MNAs kept abreast of plans to develop Port Victoria |21 April 2018

Members of the National Assembly of Seychelles, led by its speaker Nicholas Prea, yesterday visited Port Victoria where they were informed of ongoing projects and briefed on the challenges it is facing and its future vision to remain as the number one port in the region.

Though the invitation from the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) was extended to the whole house, only the Parti Lepep members visited the port.

It was later learned from the Speaker that the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) National Assembly members opted not to participate in the visit at the last minute with no clear reason.

The delegation was welcomed by Commodore Paul Hodoul, chairman of the SPA board of directors; Colonel Andre Ciseau, the chief executive of SPA and management staff.

The invitation to visit the port was extended since May 9 last year and again renewed this year after questions regarding the SPA were being raised in the House.

After they had had the chance to ask questions, the MNAs went on a tour of the port area on board Alouette, a pilot vessel ownedby the SPA.

The SPA was established in October 2004 under the SPA Act to manage Port Victoria as a multi-functional port and the main international gateway to the Seychelles economy.

It also administers over 1663 nautical square miles of the Port Victoria maritime limit, the management of berthing and the movement of vessels in and out of Port Victoria inner harbour; the main international commercial port (Mahé Quay); the industrial fishing ports and a network of domestic, inter-island jetties and terminals on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.

Welcoming the MNAs, Commodore Hodoul said it is only by staring at each other in the eyes, speaking honestly, asking questions and listening to answers that we can analyse things correctly and give the right information to the people.

He also expressed his regret of seeing MNAs from only one side of the table present.

“I wish to launch another appeal to you Mr Speaker to ask the other representatives of the National Assembly to come visit us, come talk to us, ask all the questions they have and not through comments on social media such as Facebook,” he said.

Commodore Hodoul explained that what is of interest to them in the SPA is to see that the port operations is working efficiently and that the workers are doing their jobs and that the best of revenue is achieved at the end of the year for the benefit of the whole country.

“The bottom line that is important is that the port is productive and competitive in the region,” he added.

On his part, Colonel Ciseau expressed his appreciation of the MNAs visit.

“In a frank and amicable manner, we want to share the works being undertaken by the SPA which is being seen as the gateway to the national economy and the challenges we are overcoming with limited resources to be able to achieve the targets set,” Colonel Ciseau said.

He also spoke of the work being done at regional level to see Port Victoria continue to grow as a result of its strategic geographical location in that region and which will also assist Seychelles in its wealth creation.

Colonel Ciseau also informed the MNAs on the various development projects planned for the ports of Victoria, Praslin and La Digue and which will require substantial financial investments.

He stated that the SPA is receiving financial and logistics assistance from partners like the European Union, the Port of Marseille and is also inviting the public and private partners to join in.

Colonel Ciseau said that security measures in the port have even been enhanced and in relation to the recent ammonia leaks, stringent measures are being put in place.

He also shared the port’s vision to enhance the cruise ship business at Port Victoria and also elaborated that the country could earn much more from that trade.

Speaker Prea described the visit as being long overdue since the SPA had extended an invitation since last year but it is only now that the visit could be conducted as the House was very busy.

“I am impressed by the visit and the CEO’s presentation. We have seen for ourselves the challenges being faced by SPA and if these are not addressed as soon as possible, Seychelles can see itself losing its position as the number one port in the Indian Ocean,” said Mr Prea.

The MNAs coming back to the quay after a tour of the port area on board Alouette