Nisa rewards long-serving employees |21 December 2016

• Doris Renaud clocks 44 years of service

The National Information Services Agency (Nisa) which produces the daily Seychelles NATION newspaper has rewarded its long-serving staff who have served between five and more than 40 years in the organisation.

Treated to a lunch at the Coco D’Or hotel yesterday, the long-serving employees received a certificate and token from the management. Among the Nisa employees who all received a Christmas gift yesterday, Doris Renaud has worked for Seychelles NATION for a total of 44 years.

Nisa employees were graced with the company of Vice-President Vincent Meriton who also has the portfolio of information. Chief executive (CEO) Merline Volcère welcomed Mr Meriton’s presence as testimony of his recognition of and support to the good work produced by staff of Seychelles NATION and Nisa Press, the printing press which is also ran by the agency.

Also present were the principal secretary (PS) for information Denis Rose, PS in the Vice-President’s Office Alain Volcère, chairperson of the Nisa board René Morel, vice-chairperson Deacon Louis Agathine, and deputy CEO and chief editor Gerard Govinden and other board members.

Dealing directly with sales and marketing, senior customer service officer Doris Renaud is the first person most clients see when they come to the Seychelles NATION sales office. This is because she is the one receiving adverts for publication.  She always does her job with a charming smile that she not only attracts many customers, but also manages to retain them. Whenever there is space remaining on the following day’s advert page, one can hear her on the phone convincing them to send one. And it always works as what has been her page for many years now is always filled!

Miss Renaud joined the newspaper back in 1972 when it was still called Seychelles Bulletin and wasbased at Union Vale. It was at the time jointly ran with Radio Seychelles, by the then Government Information Services. She has seen its evolution from Seychelles Bulletin to Nation and now Seychelles NATION. During the time she has worked under the direction of seven different directors or chief editors.

Manman, as she is affectionately known to her colleagues, explains her longevity with two words: Patience and perseverance. Her advice to her peers is in spite of difficulties, to persevere and go on.

“If there are problems, you have to overcome them and carry on. It is not easy to adapt to management change as each management has its own style and principles. My advice to others is in spite of difficulties, to persevere and go on with their work and life. Finally, it is those difficulties that make you stronger and go on with life,” she said.

She concluded that she will work for Nisa until she intends to retire, in some years time.

Other employees have spent more than 30 years for Seychelles NATION. They are Brenda Confait (37 years), Vernay Dubois (37), Patricia Payet (36), Marylene Julie (35), Louis Toussaint (34), Patrick Joubert (33) and Fabiola Antat (33).

Employees with more than 20 years in the service are: Marie-Anne Lepathy (28 years), Robert André (27), Marthe Joseph (26), Gerard Govinden (24), Joena Mémé (23), Rose-Marie Juliette (23), and Marie-Josée Edmond (20).

While Brenda Larue has been in the organisation for 15 years, Jude Sultan (9 years), Thelma Estico (6), Brigitte Gertrude (6) and Kurt Pool (5) have on their part been there for more than five years.

Daniel Max (8 years with Seychelles NATION) and Merline Volcère (6 years) were also rewarded for having been in the public service for respectively a total of 38 and 43 years.