In a heart-warming celebration, the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency(SFRSA) commemorated the 10th anniversary of its fire station on La Digue. The milestone event, attended by esteemed dignitaries including the Minister of Internal Affairs, served as a testament to a decade of unwavering dedication and service to the community.

The Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Charles Fonseka delivered words of encouragement, acknowledging the invaluable contributions of the fire station personnel in ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors alike. Expressing heartfelt appreciation for their commitment, the Minister also presented a  token of gratitude  to the officers of the La Digue Station.

Highlighting the significance of long-term service and commitment, the ceremony saw the presentation of long service awards to deserving officers who have demonstrated exemplary dedication and professionalism over the years. These awards not only honored individual achievements but also underscored the collective spirit of camaraderie and excellence within the SFRSA.

The Minister of Internal Affairs Charles Fonseka convened a significant session with a distinguished delegation hailing from the Barbados Immigration Department. Ms. Denise Bullock, a prominent figure within the Barbados Immigration Department, led the delegation, accompanied by Ms. Sherry Best, equally distinguished in her role, along with the esteemed presence of Mr. Neville Wint from the Joint Regional Communications Center.

Discussions were anchored around the Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS), tracing its’ remarkable journey from a health tool to a border management system. Deliberations were multifaceted, delving into innovative strategies aimed at enhancing security measures and optimizing the immigration procedures. This meeting served as an opportunity for the exchange of operational insights, fostering a spirit of mutual advancement and collaborative synergy.

Minister Fonseka elaborated the pivotal role SEBS plays in law enforcement, clarifying its’ role in promptly identifying persons of interests and hindering criminal activities right at the border's edge. In turn, the Barbadian delegation praised Seychelles for its commendable utilization of technology in border control, particularly noting the seamless processing of passengers through immigration and customs—a testament to Seychelles' commitment to excellence in frontier management.

In a heartfelt ceremony held at the International Conference Centre this morning, the Minister of Internal Affairs, honored the unwavering dedication and commitment of the nation's firefighters. The event, specifically dedicated to recognizing long service and promotion within the esteemed ranks of the service, underscored the invaluable contributions of these brave men and women. The Minister presented the long service award to Leading Firefighter Elvis Marimba, who retired this year after serving for 37 years.

 Addressing the room, the Minister praised the selfless sacrifices made by firefighters in safeguarding lives and property, often at great personal risk. Their tireless efforts, he emphasized, exemplifies the essence of public service and embodies the spirit of community resilience.the Minister called upon the people of Seychelles, to recognise the invaluable service our firefighters provide and to thank these brave individuals who willingly tread into perilous situations to protect us all.

Several firefighters were honored for their long-standing commitment to duty, some having served for decades, demonstrating a steadfast resolve to protect and serve the Seychellois community. Additionally, commendations were bestowed upon those who had been promoted from junior firefighters to full-fledged firefighters, recognizing their exemplary dedication to furthering the mission of the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services(SFRSA).

The Minister of Internal Affairs received Chinese Ambassador Her Excellency Lin Nan and the Commanders of ETG 118, People’s Liberation Army Navy of People’s Republic of China Senior Captain Ding Wanguo, Senior Captain Han Xuefeng, Captain Liang Dong and Lieutenant Commander Zhang Jianwei. 

The discussions focused on Maritime security as the Minister expressed the will of the government to enhance the collaboration between Seychelles and the Peoples Republic of China to assist in mitigating disasters at sea such as oil spills and illegal activities.

The Minister explained how Seychelles recognizes the significant role that China plays in the dynamics of the Indian Ocean, and that Seychelles is committed to enhancing bilateral cooperation. Seychelles seeks to strengthen our joint capabilities in addressing key maritime challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing, and emergency response situations. By combining China's considerable resources and technical prowess with Seychelles' strategic geographical positioning and local expertise. The Minister also stated that, “together, we remain unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that our collaborative endeavors substantially benefit the peace and prosperity of the region. Through the alignment of our strategic approaches, we are poised to effectively tackle shared challenges, thereby fostering a stable and secure maritime environment”.

The meeting was also attended by the Director of the National Information Sharing & Coordination Centre (NISCC) Captain Gerald Wong-Pool.

