Assembly gives seal of approval for budget of numerous entities |01 December 2022
The National Assembly of Seychelles yesterday approved the budget appropriations for a number of entities.
Local Government and Community Affairs
The Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs was the first to present its R140,024,000 budget, which was eventually unanimously approved, with 30 members voting in favour.
Minister Rose-Marie Hoareau noted that the 2023 appropriation represents an increment of R23 million, or a 20 percent increase from the revised 2022 budget. This accounts for an increment of R17.6 million in wages and salaries, an increase of R22.7 million in non-financial assets, and a reduction of R17.4 million in goods and services.
The ministry’s appropriation is classified under three main programmes, namely management and administration which has seen an increase of R2.7 million, the majority of which is to finance the newly announced increment in salaries, which is to take effect as from April 2023. Programme two, local governance, support and development.
A substantial increase of R26.3 million applies to programme two – local governance, support and development – although there has also been a significant decrease in goods and services, precisely R22.9 million since the ministry will no longer be making use of contractual security services. With the budget for projects at R45.2 million now under programme two, the total appropriation for the programme is R90,034,000. Small community projects make up a significant chunk of the R45.2 million, at R20 million, while the rest is to be dedicated to capital projects.
The ministry last Friday signed two memorandums of understanding (MoU) to finance two projects under the India Grant – the Adela Road in Pointe Larue, and the Bodanmyen Road in Anse Aux Pins. The tender for Adela Road is set to commence within the first quarter, and the project is expected to be completed within four months.
“Considering that all projects for 2023 have already been submitted with the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency (SIA), we hope that this will allow us to complete more projects in 2023,” Minister Hoareau stated.
A total of 234 projects across all districts have been lodged for the year. A further twenty-six projects from 2022 which are yet to commence are to be carried over to 2023. With the establishment of the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency (SIA), the entity has taken over some responsibility for the ministry’s projects.
A sum of R2.5 million has been allocated for works on the Anse Royale community centre.
There is to be a fundamental change to programme three, community facilities management, next year. The programme includes the management of cemeteries which were transferred under the responsibility of the ministry since January, security services for the ministry, maintenance of the ministry’s facilities and infrastructure, as well as minor emergency works.
The ministry is planning to recruit 84 security officers next year, instead of outsourcing the service. A sum of R9,853,000 was reallocated from the goods and services headings, to compensation of employees for the restructuring of security. Some of these security guards will be based in districts and the provision takes into account different shifts, and the need to have replacements in the event of leave, sickness and absences.
The Appropriation Bill 2023 provides for a general reduction of R6 million under programme three, on account of other changes in the budget.
The ministry is currently implementing a series of internal reforms, towards improving service-delivery and its efficacy.
Members seized the opportunity to seek updates from the panel as to projects within their respective districts.
Department of Legal Affairs
The Department of Legal Affairs comprises the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers and the Registration Division. In total, the combined budgets total in at R59,486,000. It was approved unanimously.
The AG’s Chambers had a budget of R37.1 million in 2022, and has been allocated a sum of R39,664,000 for 2023, representing an increase of R2.6 million.
As with most entities, the increment is to cater mainly for the increment in compensation of employees, from R20.9 million in 2022, to R26,410 in 2023. The R5.5 million increase is to cover wages for an accounts technician for a ten-month period over the course of the year and R1.8 million for thirteenth-month pay and the 10 percent salary increase as from April.
Furthermore, R3.4 million is to cover recruitments which were initially planned for 2022, but did not go ahead due to budgetary constraints. Both local and overseas trainings are provided for under the budget.
Part of the budget will also go towards a new case-management system to improve efficiency and efficacy of the AG’S office. In a bid to speed up notarial transactions, the budget makes provisions for the recruitment of a focal person specialised in the field to carry out such work going forward.
The budget for goods and services has however been reduced, in line with government’s cost-cutting measures.
Registration Division
The total budget for the Registrar General’s Office for next year is R19,821,000, an increment of around R3 million from the revised 2022 allocation.
A major chunk of the appropriation, R14,525,000 is to cover wages and salaries, in comparison to R11.5 million in 2022. Asides for thirteenth month and salary increment provisions, the appropriation is to also provide for two compliance officers, as well as an assistant compliance officer, and other posts for which there were no recruitments in 2022.
There are no changes to the appropriation for goods and services, at R5,926,000.
Seychelles Law Commission
Twenty-one members voted in favour of the budget allocation for the Seychelles Law Commission, and nine abstained from the vote.
The entity is mandated to reform and update the laws in line with the social, cultural, economic needs and values of Seychellois, as set out in the Law Commission Act, 2022.
An appropriation of R3,953,000 has been budgeted for the commission, R1,679,000 of which is to cover wages and salaries, for three posts, namely a Director, a Legal Counsel and an Executive Assistant.
The Director’s basic pay is set at R53,652, while their allowance is R2682.60, while the Legal Counsel takes home R46,625 as basic pay, accompanied by an allowance of 2326.50. The Executive Assistant’s monthly pay is R23,750, with their allowance set at R1250. Based on past experience and lack of local interest in such positions, it is likely that expatriates will be recruited.
Meanwhile, office expenses and transportation among others are to be financed under the budget allocation for use of goods and services, at R2,273,000.
As a new entity, the commission is to over the next year spearhead Constitutional reforms, thereby taking responsibility away from the Attorney General, while also working to make the law accessible and intelligible to the public. It is to also revise laws that are outdated.
-The Legislature (National Assembly)
The Legislature, specifically the National Assembly, is to be appropriated a sum of R44,383,000 for next year, an increment of around R3.9 million.
The sum is to cover leaders and their secretariat, members and their district-level staff, as well as other staff. This year’s allocation has seen an increase of R1.8 million for wages and salaries, bringing the total for the heading to R15,501,000.
A slight increment of R1.2 million is also applicable to the goods and services heading, which totals in at R27,221,000.
It was approved unanimously.
Electoral Commission
The budget for the Electoral Commission, a sum of R20,341,000 received 21 votes in favour, while the ten United Seychelles (US) members abstained from voting over their discontentment over the lack of consultation relating to one of the commission’s projects.
The mandate of the commission, constituted under Article 115 of the Constitution, is to be an independent and credible electoral management body committed to strengthening democracy.
A substantial increase can be observed in comparison to the 2022 budget, specifically R5.9 million. Of the increase, R4.5 million is for the commission to obtain its permanent head office which it expects to move into in the first quarter of 2024.
Constitutional Appointments Authority (CAA)
The other budget considered during yesterday’s session was the Constitutional Appointments Authority (CAA), whose allocation for 2023 is R1,875,000.
The slight increase in appropriation is, as with most entities, due to the announced provisions relating to wages and salaries, which increased from R556,000 in 2022, to R660,000 in 2023.
Twenty-seven members voted to approve the budget.
Office of the Auditor General
A sum of R21,092,000 was approved unanimously for the Office of the Auditor General, who was not required to appear before the assembly
Office of the Ombudsman
The Office of the Ombudsman will in 2023 be allocated with a sum of R3,875,000 following the assembly’s approval.
The Curatelle Office
The Curatelle Office with an appropriation of R5,559,000 had their allocation approved by 22 votes in favour. Nine members abstained.
This was the first time that the National Assembly voted on their budget.
In today’s session, the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade and related entities will be before the assembly.
Laura Pillay