Assembly approves new ministerial appointees |31 January 2015

The four new ministers appointed by President James Michel in a cabinet restructuring on Monday were approved by the National Assembly in a special session yesterday morning.

The four ministerial appointees are : Wallace Jude Keith Cosgrow for Fisheries and Agriculture; Etienne Didier Cesar Dogley for Environment, Energy and Climate Change; Michael Michel Jean Benstrong for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation; and Charles Bastienne for Home Affairs.

The Assembly’s approval follows four motions tabled by the leader of government business Marie-Antoinette Rose and they are in line with Article 69(2) of the Constitution.

Several Assembly members intervened in the general debate which followed the presentation of the different motions for each of the new ministerial appointees. At the end of the debate the majority party members approved the ministerial appointees while the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly David Pierre abstained.

Roma Edmond, elected member for Plaisance and a former classmate of Mr Cosgrow  who has also worked with him at community level and on different committees, described him as a devoted, committed person full of wisdom and connects well with people  through his responsibility and experience as the chief executive of the Welfare Agency.

“These are qualities that President Michel requires of our ministers,” she pointed out, noting that Mr Cosgrow is not new in the agricultural sector. He had worked for five years in the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) as an economist  between 2005  and 2010 and was involved in assessing small projects for farmers, more specifically their economic viability. He also has experience working with the FAO.

Ms Edmond noted that being a humble person from an ordinary family with all his academic background and experience, Mr Cosgrow has all he needs to succeed in this new position.

When she described Mr Dogley, a resident of Beau Vallon, the elected member for the district Mirena Souris said he is a dynamic and capable person with a passion for the environment, a field he has been passionate about since a very young age as all his academic studies show.

“The different posts he has occupied in the environment field prove that he has all the necessary knowledge and competence to help him deliver on his responsibilities,” Ms Souris pointed out, adding that it is with humility that he has also represented Seychelles in international forums on the environment.
Over the years Mr Dogley has held the position of Focal Point for the United Nations Convention on
Desertification, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and currently he is the Focal Point for Global Environment Facility. He also led Seychelles delegation in the RIO+20 and the Samoa Sids
summit negotiations.

For his part the elected member for Les Mammelles Emmanuel Fideria described the appointment of the four young ministers as a special occasion and also an opportunity which calls for some reflection.

He said if our young people are still in doubt with regard to opportunity for advancement, the ministerial appointments and announcement that several young people will soon be occupying key positions in the government should dispel these doubts.

But Mr Fideria has this message for everyone who has received these opportunities to reach the top:   “You should never forget those who have struggled to bring Seychelles where it is today because today more than ever you should not forget the people whom you owe prompt, effective and quality service.”

He noted that in order for Seychelles to remain an example for the world, to maintain its numerous gains, for its people to continue to benefit from its development and feel their lives are improving, it is important for people in key positions who share the same vision as President Michel are convinced that success is only possible if we place our people at the centre of all development and be at the service of the people at all times.

Elected member for Glacis, David Payet, described the new ministerial appointments and restructuring of the cabinet as a way to remain connected with the people and deliver on its expectations.

A resident of Glacis, Mr Payet described Mr Benstrong  as a man of wisdom, experience, with a broad academic background who he said will bring to the government good qualities and strong values which have been the source of  his success.
He noted that as a banker Mr Benstrong has also  been trained in risk management.

“He is familiar with different business ventures while at the same time being conscious of their numerous risks - a valuable quality which will add value to his work  and the work of the government,” Mr Payet stressed.

Elected member for Anse Etoile, Melval Dugasse, said the new appointments is proof that President Michel believes in their competence and capabilities.  Mr Dugasse described Mr Bastienne, a resident of Anse Etoile, as a man of discipline, good values, innovative and intelligent, a people person and solution-oriented qualitities essential for the new position as minister.  

“He is a good role model who should be a source of inspiration for our young people,” Mr Dugasse noted.

For his part the elected member for Cascade Charles de Commarmond noted that the strong academic background and experience the four appointees have will help them to overcome different challenges along their way, notably economic challenges. He called on the new appointees not to lose focus and not to forget where they come from.

“The country needs capable people and I hope the four men will remain focus and connected to the people,” he said. But he deplored the fact that these appointments reduce the percentage of women representation in government from 30% to 25%.

The leader of the opposition in the Assembly for his part congratulated the four ministerial appointees and called on them to work for the people and the country by delivering their responsibility in a just and fair manner and respecting the principles of the Constitution for the benefit of all Seychellois.

Ms Rose in her right of reply congratulated all the appointees whom he said all come from humble beginnings.

She described the appointments as a sign of collective and national progress and which reflects the achievements of a generation which is making great progress.

She noted that they are all equipped enough to deliver on their new responsibilities and not to be afraid of criticisms.
All the members also expressed gratitude for the work accomplished by the two outgoing ministers -- Pierre Laporte and Peter Sinon -- and wished them success in their future undertakings.