New committee to keep Ile Perseverance focused on a communal approach |07 June 2018
In order to bring both the service providers and the entire community together as partners in the community development process, it is important to create a platform for more collaboration, teamwork and involvement between all parties.
It is in that spirit that a new Inter Agency Committee for Ile Perseverance has been set up, ensuring that all parties remain focused on a more communal approach.
An initiative of the department of local government, the committee met for the first time yesterday at the Ocean Gate House boardroom to discuss anticipated immediate and short term actions.
The work was led by special advisor for local government Dan Frichot, in the presence of principal secretary for local government Marie-Celine Vidot, Christina Dora and Pharisianne Lucas, district administrators for Perseverance I and II respectively.
The committee is also aimed at promoting more engagement and involvement from the residents themselves in community development, while it remains focused on the basis of community development which is characterised by values such as equality, respect and justice, learning and living together peacefully among others.
It is made up of members of senior management level from various ministries, departments and agencies.
As part of its mandate, the committee which will meet on a monthly basis will set up a master plan in regards to infrastructural and facilities development.
It will also set up priorities in addressing current pressing issues, develop a strategic framework, including mapping out areas of intervention by respective service providers and also set up a database regarding residents’ profile.
Voicing out the various challenges encountered on a daily basis at Perseverance I, Ms Dora mentioned a lack of information and solution from government official on the district team which is responsible for dealing with issues regarding Ile Perseverance.
She added that at times, the representatives fail to attend the meetings, even if invitations are sent out.
Another constraint is a lack of communication between the government departments and the district administration office, regarding development and other decisions taken with regard to Ile Perseverance.
This, she said, causes mistrust between her office and the residents who think they are withholding information.
She gave example of new allocations, whereby new residents just appear, without any notice from the authority concerned.
Ms Dora noted that it is only after reports of misbehaviour and other incidents that they become aware of new residents at Ile Perseverance, a situation which she said does not only affect the district’s database, but also causes a lot of confusion among both the residents and her office.
Other issues such as drugs, littering and the inefficiency of the police force were also shared by Mrs Lucas for Ile Perseverance II.
Still at yesterday’s meeting, Keith Arnephy from the Ministry of Habitat, Lands, Infrastructure and Land Transport gave a presentation on the status of the infrastructural development on Ile Perseverance.
Among the completed facilities are a primary school and crèche, a secondary school, women and children hospital, Coast Guard base, Fraud Investigation Unit (FIU) offices, berthing basin and common slipway, along with a bridge linking the island to Ile Aurore.
The pending facilities include a Police Station, a Fire and Rescue Service station, district administration offices, a market, day care centres and sports complexes.
He also highlighted some setbacks, including vandalism, illegal extraction of coral fill, pre-fab defects and littering and solid waste disposal.
Ile Perseverance is one of the biggest housing projects ever undertaken by the Seychelles government in response to the housing needs of the people.
Provision has been made so far to cater for 2,056 units upon completion of entry of all residents.
Allocation of the first batch of houses was made in 2011 and since January 2018, 1,173 units have been allocated with a total number of 5,569 residents.