President James Michel has announced sweeping changes in his government – with the formation of new ministries and the restructuring of several others – to take Seychelles on to the next stage of its development.

 

The President’s Cabinet reshuffle, detailed in his address to the nation on television on Tuesday night, follows the retirement of Vice-President Joseph Belmont at the end of this month and the resignation of Minister for Health and Social Development Marie-Pierre Lloyd.

Mr Michel named Danny Faure as the new Vice-President, with effect from July 1, after Mr Belmont expressed his wish to retire from office with more than 40 years of distinguished service to his country.

Mr Faure will keep the portfolio for Finance and Trade, and will also be responsible for Public Administration and Information Communication Technology.

The new Designated Minister will be Vincent Meriton, who will keep his responsibility for Community Development, Youth and Sport. His appointment also takes effect on July 1.

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the President has submitted his nominations for the new Vice-President and new Cabinet members to the National Assembly for approval.

Mr Michel thanked his ministerial team for taking Seychelles through a landmark phase of its history in a spirit of unity and purpose. He said the new Cabinet is constituted with the aim of building on this sense of dynamism to take the country to the next stage of its progress. 

“The new team I am presenting to you today represents the continuation and reinforcement of the work we are doing to transform our country,” he said.

In the new Cabinet structure, President Michel keeps the portfolios of Defence, Legal Affairs and Information, and also takes on the responsibility for Tourism as the Seychelles Tourism Board will be streamlined to reflect its importance for the country’s economy.

A new Ministry of Home Affairs, under Joel Morgan, will take responsibility for reinforcing national security and the country’s capacity to tackle piracy. Mr Morgan will also be responsible for the Police, Internal Affairs and the Prison, and he will keep his portfolios for Environment and Transport.

The Ministry of National Development is to be restructured, under Jacquelin Dugasse, as the Ministry of Land Use and Housing to concentrate on the key areas of house-building and land development.

Bernard Shamlaye, the former Education Minister, takes responsibility for the Ministry of Social Development and Culture.

Macsuzy Mondon is the new Minister for Education and will also keep the portfolios of Employment and Human Resources.

The President has appointed Jean-Paul Adam, who was Secretary of State in the Office of the President, as the new Minister for Foreign Affairs. The former principal secretary for Foreign Affairs, Barry Faure, has been named Secretary of State.
 
The President is also creating a new Ministry of Investment, Natural Resources and Industry to be headed by Peter Sinon, who returns to Seychelles after his exemplary work as an executive director with the African Development Bank.

The Ministry of Health will continue with its task of bringing necessary reform to the sector. With the complexity of this field in mind, the President is appointing a health professional, Dr Erna Athanasius, as new Minister for Health.

The previous minister, Marie-Pierre Lloyd, is standing down after expressing a wish to seek other opportunities to promote the country’s development. In recognition of her pioneering role in the social sector, she is proposed for the post of roving ambassador for women and children.

The new ministerial posts will take effect as soon as they have been approved by the National Assembly. The subsequent reorganisation of departments and appointments of new chief executives will then be announced.

The President expressed his confidence that his new team will continue to live the values that will strengthen our country.
 
“This is a team that will continue to promote the values needed to take our country forward. We must continue to work hard – to be more productive,” he said.

“We must always be at the service of our people. We must always be responsible, resilient, and realistic. 

“We must always be ready to fix things where they are wrong, and continue to embellish and improve on those that are right. We must always come together as a people and remain united.”