President Wavel Ramkalawan held his last dwell press convention for 2022 on the State Home on Tuesday night.
Journalists from media homes within the western Indian Ocean island state mentioned quite a lot of points together with the federal government’s plans to introduce a brand new monitoring system to keep away from hikers getting misplaced.
Guests frequently hold getting misplaced on the island of La Digue, which is costing the federal government dearly, “it’s costing the police division, hearth brigade and the army’s budgets” in addition to organising rescue groups to seek out them, mentioned the President.
Authorities shall be working with the Division of Info Communication and Know-how to introduce a brand new system by means of which individuals occurring the paths shall be given a bracelet with satellite tv for pc hyperlinks.
“Hopefully when the guests are occurring the paths, they are going to conform to take one of many bracelets with them,” defined Ramkalawan.
Ramkalawan additionally revealed plans of “buying thermal cameras used on drones” utilizing the hikers physique warmth “to higher give attention to the place to search for them at evening”.
Press freedom and freedom of expression
When requested of the latest points regarding therapy of the press within the nation, Ramkalawan defined that there is no such thing as a battle between the federal government and the media.
“We’ve an excellent relationship with the media,” he mentioned, detailing that he had a gathering with members of the Affiliation of Media Practitioners of Seychelles (AMPS), proper earlier than its peaceable protest held late final month.
“We’ve an excellent relationship,’ he careworn.
Nonetheless, he went on to say that within the spirit of freedom of expression, everybody should recognise that they are going to be criticised.
“It has come to a degree on this nation that we have to know what freedom of expression actually means, and the way we must always specific ourselves,” he mentioned.
Seychelles Unbiased uninvited to press convention
Nonetheless with regards to freedom of expression, Ramkalawan additionally gave a proof as to why The Seychelles Unbiased newspaper editor Ralph Volcere and journalist Joanna Nicette weren’t invited to the press convention.
“In our newest assembly with AMPS we talked about defamatory feedback on social media – which is a priority for each events,” he mentioned.
Ramkalawan mentioned that it’s because the publication is taken into account “like one other type of Fb” the place there are a lot of defamatory remarks revealed.
“I took the choice that I might not entertain one other format like Fb,” he mentioned.
He mentioned that these have been steps to transferring in the direction of “a extra critical media”.
The Seychelles Unbiased has been current in any respect presidential press conferences for the reason that new administration took workplace in October 2020.
SNA spoke to Ralph Volcere on Wednesday, who mentioned the paper “completely rejects the allegations of calumny and defamation on its half and challenges the President and any others who’ve articles which might be defamatory to return ahead.”
Volcere mentioned that to date there have been no complaints on the Seychelles Media Fee, the place such issues are mentioned.
“The President took an arbitrary determination in not inviting us to the press convention which we see as a violation of our proper to expression, to have an opinion and goes additional to violate our proper to earn a residing.”
Volcere and Nicette will problem this determination, the editor mentioned.
Mayoral elections postponed to 2025
Ramkalawan mentioned that each caucuses within the Nationwide Meeting have made proposals and are discussing “whether or not we’d like an election at this second that we’re in as is proposed on the Invoice or we are able to use the identical format till the subsequent elections in 2025. Then we are going to maintain elections for the President, the Nationwide Meeting in addition to for the Mayor of Victoria.”
Moratorium on foreigners shopping for land won’t be lifted
International nationals in Seychelles are at present not permitted by legislation to purchase plots of land in residential areas on account of a moratorium.
A journalist famous that the director-general for the Seychelles Intelligence Service, Benediste Hoareau, not too long ago raised a warning that the foreigners owned massive plots of land within the nation. Ramkalawan reaffirmed that his authorities wouldn’t elevate the present moratorium “in order that Seychellois would be capable to buy land and that it will additionally drive down the prices” of proudly owning property.
Revision of the Employment Act
The federal government plans to cross the brand new Employment Act as of subsequent 12 months.
“There shall be in depth consultations as we work on it, as that is most likely one of the crucial necessary legal guidelines we are going to cross,” mentioned Ramkalawan.
He went on to clarify that it’ll have an effect on everybody and hoped that “everybody offers their enter.”