The First Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking and Substance Abuse was held from 24th April to 25th April 2024 which consisted of a Senior Officials meeting subsequently followed by the Ministerial meeting.

Seychelles was represented by a delegation consisting of Minister Charles Fonseka, the Minister for Internal Affairs, Minister Peggy Vidot, the Minister for Health and Minister Patricia Francourt, the Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, and other senior officials.

The conference was organized with the aim of “providing a platform for high level policy dialogue to forge collective action for improving the Wester Indian Oceans (WIO) capabilities to deal with the demand and supply side challenges related to illicit drug trafficking”.

The main discussions of the conference where on the adoption of a Regional Strategy Against Drug Trafficking and Substance Abuse, the setting up of a network of leading national agencies coordinating drug response and the establishment of a Regional Drug Observatory.

The strategy has two main goals: reducing drug demand and curbing drug supply in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region.

1. Reducing Drug Demand: This involves enhancing the capabilities of WIO states in drug prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. It focuses on two pillars:

• Pillar 1: Improving prevention through citizen education and stakeholder training.
• Pillar 2: Enhancing health and social services by developing better treatment and rehabilitation options.

2. Curbing Drug Supply: This goal involves strengthening regional and international cooperation to disrupt drug supply chains. It also has two pillars:

• Pillar 3: Disrupting drug supply chains by tracking traffickers and their networks, monitoring financial flows, and fostering cooperation among WIO countries.
• Pillar 4: Expanding partnerships and establishing a network of national drug agencies supported by a regional observatory.

Overall, the strategy aims to address the challenges of drug trafficking and substance abuse in the WIO region, promoting security, stability, and well-being

During his intervention, Minister Fonseka outlined the various threats interconnected with illegal drug trafficking which Seychelles is facing such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the need to address these issues. He also emphasized on the urgent need of burden sharing within the regional member states.

In her intervention, Minister Vidot ensured that as Seychelles develops its new Strategy Against Substance abuse, it would ensure that its own strategy aligns with the Regional Strategy which is being developed. She also outlined the various initiatives which were being undertaken at national level and that collaboration between ministries have been giving clear result. It was also noted that Seychelles would continue to strengthen evidence-based programmes and work with regional partners to increase results in this area.

In Minster Francourt’s intervention, she outlined the various efforts which Seychelles have been undertaking in the fight against illegal narcotics and that Seychelles has been one of the countries that have been at the forefront of this fight regionally. Seychelles contribution to regional architectures was emphasized and on this basis. Minister Francourt informed the conference of Seychelles willingness to host the Regional Drugs Observatory which was expected to be set up as per the Regional Strategy Against Drug Trafficking and Substance Abuse.

During the conference, the commitment of the international community towards helping the region in combatting this serious threat and issue was reiterated by the various representatives of non-regional states and international organisations. Through the collaborative efforts outlined in this strategy, stakeholders aim to address the multifaceted challenges posed by drug trafficking and substance abuse in the WIO region, promoting greater security, stability, and well-being for its’ inhabitants.

The Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Charles Fonseka warmly welcomed the newly accredited Ambassador Designate of the Republic of Korea to The Republic of Seychelles His Excellency Mr. Kang Jung in a courtesy call to the Minister this morning. Discussions focused on further enhancing collaboration between the two nations through law enforcement capacity building.

Minister Fonseka explained that, “we always place great importance on developing human resources of our law enforcement and consider the collaboration between our two nations of great significance in honouring our commitment in enhancing law enforcement capabilities.” The Minister also spoke on the possibility of exploring ways to increase engagement in maritime security in the region. This will be through capacity-building initiatives but also by sharing knowledge, skills and best practices in maritime security. This would further strengthen capabilities and address challenges in the maritime domain.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Commissioner of the Seychelles Police Mr. Francis Songoire, Director of the National Information Sharing & Coordination Centre (NISCC) Captain Gerald Wong-Pool, Executive Director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mrs. Mastura Shah-Faure, Ms. Heejeong Heo, First Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Soochan Jee, Defence Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Conrad Benoiton, Honorary Consul for the Republic of Korea in Seychelles and Mr. James Carpin, Third Secretary and Desk Officer for the Republic of Korea, Bilateral Affairs Division, Foreign Affairs Department.