National Assembly approves Act to repeal SAA |10 November 2021
The Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) Repeal Act was approved by the National Assembly yesterday.
Vice-President Ahmed Afif presented the Bill, noting that the amendment is a continuation of amendments which the assembly has recently approved, with the aim of restructuring authority agencies towards improved administration, eliminating bureaucracy and wastage, and to bring about more efficacy in the governance of these institutions.
The Bill provides for the transfer of SAA’s functions to the department of agriculture.
VP Afif informed the assembly that with the approval of the Act there will be other consequential amendments, to eliminate gaps and ambiguity resulting from the repeal, applying to Section 2 of Control and Protection of Dogs Act (2018), sections 2 and 4 (1) Animal and Plant Security Act (2014).
During his intervention, Hon. Wavel Woodcock, Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) representative for Grand Anse, Praslin expressed his view that the existing agency failed to deliver on its mandate for the promotion and development of agriculture, since its establishment in 2009.
“Under the previous administration, there wasn’t enough emphasis on the agricultural sector. Agriculture was not contributing much towards the local economy, and we are still depending on importation of meat and numerous vegetables. The production of pork is still low and not sufficient for local consumption, and we have numerous issues related to the agency, for instance, problems with abattoir facilities on Mahé and on Praslin, which the government of today is trying to rectify,” Hon. Woodcock pointed out.
On the other hand, Hon. Wallace Cosgrow, representative of United Seychelles (US), expressed his sentiments that the decision is a step backward, although he acknowledged that there are issues within the agency which should be resolved at the soonest. Similarly, leader of the opposition in the assembly Sebastien Pillay concurred, stating that the reasons put forward for the repeal are insufficient, and that with the repeal, the agricultural sector will face more politicisation. He also proposed that government is moving too fast in repealing the agencies.
In rounding up, Vice-President Afif noted that over the past 12 months, vegetable production has increased, while local production of pork by 22 percent. Poultry production has improved by 20 percent and production on Coetivy will help to increase this by 20 percent as well,” VP Afif stated.
He further informed the assembly that the repeal has been discussed with farmers, and that the budget allocation for the agency will simply be transferred to the department for the sector.
VP Afif was accompanied by principal secretary for agriculture Keven Nancy, senior biosecurity officer Randy Stravens and senior legal draftsperson within the Attorney General’s Office Victor Pool.
Laura Pillay