Leader of the Opposition calls for more support from CPA secretariat

The Opposition Leader met with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Dr William F. Shija last weekend on his first visit to Seychelles since taking the post in September 2006.

The SNP Leader met with Dr Shija in his capacity as the co-vice-President of the local CPA branch; a position he shares with the Leader of Government business, Mrs Marie-Louise Potter.

Mr Wavel Ramkalawan expressed his wish that National Assembly benefit more from the CPA Secretariat to further develop its committee system.

“With the current IMF reforms, committees like the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) must be effective as a body motoring public finance” says Mr Ramkalawan.

He says the democratic and governance challenges the country still faces could be resolved if parliamentarians are equipped and committed to improve the quality of democracy.

Dr Shija’s visit to Seychelles was aimed at meeting with the local branch’s executive committee to discuss CPA development in the Africa region and ways in which the CPA can further assist the National Assembly with regard to capacity building of both its members and staff.

IMF held talks with Opposition Leader

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) team headed by the new mission chief
Jean Le Dem met with the Leader of the Opposition today.

The meeting at Arpent Vert of the fund's mission with the SNP Leader Mr Wavel Ramkalawan was “an informal exchange of views.”

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the IMF mission's discussions with the Seychellois authorities as part of the first review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

“We discussed our views on the economy, and also the IMF presented the global outlook,” says Mr Ramkalawan.

“In view of the upcoming elections, we raised the issues of transparency and accountability. All signs are there that Michel’s administration is backsliding on previous conditions with the IMF as the elections draw nearer.”

The meeting was also attended by the SNP Secretary-General, Mr Roger Mancienne.

The review mission of the IMF is here until May 17thy to look at Seychelles’ performance under the EFF which was agreed at the end of last year and approved by the board of the IMF.