Cabinet updated on proposed tunnel project |16 February 2018

• Considers several legal, policy memoranda

The Cabinet of Ministers has been updated on two feasibility studies -- one of which has been completed while the other will soon start -- in relation to the proposed tunnel project.

Cabinet has also considered several legal and policy memoranda.

This was during a scheduled meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday morning at State House chaired by President Danny Faure.

In a meeting with the local media yesterday morning, Margaret Pillay, the deputy cabinet secretary for policy affairs and Johny Bastienne, the deputy cabinet secretary for institutional affairs, gave more details on the tunnel project and the other matters which the Cabinet discussed and approved.

With regard to the proposed tunnel project -- announced by President Danny Faure in his State-of-the-Nation address last year -- to link the east and west coast of Mahé from Cascade to Grand Anse, Cabinet was updated on the status of feasibility studies for its implementation. Cabinet also decided on the manner in  which funds would be raised to carry out the project.

Mr Bastienne went on to explain that a first feasibility study carried out with international expertise has concluded that such a project can be realised in a period of 36 months and how much it would cost and now it remains for the government to put in place the necessary legal entity to explore different funding options, one of which is source funding from international partners.  

Another team of experts are already in the country to carry out the second feasibility study to provide another costing for comparison before the project could start.

Mr Bastienne explained that the first study was carried out towards the last quarter of the year.

Ms Pillay has given reassurances that the project will be carried out in a sustainable manner and will have no impact on the environment but would be greatly beneficial mostly for transportation of agricultural produce.

“The  project is still in its early stage and the public will be consulted and their inputs and views will be sought and considered at the appropriate time,” Ms Pillay pointed out.

The Cabinet also approved the solid waste disposal and treatment strategy for Mahé that will guide waste management for the next 10 years.

“Waste management being very important especially for a small country like ours, it is therefore for this reason that the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change has submitted it strategic plan to the Cabinet to seek their consideration as to the best waste management options for the next 10 years,” Ms Pillay explained.

Among the different strategies being considered is introducing a waste crusher to reduce waste dumped at the landfill by 40%, stepped up recycling efforts, waste sorting by setting up a sorting area and work out on a more effective waste management education campaign for the public.

Cabinet also endorsed the nomination of a Seychellois candidate, Ambassador Joseph Nourrice, for the post of deputy executive secretary for corporate affairs in the SADC. Only Seychelles and Madagascar which have no other nominations at SADC.

Ms Pillay explained that the post at SADC is expected to become vacant in June.

“If we become successful it will be very beneficial for Seychelles and other small island states as we will be directly represented,” Ms Pillay noted.

Cabinet also approved the national policy and framework for the design and implementation of the performance monitoring and evaluation process within ministries, departments and agencies.

Amendments to the Hire Purchase and Credit Sale Act was also approved.  The regulations provide for the license fees, charges and clear guidelines for the undertaking of hire purchase and credit sales.