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.