Bel Ombre jetty to be further developed under new joint management accord |07 August 2018

A restaurant, public toilets and office facilities will be accessible to users of the Bel Ombre jetty in future as part of an agreement for the joint management of the jetty by the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) and the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA).

The principal secretary (PS) for Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Garry Albert and the chief executive of SFA Ronny Renaud held a press conference at Botanical House yesterday to unveil the details of the arrangement which was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers last week.

SPA and SFA will be working in partnership to manage and oversee activities at the jetty which is frequented by tourists, locals and fishermen.

PS Albert stated that the new arrangements are necessary to address the many issues and problems including noise pollution, littering and lack of proper designation at the jetty as a result of increased activity at the port and lack of security. 

He revealed that the government has agreed to allocate a plot of land at the jetty to the SPA for the construction of building facilities that will house offices for the pier master, security officers, and other stakeholders involved with the Bel Ombre jetty and the activities undertaken there.

Public toilets and a restaurant are also part of the vision.

Mr Albert said that SPA will not necessarily operate these services but rather they will be rented out to the private sector.

“The intention is for facilities to be modern, convenient, comfortable and of the highest standards not only for the benefit of tourists but also for the many Seychellois who use the port,” he said.

Following consultations with stakeholders, a joint committee will be set up comprising representatives for fishermen, for leisure and diving boat owners and all other stakeholders who have a role at the jetty to discuss the ways the jetty can be better managed and what infrastructure needs to be put in place so that the government and private sector can offer the public, tourists and all who use the jetty a service of high standards.

“We want everyone to be on board so they can voice their concerns and suggestions for facilities and services to be included in the plans -- an opportunity to include facilities we may have overlooked in our plans,” he added. 

The SFA, which currently has a presence at the jetty managing fishing activities and the ice plant, will continue to do so.

CEO Renaud said “SFA will concentrate on all fishing activities at the jetty and will ensure that there is better management of the facilities”.

Finalised plans are expected to be presented early next year once the Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport (MHILT) has allocated a plot to SPA and all consultations are over.