In the National Assembly |09 September 2021

Opposition walkout leads to LDS-only approved motions

A National Assembly consisting solely of members of parliament from Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS), yesterday afternoon approved two motions regarding tourism ethics, consequently ratifying the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Framework Convention on Tourism ethics.

The LDS, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, approved the two motions after United Seychelles MNAs walked out of yesterday’s afternoon proceeding

Before walking out, leader of the opposition, Sebastien Pillay, expressed his disappointment and dissatisfaction that US was excluded from discussions on revisions to the order paper for the afternoon.

“We were not informed in any meeting held with the clerk of the National Assembly, yourself [the Speaker] and the leader of government business, and this showcases a lack of respect for myself as the leader of the opposition, for my chief whip who is also a member of the ABC and members of the National Assembly who only received information after we made a complaint […]”

Hon. Pillay further called on the National Assembly secretariat to remain impartial.

In response, Speaker Roger Mancienne explained that the leader of the opposition had been invited to participate in the discussions in regards to the technical issues that had led to the delay in the afternoon session.

“In my opinion the walkout by the leader of the opposition and his colleagues is not acceptable because they knew what was happening.”

In a separate interview with the national broadcaster, Hon. Pillay refuted this claim stating that he had not been asked to be involved in the meeting which led to the final conclusions as to how the afternoon sessions would proceed.

Following the walkout, the leader of government business, Bernard Georges, set out two motions calling on the National Assembly to resolve to ratify the UNWTO’s Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics as well as the Optional Protocol to the Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics.

The UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics, which is the first international convention of UNWTO, was adopted in September 2019.

It is built around the nine core principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism aimed at maximising the sector’s benefits while minimising the potentially negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage and societies across the globe.

The Optional Protocol establishes a conciliation mechanism for the amicable resolution of disputes arising out of the Convention. States Parties and/or stakeholders in tourism development can submit to the World Committee on Tourism Ethics any dispute arising from the application or interpretation of the Convention.

Elsie Pointe