President James Michel met with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Mr. David Pierre, today at State House.

The President and Mr. Pierre exchanged views of national as well as international importance.

Mr Pierre briefed the president on his recent participation at an international conference in Zambia on governance and accountability and finance.

They also discussed the work of the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (Seychelles). Mr. Pierre said that he has recommended that the Government provides this agency with the necessary resources so that they could deliver their duties to the highest level, so that the country can deal with the issue of drugs more efficiently.

They discussed lengthily the prospect for oil exploration in Seychelles.

In relation to the process of constitutional review, Mr Pierre spoke to the President about the necessity to ensure that there is provision in the Constitution for secondary laws regarding the National Assembly of Seychelles.

The Leader of Opposition spoke about the National Assembly’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) and he suggested that the Government gives the Auditor General all the resources that he requires in order to perform the auditing duties to the highest level. He stated that Government needs ministries and other public sector agencies to be totally accountable in the manner in which they spend public money and that in order for the country to achieve that, the Auditor General’s office needs extra reinforcement and equipment.