It is my honour to be here for this very important event, as we officially open the Youth Offenders’ Facility, SPS Amitie, here within this community on Praslin in just a few short minutes.Today’s significant move is a step in the right direction, as part of our immense obligation towards nation building and reinforcing the foundations of the nation, good citizenship, civic awareness and the responsibilities that are therein attached. And to get our youth back on track towards a good future.

Safer communities, respect, opportunity to contribute positively, and most importantly allow those good citizens the space and environment to simply live a decent, stress free life.
So, today, we bear witness to what is, but one needed investment for our people.
The presence this afternoon of the President and First lady, and a number of my colleague Ministers, and other key stakeholders, confirms the importance of this event and this facility. It is important to note, that this will be the very first facility to manage only juveniles, those who having broken the law and find themselves convicted by a court, to serve time.

Their time here however, will not be one of sitting and waiting and doing nothing. It will be a time spent being involved in positive activities, of learning, of reinforcing good behaviour, and preparing to rejoin families as better citizens, contributing to the Seychellois nation.
I recall that in 2022, a meeting on youth crime prevention was held with the Chief Justice and Ministers from Employment & Social Affairs, Education, Health, Families and other stakeholders. This initial meeting motivated the formation of a technical committee, to discuss options, and where today, this facility opens as but one approach.
We are equally committed to see another sister facility that works to rehabilitate and motivate youth to a positive path, that will compliment this facility. A topic very close to Minister Francourt’s heart.
A village of hope, and in a collaborative approach with Education, Youth, Family Affairs, Health, Ministries and Departments, other interested stakeholders, will be a formidable team to support a concept and effort for vulnerable children. Addressing their trauma, and reinforcing positive values. Having this dual track system and approach, will give opportunity for our younger citizens to get off a life of truancy, delinquency and back on track to a life of countless positive possibilities and outcomes with their families. We do want to see all our youth succeeding in life, and in doing so, place this Youth Offenders’ Facility out of business. Minister, I’m with you on this one.

Understanding the above, the facility we are at today, should certainly be the last recourse and last resort for serious offences committed by juveniles.
Our success here will depend on the good collaboration of the various groups. Praslin communities, the various districts and the administrations that engage and carry out services, our Departments, Agencies, and certainly Ministries, all have to remain aware, approachable and keep the bigger picture in mind. What are we trying to achieve here? Remain objective in your discussions and above all, review all your personal listening skills.

It leaves me now to congratulate the commissioner and his team for taking the steps to have this youth offender’s facility ready today to be commissioned.
Within a span of 24 months, and also considering the immense and complex environment and responsibilities; the staff of the Seychelles Prison Service have, as dynamics; the wide array of programs and activities is well noted. Keep it up and continue the drive and continued determination which has brought us to this starting point. As a cautionary advise, I know this project has been achieved by a handful of ‘Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul’. It had to be done with tight budget and scarce manpower. Already down by 40% at MP. Be careful.
And for the support and collaboration from Education, Youth & Employment, Social Services, Family Affairs, Health, the partners are extensive so my apologies if I left anyone out, thank you as well.

To the new management team and staff of this facility, led by Inspector Lewis and Sergeant Rose, your success will depend on your ability to capture the great importance of this institution and its immense role towards helping our country address our social ills. I wish you and your team all the best, and thank you for accepting to take on this very important role.

It is an honour to be opening this conference and I wish to thank you for joining with us in the first IORIS Indian Ocean gathering.  But before we explore the benefits of IORIS, I wish on behalf of President Wavel Ramkalawan and the Government of Seychelles thank the European Union for the sustained cooperation that Seychelles and the European Union have enjoyed for well over a decade in the maritime field.

The cooperation, especially with EUNAVFOR Atalanta has been quintessential to addressing piracy, and now, forms the bedrock to addressing other maritime crimes in the region.  Another more recent example is the joining of forces with the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), to address sustainable fisheries by training conducted for Somali fisheries officials.

Seychelles’ close relationships with CRIMARIO since its inception is another area of cooperation that strengthens core resolve, to meet the wide range of crime in our maritime zones.  And the fluidity of crime requires secure operational communications between partners.  The IORIS platform provides this added security requirement.  Being user-friendly, it facilitates collaboration between countries, cultures, agencies, allowing partners to conduct business in a harmonized manner.

IORIS is now present in over 21 countries, 3 international organisations amongst NGO’s and various industries.  This tool is growing into a community of like-minded users exploiting the system to intensify inter-operational tasks.

The platform was launched in Seychelles in 2018, and it has been supported by the Indian Ocean Commission Centres, namely the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre and the Regional Centre for Operational Coordination.  The platform has also supported countless regional operations and exercises, including the US led series of Cutlass Express exercises.  And it is only in re-enforcing mutual support amongst us that will bring success to the present maritime threats.  It has been done before in tackling piracy, it can now equally happen.

You will discover during this conference, the IORIS standardized approach to doing business at both inter-agency and regional level, addressing maritime security and safety and sustainable fisheries, irrespective of whether inside or outside exclusive economic zones, territorial seas, the littoral and ports.

So to conclude, allow me once again to thank all participants from near and afar, CRIMARIO for organizing this conference; namely Mr. Martin Cauchi-Inglott and his team.  As we look forward to examining how, together, we can exploit the system further and expand this growing network.

I therefore wish you all a very fruitful conference. Thank you.

THURSDAY THE 04^TH OF AUGUST ,SAVOY SEYCHELLES RESORT & SPA

Allow me to welcome you all to the launch of this World Bank Mission to the Seychelles.  This is a High Level Workshop geared towards the Operationalization of a National Integrated Emergency Management Plan.

