On the morning of Friday 19th July 2024, the Committee on Government Assurances (COGA) visited the Indian High Commission to discuss the potential for the establishment of an exchange programme aimed at enhancing knowledge through benchmarking exercises. Led by Chairperson Hon. Sylvanne Lemiel, the meeting was attended by Vice-Chairperson Hon. Norbert Loizeau, Hon. Rocky Uranie, Hon. Wallace Cosgrow, Hon. Philip Monthy, and Hon. Desheila Bastienne, with assistance provided by Committee Secretary Ms. Thelma Joseph, and Assistant Committee Secretaries Mrs. Ghislaine Thelermont and Ms. Linda Gerry.
The Indian High Commissioner H.E. Mr. Kartik Pande highlighted the longstanding friendship and cooperation between India and Seychelles. Discussions were centered on the development of a structured exchange programme that would enable members of the COGA to visit their counterparts in India, facilitating a mutual exchange of parliamentary practices, governance strategies, and legislative processes.
H.E. Pande remarked that the creation of this programme has the potential to "serve as a conduit for fostering a deeper understanding and collaboration between our two nations." Chairperson Hon. Lemiel expressed a similar enthusiasm for the initiative, noting the keenness of the Committee to implement learnings with the aim of improving COGA’s effectiveness in ensuring government accountability.
Key areas of focus during the exchange will include parliamentary oversight, committee operations, and public engagement strategies. The programme aims to facilitate in-depth discussions, workshops, and observational visits, enabling participants to gain practical knowledge and build professional networks.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to further discussions and planning to operationalize the exchange programme.
