President Wavel Ramkalawan, chaired a scheduled meeting of the Cabinet yesterday, Wednesday 12th July in which a number of policy memoranda were approved.

Cabinet approved the application of the Harbour (Port and Harbour Dues) Regulations which is applied to Vessels berthing alongside the quay for the collection or landing of good and passengers.

Cabinet approved for Seychelles to accede and domesticate three conventions related to maritime management. The Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007, provides for appropriate measures and legal basis for the safe removal of shipwrecks, by states or other parties within a State’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, 1967 (FAL Convention) caters for a harmonized and uniform set of standard, formalities, documents and procedures to be used for international shipping operations.

The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 prescribes the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to eliminate the use of harmful Anti-fouling paint on ships containing organotin tributyltin (TBT) which causes substantial harm to the marine environment.

Cabinet approved for Seychelles to sign and deposit the Instrument of Membership to the African Association of Maritime Administration (AAMA) which is the coordinating body for Maritime Administrations in Africa. Following the signature Seychelles will become a full member of the association and will benefit through continuous training, workshops and technical assistance being offered by the International Maritime Organisation through the Association.

Cabinet approved for the ratification of the Air Service Agreement that has already been initialled by Seychelles and four countries: Brazil, Turkey, Maldives and Rwanda. Ratifying these agreements will provide significant benefits to Seychelles, including potential new destinations for the national airline and codeshare opportunities with other airlines.

Cabinet approved amendments to the Control of Supplies and Services (Maximum Retail Price on Articles Purchased from Seychelles Trading Company Limited) Order, 2022 to increase the maximum fine for non-compliance to R25,000. Cabinet pointed out that retailers should participate in lowering the cost of living by following maximum retail price order.

Cabinet approved amendments to the Postal Sector Act, 2010 (Act 27 of 2010). The Seychelles Postal Act 2010 will be reviewed in two phases starting with Phase 1 which involves reviewing and strengthening of the governance and administrative framework of the Postal Regulator.

Cabinet approved renovation and possible extension of the Independence House building.

Cabinet agreed that the Immigration Border Control System will be referred to as Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS) and not Travizory. All airline operators will be advised that all airlines will allow any person holding a valid Seychelles passport to board from any port of embarkation to the Seychelles and that the Seychelles Electronic Border System entry filling requirement will be optional for Seychellois. For all Seychellois arriving without a SEBS entry, they will be required to make the required declaration to Immigration electronically on arrival in Seychelles. Cabinet is, however, encouraging all Seychelles passport holders to fill in their forms prior to arriving in Seychelles in order to save time through immigration formalities.

Following various incidents involving Nigerian Citizens which included the arrest of 13 Nigerian citizens within the last two weeks with drugs; an incident where 62 Nigerian citizens were allegedly involved in fraudulent activities at various tourism establishments, Cabinet has requested that the Immigration Department exercise greater scrutiny on the entry of Nigerian into Seychelles. Government is in the process of initiating discussions with the Nigerian authorities for the deportation of Nigerian nationals involved in drug trafficking activities with the view of handing them over to the Nigerian law enforcement authorities.