The National Consultative Forum held its second meeting of 2015 this morning at State House under the chairmanship of President James Michel.

The meeting continued its focus on the effectiveness of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation in delivering on its mandate as the independent State broadcaster.  Senior staff of the SBC were in attendance for part of the meeting.

The President urged that the SBC become more innovative by providing the range and quality of modern broadcasting and information services that the Seychellois audience expected.  It should consider ways in which it could supplement its core functions by providing additional commercial products and expert services that could help generate revenue for the growth and development of the SBC.

The Deputy-CEO of the Seychelles National Youth Council Alvin Laurence shared with the Forum the findings of a media survey covering young persons in the 11-20 age range.

The survey suggested that young persons were increasingly accessing online information and social media services from mobile phones, laptops and computers.  Members advised that SBC's online presence should reflect these trends.

Members adopted, with minor amendments, the texts of a set of common prayers for school assemblies, proposed by SIFCO, the Seychelles Interfaith Committee.

The President again thanked Members of the Forum for their suggestions, comments and criticisms which were already making a significant impact on fostering national unity.

Many of the suggestions of Members had already been adopted by Government, and although this usually happened without great fanfare or credit to the Forum, its Members could be justly proud of the contribution they had made.

The idea for the 2015 National Theme, for example, had originated in the Forum itself.The next meeting of the Forum is expected to be held in May.