President Faure visits Central Police Station and FRSA ‘Police officers, firemen need all of our support’ |18 November 2017

President Danny Faure yesterday morning visited the Central Police Station in Victoria and the Fire and Rescue Services Agency (FRSA) on Latanier Road as part on his ongoing visits to work places and institutions.

These familiarisation visits, which will also include the private sector, allow the president to see for himself the state of these places, what happens there and a chance to interact with staff.

“I have decided to visit the Central Police Station and the fire service because I think it is important that we give the two organisations, very important for the country, all the necessary support,” said President Faure.

The president was met on arrival at the Central Police Station by the Minister for Home Affairs and Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, the Commissioner of Police Kishnan Labonte, assistant commissioners Ted Barbe and Romano Songor,

Attorney General Frank Ally, special advisor Sheryl Vengadasamy and other high ranking officers.

After being welcomed by a Guard of Honour, President Faure was guided on a tour of the station.

Led by Commissioner Labonte, President Faure started his tour in the traffic section, the police mess, the command centre, administration, the enquire centre and the archive room where he also interacted with staff on their work in those departments.

The delegation then met in the conference room to discuss the way forward on the strategic plan put forward by Commissioner Labonte, to improve the police force.

At the FRSA, the presidential delegation were led on a tour of the facility headed by Chief Fire Officer Andre Morel. Also present were assistant Chief Fire Officer Albert Rose and other high ranking officers.

President Faure and his delegation visited the prevention unit, planning office, training unit, recreation area, workshop unit, command centre and the disaster management room. The president also interacted with staff and seven new recruits.

Following the visits and discussions with the management of the two organisations on their strategic plans, President Faure said government will support both organisations.

“It is clear both Mr Labonte and Mr Morel know exactly what they want for this country. It is now up to government to give them all the necessary support. Some of these support will come with the budget, others we need to reprioritise, so that as a country, we have two effective organisations that meet high standard and that the people remain proud of our two organizations,” President Faure said.

With the internal problems (space related) that the staff of the police station are facing, President Faure said that government will discuss with the commissioner and the minister for infrastructure on what could be done.

The president also endorsed the strategic plan set by Commissioner Labonte, for more recruitment to ease more patrols and turning all police stations as functional rather than being reporting or enquiry stations.

On the FRSA, President said “Fire services react very well and it has a good communication system and it is well integrated in the country but with an increase in assets, in terms of more infrastructure, more boats and so forth, so it is important that we continue to equip them so they remain motivated and united in their work that makes us proud”.

On the training facility, the president said, “they need a place to train with fire and they cannot light big fires in Victoria, so I told them to give me up to March next year and together with Minister (Charles) Bastienne, we will decide once and for all where they could have their fire training”.    

Commissioner Labonte later said “The police force is right now in a critical stage in terms of manpower and space. Our building is very old and it needs a lot of renovation and I am very happy the president came to see for himself”.

He added he handed in his preliminary action plan to government this week and during the meeting the president has given his full support to the plan with the main focus on recruitment and to make the police stations in Seychelles functional rather than a place that receives complaints.

Concerning the availability of space at the police head quarters which is very limited, Commissioner Labonte said the immediate solution would be to seek another place for storage which will make way for more space.

He also talked about a previous old plan of elevating the compound area with an underground car park. “That could be future investment,” he said. 

Chief Fire Officer Morel said the main concern of FRSA is manpower and training ground.  The FRSA is conducting practical fire training on its premises but find it very difficult to light big fires as it is located in Victoria.

He added that the FRSA is also in need of certain equipment and transport for everyday use for minor work purposes where fire tenders are not needed.

“The long-term plan is to seek a proper training facility, to have more important equipment, to recruit and train more staff and to open more fire stations in other areas as it is important to cut respond time.

Mr Morel added that there will be a new fire station in Anse Royale next year which will be followed by one at Beau Vallon and Ile Perseverance.

FRSA has seven fire engines stationed in Victoria, one at Anse Boileau, three on Praslin and two on La Digue.  

The Central Police Station was inaugurated on January 7, 1950 by British governor Dr Selwyn Clark while the FRSA was inaugurated on June 29, 1982 by the then Minister for Planning & Development Dr Maxime Ferrari.

The accompanying photographs show President Faure and is delegation during the visit to the two organisations.