Assembly approves terms of reference for four of its newly formed committees |01 March 2017

The National Assembly in its sitting of yesterday approved the terms of reference for four new committees formed last year and these were through motions tabled before the House.

The leader of the opposition Wavel Ramkalawan presented a motion for the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Committee whose aim is to settle past political divisions since the 1977 coup d’état and unite the country around a common agenda for a confident future where every Seychellois will have a sense of equal ownership and value.

The terms of reference that the committee has adopted for it are as follows:

• To shed the light of truth over events since June 5, 1977;

• To receive information in writing from any persons regarding complaints as to any action affecting their rights since June 5, 1977;

• To inventorise and classify heads of possible complaints with a view to assessing the size of the problem;

• To receive proposals orally or in writing from interested parties, and consider different methods used by other countries in similar situations, as to how best to approach and resolve the issues of unity and national reconciliation;

• To make proposals to government on the structure and composition of the most appropriate national forum to deal with the issues of unity and national reconciliation, and the procedure it should utilise to that end.

Mr Ramkalawan also presented a motion for the National Assembly Committee on Islands which are as follows:

• To visit all outer islands of the Republic, as well as certain other islands of Seychelles, to engage with their owners, those responsible for their management, and those employed there so as to take stock of their actual development as well as future strategies for their use;

• To engage with persons from all development fields - agriculture, fishing, housing, tourism, and nature conservancy, among others – with a view to better understand the challenges and advantages of islands and thereby recommend plans for their use;

• To consider new initiatives for the optimal development and use of all outer islands;

• To consider ways in which all outer islands can be made freely accessible to Seychellois to visit, to reside on or to develop;

• To report to the Assembly on ways in which all Seychelles islands can be rendered more closely part of the national territory, more transparently administered and better used as part of the national development strategy.

Clive Roucou, the LDS member for Plaisance, presented the motion for the terms of reference for the Committee on HIV/Aids and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). The main aim of the committee is to advocate and influence responses on HIV/Aids and Sexual Reproductive Health issues.

The committee shall:

• Examine issues relating to HIV/Aids and SRHR;

• Advise and disseminate information to members of the National Assembly for possible legislative enactment in a manner that human rights and dignity of all citizens are safeguarded;

• Establish effective communication with local and international stakeholders;

• Ensure that legislation on HIV/Aids and SRHR are in conformity with other Southern African Development countries.

The terms of reference for the Anti-Victimisation Committee was presented by elected member for Anse Aux Pins Clifford Andre. The core functions and powers of the committee are to:

• Hear and determine cases of victimisation;

• Conduct the necessary investigation into all such cases;

• Prepare a comprehensive report for each and every case, which shall include the recommendations made;

• Submit reports to the National Assembly, at quarterly intervals;

• Communicate the Committee's recommendations to the respective parties, ministries, agencies, private organizations, etc., with the aim of resolving the complaints;

• Enquire whether there has been compliance with the recommendations made by the committee;

• Request for any relevant files or documents from any offices or parties concerned.

Members from both sides in the Assembly gave their approval to all four committees.