Dr Patrick Herminie elected US party leader |01 February 2021

United Seychelles party leader, Dr Patrick Herminie

Dr Patrick Herminie has been elected leader of the United Seychelles political party.

His election is in line with Article 9.7 of United Seychelles’ (US) constitution, the rules for the selection of candidates to elected office within the movement, and the rules for the conduct of elections for the leader of the movement.

Dr Herminie, 58 years old and who is a medical doctor by profession, was the sole contender who met the strict eligibility criteria for the post and was elected in accordance with Article 33.4 of the US constitution.

He started his political career in 1992 as a member of the commission which drafted the Constitution of the Third Republic. He was thrice elected member of the National Assembly for the district of English River (in 1993, 1998 and 2002), becoming the leader of government business (majority leader) from 1998 to 2007.

He was Speaker of the National Assembly from 2007 to 2016. He took over the speakership from Francis MacGregor in 2007.

Dr Herminie first joined the party leadership in 1998, serving until 2010 before being nominated to the national executive committee of US in 2019.

In accordance with Article 12.1 of the party’s constitution, Dr Herminie further appointed Dick Esparon as the new secretary general of the party.

United Seychelles has also elected 15 new members to its national executive committee (Nec). They are Alvin Grandcourt, Marvin Fanny, Jacquelin Dugasse, Dotty Valmont, André Ciseau, France Bonte, Trevor Louise, Josie Michaud-Payet, André Pool, Steve Monnaie, Andy Julie, Christine Frichot, Josie Chetty, Louisette Belle and Charles De Commarmond.

In normal circumstances it is during the annual congress or extraordinary congress of the movement that the party leader and Nec members are elected.

Due to the Covid-19 situation in the country, and in compliance with the guidelines and regulations of the Public Health Authority, the extraordinary congress to hold elections took another form as approved through a motion at the last meeting of the previous national executive committee, on Thursday January 21, 2021. Elections of the national executive committee were held over four days, culminating in the announcement of the results in the afternoon of Saturday January 30, 2021.

Press release from United Seychelles