On the morning of Thursday 22nd June 2023, the Environmental Policy Implementation Committee (EPIC) of the National Assembly Secretariat hosted a tour of the Assembly precinct in line with the “Separate and Switch Off Campaign” being undertaken by various Ministries and related bodies. This event, held during Environment Month, was an opportunity for the Assembly to open its doors and educate those looking to make more sustainable and eco-friendly changes in their work environments.
Participants included Public Relations/Communications Officers, Administration, and other related staff from oragnisations such as the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Ministry of Transport, Public Utilities Corporation (PUC), Seychelles Fishing Authority, Judiciary, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Land and Housing, Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS), Ministry of Youth and Family, Housing Finance Company, the Attorney General’s Office, the Seychelles Police Department, Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, Property Management Company, and Foreign Affairs Department. Jointly coordinating this educational visit was the Senior Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Mrs. Linne Dubignon, and the Public Relations and Protocol Manager of the National Assembly Ms. Angelique Hill.
The tour began outside the Assembly building, where EPIC Members Mr. Jim David and Mr. Daniel Rene demonstrated the conservation efforts undertaken by the committee, including the planting of endemic species such as the two coco-de-mers planted in 2021. Other efforts such as the solar panels on the roof and rainwater conservation operations were discussed. The tour continued behind the National Assembly by Ms. Emma Didon and Mrs. Gillian Samson, where the mangrove area was displayed. The mangrove area was adopted by the Assembly in 2022 to commemorate World Wetlands Day and is naturally home to the ‘Mangliye Rouz’, while the ‘Mangliye Blan’ species was planted by EPIC in a special ceremony in order to promote the diversification of wildlife and mangrove species. The tour then moved inside the Parliament building, and into the Chamber, where visitors were given a talk by Ms. Celine Bonne and Mr. Georges Ravignia on the importance of eco-friendly purchasing and housekeeping policies. This included reducing plastic waste, purchasing energy-efficient electronics, and changes in waste-management systems.
The tour concluded with a talk given by the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Ms. Alexandria Faure, in her capacity as the Chair of the Environmental Policy Implementation Committee. The Deputy Clerk discussed and answered questions on the creation of EPIC, the Sustainability Audit that intensified the eco-friendly initiatives, the action plans in place today, and the future of the Committee.
