Transport minister addresses National Assembly questions |18 October 2023
Transport minister Antony Derjacques was in the National Assembly yesterday to address questions pertaining to his ministry namely ports, airports and roads.
One question referred to the ports and airports redevelopment plan. Johan Loze of the United Seychelles party wanted to know the status of negotiations with the Abu Dhabi government with regard to the two projects.
Minister Derjacques clarified that the negotiations were not with the Abu Dhabi government but rather with two companies namely, Abu Dhabi ports company and Abu Dhabi airports company.
“The first company assists us with a plan for operation and technical help while the second one with a masterplan for the airport. We will make further announcement at the appropriate time,” stated the minister adding the masterplan was a confidential agreement and would need to go before the cabinet, to decide in what form it would be put to the public.
Another question from the elected member for Baie Ste Anne, Churchill Gill, related to request for kiosks for taxi drivers at the newly built Ero port.
Minister Derjacques explained that construction was already under way for new kiosks, which would be ready by December this year and cater for eight taxis at once.
Another question from Hon. Gill, referred to the status of the Pasquere road, which was under construction.
The minister explained that the first phase of the road, which included civil work, was completed, and similar work for the third phase is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He informed the house that the second phase was completed, and contract for the fourth stage will be signed this week.
Minister Derjacques said that R4 million is being budgeted next year for the fifth stage.
For her part, the elected member for Anse Royale, Sylvanne Lemiel, queried about the second phase of the Grande Rivière road, to which the minister said there was R4 million in next year’s budget to carry out the project in the first quarter of 2024.
As for plans to widen the Port Launay, Cap Ternay road, queried by the elected member for Port Glaud, Egbert Aglae, Minister Derjacques said the project was not on the priority list and therefore no budget was available for its implementation.