The Media, Youth and Culture Committee of the National Assembly went on its first official visit to the islands of Praslin and La Digue from Friday the 15th of October to Saturday the 16th of October 2021. The Committee was led by the Chairperson, Hon. Wavel Woodcock, and he was accompanied by other Members of the Committee including Hon. Philip Arissol, Hon. Naddy Zialor, Hon. Kelly Samynadin and Hon. Noline Sophola.
The Committee visited several locations on Praslin such as the Dove Centre, the Water Sport Centre, the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Office, the Seychelles National Youth Centre and the Eve Island Swimming Pool. The Members also had meetings with groups and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) such as the Unique Foundation, FRESH FOCUS, TRASS (Terristrial Restoration Action Society Seychelles) and the PARFE Association. As for La Digue, the Members were able to visit the Youth Office and host meetings with the Board Members of L’Union Estate as well as Artits of L’Union Estate. To wrap up its visits, the Committee visited the Sport Complex at L’Union Estate.
The main aim of these visits was to get a better understanding of what progresses, limitations and opportunities that the departments related to media, youth and culture are facing on these two islands. As the Committee that has the jurisdiction to ensure monitoring and analysis of policy, administration and the budget of the Media, Youth and Culture Departments of the Government, as well as to scrutinise matters within the Ministerial Portfolio of Media, Youth and Culture, the Members found it necessary to conduct these visits to be in a better position to carry out their mandates more effectively.
During the visits, several Departments put forward some noteworthy points. The main concerns expressed by the several Departments were based around the financial constraints they face which hinders the amount of activities they wish to do. Furthermore, many places were struggling with deterioration of their infrastructure which causes concern for the safety of staff as well as those that use their facilities. Moreover, many raised the point of having limited staff, and that this makes it harder to manage certain given tasks which they wish to complete in a timely manner. These are issues that they noted have been lingering and persistent for many years.
Some Departments expressed that though they are facing some of the above-mentioned issues, they have started to mobilise and have formulated concepts and plans to try and find the best way forward. They have been having meetings, consulting and cooperating with partners to see what can be done to improve on their existing shortcomings.
The Chair of the Committee, Hon. Woodcock thanked all who were present for the visits and meetings and ensured them all that their points would be noted and evaluated further. The other Members of the MYCC also took the opportunity to ask some pertinent questions related to the media, youth and culture departments to gain a better understanding of what actions are needed to be taken in the future.
Whilst on its visits, the Committee was also accompanied by Members on the two islands such as Proportionately Elected Member on Praslin, Hon. Doyace Porice and Hon. Rocky Uranie, the Directly Elected Member for the Inner Islands.
