President Dr Patrick Herminie chaired a scheduled meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 1st April, during which a number of legal and policy memoranda were approved.
Cabinet approved the strategic decentralisation of dangerous trees management with the aim of improving efficiency and responsiveness to public safety concerns at the community level. With this approval the operational responsibility for management of dangerous trees will be transferred from the Forestry Section to the Ministry of Local Government through District Administrators. The Forestry Section will retain an advisory, technical, and regulatory role, including providing guidance, training, and oversight to ensure the protection of legally protected and endemic tree species, thereby allowing the Section to refocus on its core mandate of forest management and biodiversity conservation.
Cabinet approved the conduct of a National Drug Use Prevalence Survey to generate robust, reliable, and up-to-date evidence on the extent, patterns, and trends of drug use in Seychelles. The results of the survey will contribute to the strengthening of policy formulation, enhanced targeted prevention and treatment interventions, and improved overall effectiveness of national responses to substance abuse. The results will also support informed decision-making across relevant sectors.
Cabinet approved the Seychelles National Addressing System Bill, 2026. The Bill is recognised as a critical legislative framework to support the nationwide implementation of a standardised, secure, and digitally enabled national addressing system. The approval includes the establishment of a National Addressing Department and a National Addressing Database Unit to oversee governance, data management, and enforcement, as well as the legal adoption of international addressing standards, postcode structures, and regulatory mechanisms for road classification and digital numbering.
Cabinet approved the Seychelles Culture, Arts and National Heritage Bill, 2026 as part of Government’s broader reform to modernise the governance of culture, arts and heritage. The Bill repeals the SNICHA Act, 2021, and establishes a new legislative framework placing all cultural institutions directly under the Ministry responsible for Culture to strengthen accountability, improve coordination, and align implementation with national priorities. The new Bill provides for the establishment and reorganisation of key institutions, including the Seychelles Creole Institute, Seychelles Arts and Crafts Agency, Seychelles Creative Agency, Seychelles Museum, Archives and Library Authority (SMALA), and the Seychelles Heritage Agency. The Bill further enhances the protection and management of national heritage, supports the development of creative industries, and ensures continuity of services through clear transitional arrangements, with implementation to be undertaken within existing resources.
Cabinet approved in principle the pursuit of a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) for the restoration, preservation, and sustainable use of Maison St Joseph. Cabinet endorsed the Investor–Tenant Partnership model as the preferred approach to balance heritage conservation with financial sustainability. Cabinet further mandated the Ministry responsible for Culture, in collaboration with relevant agencies, to enter structured negotiations with private-sector partners to finalise a restoration and management framework that ensures maintenance, public access, and cultural programming, while safeguarding the site’s heritage value. Cabinet also approved, subject to legal advice, the dissolution of the Domaine St Joseph Association to streamline governance and accountability.
Cabinet further directed the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to take coordinated and proactive steps to elevate the status and visibility of the Seychellois Creole language and culture across schools and within the wider community. This includes strengthening the integration of Creole language, history and cultural expression in the education system, promoting its use in public life, and fostering greater appreciation of national identity among younger generations. These efforts are intended to reinforce Seychelles’ cultural heritage and support the country in reclaiming and asserting its position as the Creole capital.
Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Fungus Review Committee as the central body responsible for all matters relating to fungus within the Government, including assessment, prevention, management, and compensation. The Committee will review and determine outstanding fungus-related cases, verify supporting documentation, and recommend appropriate compensation based on evidence, while also serving as the coordinating mechanism for broader fungus-related cases across Government. In addition, the Committee will oversee the development and implementation of clear protocols for managing occupational exposure, strengthening prevention measures, and improving building maintenance and records management practices to mitigate future risks.
Cabinet approved the Commission for the Enforcement, Implementation and Monitoring of the Recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission Bill, 2026. This Bill is a critical mechanism to ensure the effective implementation, enforcement, and monitoring of the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC). The Bill provides for the establishment of an independent Commission mandated to oversee reparations, promote national reconciliation and unity, preserve the historical record, and ensure accountability for past human rights violations, thereby advancing justice, strengthening social cohesion, and reinforcing Seychelles’ commitment to human rights and the rule of law.