Dr Patrick Herminie is the new National Assembly Speaker-Wilby Lucas new Deputy Speaker, former Speaker McGregor retires |30 May 2007

Honourable Wilby Lucas, the elected member for the Baie Lazare district, has been elected Deputy Speaker.

The elections took place during the opening yesterday morning of the first session of the 4th National Assembly of the 3rd Republic.

Words of congratulations were plentiful yesterday from both the ruling SPPF party’s and the Opposition’s sides, all highlighting the remarkable work carried out by Mr McGregor and praising him for his devotion.

It is to be noted that five of his twenty years in the post of Speaker were served under the one party state and the remaining years in a multi-party environment.

Both parties also thanked Mr McGregor for his long years of service as the first National Assembly Speaker and wished him good luck in his new endeavors.

When called upon to address the Assembly in a farewell speech, an emotional Mr McGregor said he’d rather say a few words instead because for him it was “impossible to encapsulate 20 years of service in one speech”.

Looking back on the time spent in the post, Mr McGregor said that he has gained a lot of experience and learned a lot but at the same time he admits that it has not been an easy task and he is conscious that he has not been able to satisfy everybody at all times.

“I have been criticized but for me this was no problem as I considered it a normal part of  my job,” he said.

Mr McGregor thanked the government and people of Seychelles and every body else whom he had worked with and who have helped him in his difficult task and expressed his deep gratitude to all Seychellois, especially the ordinary citizens whom he said acknowledged him in their greetings and their smiles where ever and when ever he met them.

Mr McGregor took the opportunity to highlight some of the successes which have marked his time in office. Among these he cited the Assembly’s approval of the new flag for Seychelles in the 3rd Republic, the creation of the Youth Assembly, approval of bills for the creation of three new districts: Roche Caiman , Aux Cap, and Les Mamelles, development of  international parliamentary relations with other countries -- China, South Africa, India, and Mauritius in particular.

During those times, he said, he wrote a book about the history of parliament in Seychelles.

Mr McGregor said he has faced history and he is now history, “but life continues”.

For his part the newly elected Speaker, Dr Herminie, said Mr McGregor has already gone down in history as the first and longest serving Speaker and that he will always turn to him for advice.

Dr Herminie has meanwhile promised to ensure that the Assembly, as a very important institution of the country, works effectively and should be respected by all members in order to earn the respect of the public.

Referring to its motto “Fair but Firm”, Dr Herminie noted that in the Assembly there is no place for complacency and laissez-faire and that as the new Speaker, he will make sure that Standing Orders are respected at all times.

In that line, Dr Herminie ensured that all members of the Assembly were yesterday issued with a personal copy of the Constitution of Seychelles and a copy of the Standing Orders.
The next sitting of the Assembly will be on Tuesday June 12, as June 5 is a public holiday being Liberation Day.