Minister launches Social Welfare Agency board |27 November 2008

The board is chaired by Dr Bernard Valentin and its members are the agency’s chief executive Linda William, Jocelyne Florentine from the Liaison Unit for Non-governmental Organisations of Seychelles, Veronique Bresson from the Department of Employment, Nichole Tirant-Gherardi from the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bertrand Belle from the Ministry of Finance.

Mr Faure was representing Minister for Health and Social Development Marie-Pierre Lloyd, who was out of the country.

He said subvention, which benefited the not-so-needy as well as the needy, was costing the government R275 million every year, but the National Assembly will instead be asked to approve a R100 million budget for the agency to help only the vulnerable.

The government also plans to give the agency R4.7 million for staff salaries.

Minister Faure gave the example of the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation, which he said will soon be expected to stand on its two feet without having to depend on financial help from the government, as it has for decades.

“Parents help their children through school all the way up to university, after which the children are in turn expected to help their parents,” the minister said, adding that it is now time for us to take care of the country.

Dr Valentin agreed with the minister that the board is made up of professionals and said it will be meeting only once a month since responsibility for the day-to-day running of the agency lies with the chief executive.

He described the board as well balanced, with members of both sexes from a wide variety of professions.