National Assembly IAC reviews crucial international treaties with Foreign Affairs department and Anti-Corruption Commission |12 May 2021

(L to r) Hon. Woodcock (vice-chair) and Hon. William (chair) of the IAC

The International Affairs Committee (IAC) of the National Assembly, chaired by Hon. Waven William, met with the Foreign Affairs department and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACCS) on Tuesday May 4, 2021.

Hon. William was accompanied by other members of the committee, namely, Hon. Wavel Woodcock (vice-chairperson), Hon. Philip Monthy, Hon. Kelly Samynadin and Hon. Philip Arissol.

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss and officially review the SADC Protocol Against Corruption and the United Nations’ Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which have been submitted for ratification to the Assembly under Article 64 (4) of the Constitution.

The commissioner of the ACCS, May De Silva, was accompanied by Dennis Joubert, the prevention and education manager at the ACCS and the Seychelles representative for SADC on the Anti-Corruption Sub-Committee (SACC), while the department of Foreign Affairs was represented by Sandra Michel and Nathalie Young.

Ms De Silva and Mr Joubert both provided the committee with detailed explanations on the Protocol and also discussed several reservations on a few articles in relation to how it may impact the current existing local laws on anti-corruption that are currently in force.

In addition, the IAC and the ACCS discussed certain sections of the Protocol that touches on corruption within the private sector that is in fact currently not covered in the existing local legislation and that signing the protocol may require legislative amendments and review.

The representatives from the department of Foreign Affairs also contributed to the discussions and provided certain clarifications on certain articles that were being reviewed and discussed.

It was highlighted that the aims of the Protocol are to promote and strengthen the development of mechanisms needed to prevent, detect, punish and eradicate corruption in the public and private sectors within the SADC region.

As a result of the meeting and discussions that took place, the IAC requested that the department of Foreign Affairs seek further clarity from the SADC secretariat on the definition of ‘independent agents’ stipulated in the Protocol and reservations by member States on certain aspects of the instrument.

The committee will soon host another meeting to finalise the review of the instrument after seeking further clarifications.

The IAC members were able to ask pertinent questions relating to the two treaties in order to better understand the implications of being party to them and the overall impact in strengthening the anti-corruption framework in place.

The committee also heavily discussed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and its international implications. It was highlighted that the treaty prohibits State Parties from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, stockpiling, transferring or receiving control over nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

It also prohibits them from using, or threatening to use, such weapons.

As a result of the deliberations, the IAC observed that although two thirds of the member States had ratified the treaty, other member States which possess nuclear weapons and with veto power had not.

The IAC also observed that the process for ratification is in order despite certain unfair practices and actions of certain member States.

The committee will be presenting a report to the House when the treaty will be presented for ratification soon.

Press release from the National Assembly secretariat