Presenting the National Bureau of Statistics Bill 2010 to the assembly on Tuesday, Vice-President Danny Faure, who is also the Minister for Finance and Trade, said the bureau will be a body corporate administered by a board of directors.

Its members will include public officers, representatives from the private sector, civil society and research institutions.
The National Bureau of Statistics Bill 2010 repeals and replaces the National Statistics Act 2005.

It will be the principal agency responsible for collecting, analysing and publishing statistical information and will act as the custodian of such information.

Under this law, the confidentiality of details contained in returns, answers and documents given to the bureau is protected.

Mr Faure said as the government continues with its reforms, it is important to modernise the bureau and bring it up to international standard.

He said statistics play a vital role in evaluating government policies, be they concerned with the economy, health or business, and the country’s progress as a whole.

The bureau will have a chief executive, a deputy and a chairman, as well as a board of directors, which will be responsible for approving the budget.
 
It will have to prepare an annual report to be presented to the Minister for Finance and Trade, who will then report to the National Assembly.

Mr Faure said all these are necessary to strengthen the statistics system and ensure the bureau provides an efficient service.

He added that the bureau will employ well-trained professionals, who will work in collaboration with statistics bureaux in other countries. This will be done by sharing information, which will be carried out with transparency, confidentiality and professionalism.

Mr Faure said Seychelles has to abide by international regulations and standards, one of which is to ensure that by December 2011 it reaches the international standard in data dissemination.

During Tuesday’s sitting the assembly also approved a second bill -- the Constitutional Posts Bill 2010 – presented by Mr Faure. It seeks to ensure that all constitutional appointees such as ministers, judges, the election commissioner, the ombudsman and members of the assembly pay their monthly contribution of 18.75% income tax.

Mr Faure said this follows the introduction of the new income tax effective from July 1 and forms part of the ongoing overhaul of the country’s tax system. The new income tax replaces the social security contributions made every month by employers and employees.

Terence Mondon, Wilby Lucas, Michel Marie and Terrence François from the majority party, and Bernard Georges and Anthony Derjacques from the opposition party welcomed the National Bureau of Statistics Bill.

Mr Georges and Mr Derjacques, though, called for minor amendments to some clauses.
Only Jean-François Ferrari from the opposition party and leader of government business Marie-Louise Potter spoke on the Constitutional Posts Bill. The opposition party then abstained from voting.