The team at Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD); have tirelessly worked with their collaborating partner, the World Bank, through Mr. Paul Hayden and Mr. Darmen Ellayah, with the support of Dr. Michel Martin and Ms. Keren Charles, the task team leader, to develop a series of Workshops during their stay.  Disaster Risk Management has been a subject of contention in the past, not least in regards to its importance, but more so in where the responsibility lies in respect of the unit responding.

Since its conception in late 2019, and its approval in early 2020, the National Integrated Emergency Management Plan has been the conceptual driver behind the Covid-19 pandemic response, and the major land fill in September 2020.

The National Integrated Emergency Management Plan, sets out the way forward for all stakeholders to develop their sectorial plans according to their functions as lead and support agencies in five functional areas.  These are; Rescue and Security, Health, Humanitarian Services, Essential Infrastructure and Services and Emergency Management.

It is true that ownership for the development of Plans and SOP’s for Risk Reduction do rest with the respective portfolios, however, I hasten to add that we at DRMD, will be by your side at all times to help in its development.

These functions will have to be operationalized in order to meet the expectation of the government to lower disaster risks by implementing an effective collaborative approach to reduce effects of multi-hazard events.

It aims to strengthen emergency preparedness for effective response at all levels and thus contribute to the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 Priority 4: Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is not my intention to encroach in the key points of the next speaker, but I would be failing if I miss this opportunity to reiterate the urgency of everyone needing to take a strong stance in Risk Reduction at the respective stations.

The existential changes happening around the world, whether it be environmental or geographical imbalances, impacting security and safety urges us to review our national risks.

As we begin this important task in earnest, I thank you all for your presence and participation.  I thank President, VP, DM and all Ministers for having graced us with your presence and support.  It is a great honour and pleasure to officially launch the Operationalization of the National Integrated Emergency Management Plan.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here on this historical occasion at the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency Headquarters today.  Historical because in the 46 years or so of its evolution from a non-organised Fire Service, to the Fire Brigade operating under the Police Department in 1976, and to its creation in July 2010, the SFRSA has never been given such an honour.  Historical because today, for the first time, we have witnessed the promotion of an experienced and capable woman in the important and leading role of Chief Fire Officer.

You will agree that working in the fire service is one of the hardest jobs out there.  It involves long hours and hard physical labour, and these men and women often find themselves in dangerous, even life-threatening situations.  A few months back there was the Ammonia leak incident, just recently we witnessed the landfill fire, earlier this week there was a fire on one the public buses, on Wednesday, a fire that completely destroyed a home and every other day, motor-vehicle accidents.  Firefighters are on scene for it all.

They are rescuers, community leaders, social support and role models.  They are there to help in all kinds of emergency and non-emergency situations.  Desire to serve, Courage to Act! Is indeed apt for these bunch of merry men and women. They have one quality that stands them apart.  Simply ‘dependable’.

This is why I am privileged to stand before you today for this promotion ceremony of two individuals; Ms. Tally Domingue and Mr. Jones Madeleine who have both served 25 and 26 years respectively.  Ms. Domingue is a competent professional with extensive knowledge of the different aspects of fire safety such as fire administration, risk and disaster management, enforcement of established fire code regulations, policies and procedures regarding fire suppression, investigation and prevention as well as hazardous material response.  She has also been greatly involved in the formulation of policies, development of manuals and plans relating to the elimination of fire risks.  And having worked closely with the office of the former CFO has given her insight to the different functions and responsibilities required at managerial level.  It is the holder of these qualities who we are promoting today, who happens to be a woman.

It is said that women in leadership roles can help restore balance and wholeness to our communities.

Mr. Jones Madeleine shows a high level of discipline and commitment to his work.  He possesses substantial knowledge and skills in different aspects of fire safety such as fire suppression, prevention, inspection and investigation, road traffic accidents as well as hazardous material response.  He has also played a significant role in the formulation of internal policies, rules and regulations as well as the development of the SFRSA’s strategic plans.

These two individuals truly embody the fire service, and they have contributed a great deal to this Agency.  I know that as they work alongside each other as Chief Fire Officer and Deputy Chief Fire Officer in the coming years, they both continue to be excellent assets to our Ministry.

A leader’s success however, often depends on their team, and with Head of Operations, SDO Edson Nanon and Head of Prevention, Planning, Investigation and Training Sections, SDO Cathrina Laurence, this team is going forward.

The abilities, determination and success of these young men and women today, has no doubt been thanks to the teachers, mentors and former leaders who have stood by their side along their journey of personal growth and betterment.

We are honoured to have with us today, 3 such individuals.  Each of which have played a significant role in the development of the Agency, but also, in preparing and grooming our young leaders.  I thank them.

Pastor Eddy Payet who blessed this ceremony earlier is as you may know, one of the former CFO’s of the SFRSA.  He served for 34 years before his retirement in 2010.  Mr. Albert Rose, also former CFO who recently retired after 45 years and Mr. Regis Bethew who was Ag. CFO since August this year and leaves us after 43 years.

I wish to thank outgoing Ag. CFO Bethew particularly for his unequivocal support and professionalism in seeing this transition towards a renewed fire service.

To the newly promoted officers, I offer you my sincere congratulations on your new ranks and posts and wish you continued success in serving Seychelles.

We have a whole lot ahead of us; new training facility, equipment deficiencies, continued recruitment, lifeguard development, the list is long.  But yes, we are dependable.  Therefore, we will get there.  With that, good luck and thank you.