New project to help families get water tanks |08 April 2010

The Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Joel Morgan said this during question time in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

He was answering a question on this issue put forward by the Mont Buxton elected member Michel Marie.

The issue of water storage facilities was also brought to the attention of President James Michel by residents of this district during last year’s consultative meetings.

Mr Morgan explained that the government will provide a R5 million loan per year to finance such a project.
He said they have taken the public suggestions seriously and proposals have also been presented by the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC).

It entails giving loans to families in areas which are most affected by the dry season such as Dan Lenn, Upper Mont Buxton, Anse Louis, Roche Bois and Carana and North East Point.

This project will later move to other places, he said.

The PUC officials will soon visit families in these areas with brochures to start promoting this project.

“There will be no interest on the loan but there will be an additional charge on the monthly bills of these families,” he said.

Mr Morgan said that the PUC will carry out this project and has asked the government to set up a revolving fund for the repayment of the loan.

By June all families who requested the service will have to sign a contract.
Other questions raised in the assembly were related to lights in certain areas of Praslin put forward by the Baie Ste Anne Praslin elected member Mitcy Larue.

Mr Morgan said there are about six priority areas which have been identified on this island and this will cost the government between R45,000 and R60,000.

He added that the government has given R1.5 million to install new lights in the country by the Land Transport Agency.
Last year more than R1 million was also spent to put up new lights and replace old bulbs, he said.
Crash barriers and road repair works were among other issues discussed in the assembly.

The assembly also rejected a motion moved by proportionally elected member Antony Derjacques from the opposition.

It called on the government and all pertinent authorities, including the office of the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police and Supreme Court’s registry to re-introduce the practice of inquiries as to sudden death, in conformity with the Criminal Procedure Code of Seychelles.

Another motion by Mrs Larue which is asking the government to consider the International Women’s Day as a public holiday was not discussed.