This was said by Vice-President Danny Faure – who is also Minister for Finance – when he presented the Licences Bill 2010 to the National Assembly in Tuesday’s session.

He said the new Seychelles Licensing Authority will issue all licences on the basis of clearly defined and transparent criteria. And licence applications will have to be dealt with within 14 days of receipt.

Mr Faure explained that the authority will set standards to see that no business activities are a threat to public safety and hygiene, national security and the environment.

If a licence is revoked, the person concerned can submit an appeal to the Appeals Board.
Talking about the structure of this new authority, to be set up as a body corporate, Mr Faure said it will have a chief executive and also a deputy chief executive.

The Appeals Board will have a chairperson and representatives from the Attorney-General’s Office, the Fair Trading Commission and a non-governmental organisation that represents the interests of the private sector.

He added that the government’s role is only as a regulator and to ease the process of getting a licence.

“We will ensure that the new business architecture that we are creating will allow consumers to have a good deal,” he said, adding that it is necessary for all consumers to get good service and quality products from businesses.

The new provisions of the Licences Bill support the economic policy of our country, promote businesses and also encourage entrepreneurship, Mr Faure added.

He also said that from now on, all professional activities have to be registered with an agency that will oversee their business.

For example, all fishermen will register with the Seychelles Fishing Authority, while licences for telecoms services will be issued by the Information Communication Technology Department.

Complementary health services will be registered by the Complementary Health Board and licences for patents and trademarks will be issued by the registrar.

Commenting on the new law, the leader of government business, Marie-Louise Potter, said it forms part of the second phase of our economic reform.

“The law empowers Seychellois and encourages investment,” she said.

In August this year alone, the licensing authority has issued a total of 125 licences, which is a record.

The government has decided to revise the existing law because it was not satisfied with all aspects of the business environment.

Opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan said the government introduced the 1986 Licensing Bill, which created many barriers for Seychellois in the past. He said there was too much red tape and too many delays that discouraged people.
Mr Ramkalawan added that he wants to see a licensing authority which, for once, is independent in its decisions and with no politicians having any say when considering a licence application from an individual.

Other members who spoke on the law were Vicky Theresine, Marc Naiken, Marc Volcere and Charles Decommarmond from the Parti Lepep, and Collin Dyer, Bernard Georges, Jean-François Ferrari and Gervais Henrie from the opposition party.
 
All members voted in favour of the Licences Bill 2010, which seeks to replace the Licensing Bill 1986.