Seychelles launches National Tsunami Ready Board to strengthen coastal resilience |23 July 2025

Members of the National Tsunami Ready Board in a souvenir photograph with Minister Fonseka. Absent is Vincent Amelie who was represented by Doreen Ikula

Seychelles launches National Tsunami Ready Board to strengthen coastal resilience

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has formally launched the National Tsunami Ready Board, marking a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to enhancing coastal resilience and disaster preparedness.

The ceremony featured the official presentation of appointment letters by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Charles Fonseka, to the newly nominated board members.

The establishment of the board falls under the Disaster Risk Management Act, 2014, and reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to institutionalise disaster risk reduction through structured coordination and oversight.

Members of the newly appointed Seychelles National Tsunami Ready Board are: Robert Ernesta, Director General, Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD); Vincent Amelie, chief executive, Seychelles Meteorological Authority (SMA); Cyril Bonnelame, chief executive, Islands Development Company (IDC); Major Gerald Wong-Pool, Director, National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC); and Peter Estico, Head of Emergency Section, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs.

In his address, Minister Fonseka extended his congratulations and appreciation to the board members for their willingness to take on this critical responsibility.

He emphasised the importance of their respective institutions ranging from meteorology and disaster management to policing, coastal development, and emergency response in driving forward national tsunami preparedness.

The minister urged members to translate policy into action and foster a culture of readiness not only for tsunamis but also for other hazards such as cyclones, storm surges, and coastal threats.

The Seychelles National Tsunami Ready Board will serve as the principal national oversight body for the implementation of the Unesco Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)’s Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme. The programme is a performance-based initiative that enhances community-level preparedness through clear indicators, collaborative planning, and capacity building.

Key responsibilities of the board include:

• Providing strategic direction and national coordination on tsunami preparedness initiatives;
• Supporting the long-term implementation of the Tsunami Ready Programme across Seychelles’ coastal communities;
• Reviewing and endorsing local applications for Tsunami Ready recognition prior to international submission;
• Promoting sustainable risk reduction practices and institutional collaboration.

Seychelles' commitment to the IOC Tsunami Ready Programme is guided by Unesco-IOC Manual 74: Tsunami Ready Community Recognition and supported through the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS).

As a small island developing state (Sids), Seychelles is especially vulnerable to ocean-related hazards. The launch of this board represents a proactive step towards building resilience and ensuring that communities are better prepared to respond to and recover from future threats.

Contributed