In the National Assembly |03 November 2021

No final figure for expenses for COP26 participation

The executive branch of the government currently does not have a final figure for the expenses being incurred through Seychelles’ involvement in the ongoing 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from October 31 – November 12, 2021 at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, Scotland explained Designated Minister Jean-François Ferrari in the National Assembly yesterday.

Nonetheless, he continued, the figures would be made available in writing to the National Assembly following the COP26 summit on climate change.

This was among some of Minister Ferrari’s reply to a private notice question brought by leader of the opposition, Sebastien Pillay, asking the government to detail the number of people in Seychelles’ delegation at COP26 and how much are the delegation’s expenses costing the state.

Designated Minister Ferrari clarified that the delegation consists of President Wavel Ramkalawan and his security details as well as the president’s chief press secretary and chief of protocol, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde, and Minister for Finance, Economic Planning and Trade whose trip to COP26 is being covered by State House budget line for overseas trip.

Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change Flavien Joubert, who is also attending the major conference, is having his expenses partly funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) along with two other officials from his ministry.

Ten specialists in their respective fields from various organisations and autonomous bodies are having their COP26 experience funded by a number of organisations such as Commonwealth, Central Bank of Seychelles, Nature Conservancy, UNDP and World Meteorological Organisation.

There are approximately 21 persons in the Seychelles delegation at Scotland.

In all, only seven delegates’ trip and other expenses are being fully financed through the consolidated fund.

Former President Danny Faure is also said to be at COP26 but at his own costs.

“COP26 is the most important conference event going on in the world right now and every country is called to attend the summit to address the issue of climate change,” clarified Designated Minister Ferrari.

“Small countries like Seychelles have received a special place within COP26 so much so that President Ramkalawan had the honour of addressing the conference live across the world just after US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron. Seychelles is a champion of safeguarding the environment and its position in that respect has finally been recognised as the voice for all other small island states.”

“This is why Seychelles’ participation at the conference at Glasgow was so important,” rationalised Minister Ferrari.

The minister continued to state that it is hard to believe that Hon. Pillay, leader of the opposition, would rather “count the country’s money” rather than recognise the importance of dealing with the issue of climate change.

“I refuse to believe that this is where politics have reached in Seychelles. Climate change has no economic barrier and is an issue in which each Seychellois, no matter their political leanings, should reach a consensus on,” added Minister Ferrari.

“No one travels first class in Seychelles, not even the president. At minimum he travels in business class,[…] each time that such delegations travel then we look to international organisations and partners that can give us a helping hand at keeping the expenses at its minimum.”

Hon. Pillay explained that the private notice question forms part of a number of questions he has brought forward to question the government on their expenses, as the National Assembly acts as an oversight body.

In regards to the point that Minister Ferrari could not provide a definite number to the cost of the trip, Hon. Pillay queried on whether the government undertakes a trip with a budget on hand or is the budget for the trip free-flowing.

Hon. Pillay also brought up Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE to which Minister Ferrari replied that “the expenses there are being undertaken with precaution”.

Around R10 million was predicted to be used for six months of the Expo 2020 but the government was able to work to reduce these costs while still allowing Seychelles to have a strong presence in Dubai at the Expo 2020.

In regards to commentaries on ministers and public officials who were pictured dancing during the celebration of the national day at the expo, the minister said “Seychelles was represented by a number of cultural groups as well as Seychellois artists and musicians. Encourage artists and that is exactly what we wanted to do, and we participated with them to show the world what we have to offer. We should be proud to showcase our culture…most of our travel was taken up by the Expo, an initiative of the UAE government.

Minister Ferrari asked Hon. Pillay to give dues where it is deserved and congratulate Seychellois as well as Seychellois-led initiatives that are doing some good for the country instead of “seeing ghosts” and abuse everywhere.

As for Hon. Pillay’s queries on why President Ramkalawan chose to come back to Seychelles from Dubai instead of flying directly to Scotland, Minister Ferrari noted that this had no adverse effect on the government budget since the ticket directly to Scotland would have been more expensive and so they chose the most economic route.

Elsie Pointe