The Committee on Government Assurances, headed by its Chairperson, Hon. Sylvanne Lemiel carried out a site visit to Praslin and La Digue on Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th November, 2021. The two-day working sessions were part of the Committee’s mandate of investigating the progress of projects pledged by Ministers on the floor of the house. These visits provided the Members of the Committee with the opportunity to have on-site knowledge of all the different projects and address pertinent questions to the concerned officials.
On Friday 5th November 2021, the Committee Members met with the CEO , Mr Roy Collie, Deputy CEO of the Industrial Estates Authority Mr Barry Assary and Mr Gitesh Shah from the Ministry Land Use and Habitat in a meeting at the District administrative office of Baie Ste Anne Praslin. Mr. Collie and the officials of whom accompanied him made a well detailed presentation giving an insight on the ongoing project of the Eve Island Bulk Infrastructure project. The delegation including Hon. Wavel Woodcock and Hon. Doyace Porice then proceeded to Eve Island for further onsite observation. They visited access roads and the drain built to mitigate flooding opposite the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency building. The project has been delayed for various reasons but the Committee was satisfied with the amount of work that is already underway.
Following these on site observations, the Committee visited 2 other projects, the Road enlargement project at Anse La Blague, Baie Ste Anne and the La Pleine Hollandaise Road project at Grand Anse Praslin. Mr. Terry Volcere, an official from Seychelles Land Transport Agency was in attendance to provide information on the status and appraised the Members on the challenges of those projects.
The Committee also visited several projects on La Digue on Saturday 6th November 2021. Road Access Housing Project (24 Units), Boule de Neige Road, Vanilla Road, La Passe Housing Estate Drainage/Road. Mr. Gitesh Shah, the Director of Contract Management and Mr. Terry Volcere Manager for Praslin/La Digue island, from the Seychelles Land Transport Agency assured the Members that the issues highlighted will be taken up. In attendance to all the site visits on La Digue was the District Administrator Mrs. Barbara Barallon.
All Members of the Committee expressed their satisfaction with the work being carried out at all the sites that they visited on both islands and have a better understanding of the challenges and difficulties associated with the implementation of yet to be completed projects.
The Committee on Government Assurances is a Committee of the National Assembly mandated to scrutinize the assurances, promises and undertakings given by Ministers from time to time on the floor of the Assembly. These assurances are pronounced during Question Time, Statements and also presentation of Bills.
