.

“The work seen reflects what the president has been speaking of in terms of for example housing, employment, health and businesses such as in the agricultural sector. It is testimony that the president’s plans are bearing fruits,” Minister Meriton remarked.

The minister responsible for community development concluded that President Michel was satisfied with the level of service being offered and has at the same time taken note of areas where improvement is needed.

The following is a selection of photos taken by Romano Laurence during yesterday’s visit.