2008 national theme: Our Constitution, the Voice of our Nation-PRESIDENT NAMES CONSTITUTION REVIEW BODY |17 April 2008

Attorney-at-law Francis Chang-Sam, who was attorney general at the time the Constitution was drafted in 1993, is its chairman. 

Mr Michel said 15 years had passed since we adopted our Constitution.
“Many changes have occurred in our country since then. The Constitution itself has been amended on several occasions. In anticipation of those changes, it was recommended then that the Constitution be reviewed 15 years after its adoption,” he said.

The President recalled that it was with this in mind that he dedicated 2008 as the year of national reflection on the Constitution under the theme: Our Constitution, the Voice of our Nation and announced in his state-of-the-nation address that he would be appointing a committee to conduct a review.
The Constitution, the supreme law of the country, was adopted on June 18, 1993, when 73% of voters approved it in a referendum.

Broadly speaking, the task of the Constitution review committee is to conduct a thorough examination in the light of developments and changes that have taken place and to make recommendations to bring it in line with these changes so as to secure the achievement of goals and fulfillment of the aspirations of the people of Seychelles as enshrined in the Constitution.

The committee shall submit to the President its report with the appropriate recommendations within 12 months.
Mr Michel said he had given much thought to the composition of the committee.

“I believe that it should reflect a wide spectrum of society and with its members appointed either in their official or private capacity, as the case may be, the prime consideration being the contribution they can make to this all-important national exercise,” he said.

 The full composition of the committee is as follows:
-Chairman, Francis Chang-Sam, attorney-at-law
Members: 
- Marie-Louise Potter, leader of government business (or her designated representative)
- Wavel Ramkalawan, leader of the opposition (or his designated representative)
- Anthony Fernando, attorney general
- Jérémie Bonnelame, chairman of the Constitutional Appointments Authority
- Gustave Dodin, ombudsman
- Albert Payet, chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Philippe Boullé, attorney-at-law
- Bernard Elizabeth, chairman of the Liaison Unit for Non-governmental Organisations
- Cheryl Vengadasamy, speaker, National Youth Assembly
- Secretary, Elizabeth Charles, director of international cooperation at the Ministry of Finance.