The International Affairs Committee (IAC), chaired by Hon. Waven William met with a high-level delegation from Foreign Affairs led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Tourism, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde on Thursday 21st October 2021.
The purpose of the meeting was for the Committee to be appraised on the revised Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) Accord, the results of the recent EU Political Dialogue, the National Report submitted to the Human Rights Council this year, SADC parliamentary Forum, the 2022 budget proposal, regional cooperation and the diaspora unit. Minister Radegonde was accompanied by the Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Vivienne Fock Tave, Ms. Amanda Padayachy, Mr. Jacques Belle, Mr. Steve Lalande, Ms. Sandra Michel, Mrs. Bessy Banane and Ms. Beryl Pillay.
The Members of the Committee were able to ask pertinent questions on the IOC and expressed the need for a more dynamic inclusion and consultation with Parliamentarians, as well as the need for Seychelles upon the ratification of the Indian Ocean Commission Accord to take the lead to revive the Indian Ocean Parliamentary Association (APCOI) with the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Request was made to the minister that IOC consider to include parliamentary cooperation in the list of cooperations to enhance political dialogue. The IAC also discussed several matters on the relations with the EU especially regarding the joining of forces to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing due to a strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean.
Both PS Fock Tave and Minister Radegonde discussed the objectives of the Diaspora Unit and provided an overview of the 2022 budget of DFA. The IAC discussed the mandate of the Diaspora Unit and asked questions relating to the policy that will soon be drafted to govern its remit.
The Chairperson of the IAC, Hon. Waven William, was accompanied by the Vice-Chairperson, Hon Wavel Woodcock, Hon. Philip Monthy, Hon. Egbert Aglae, Hon. Kelly Samynadin, Hon. Wallace Cosgrow, Hon. Philip Arissol, the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Miss Alexandria Faure and Assistant Secretary to the Committee, Mrs. Nada Delafontaine. The IAC and the Department of Foreign Affairs agreed to continue having regular consultative meetings to discuss foreign policy matters and developments and any other matters related to the work of Foreign Affairs. Hon William apprised the ministerial delegation of the inclusion of the subject of tourism to the terms of reference of the committee to assist the ministry towards achieving the long-term target of a sustainable tourism sector.
