In the National Assembly |07 June 2023
Donation of vehicles fall under security agreement with UAE
Vice-President Ahmed Afif has said the donation of a batch of vehicles from the United Arab Emirates falls within a security agreement between Seychelles and the UAE and it was a donation, with no conditions.
Vice-President Afif was answering a private notice question in the National Assembly yesterday morning, tabled by the leader of the opposition, Hon. Sebastien Pillay who wanted to know whether it was necessary for the government to negotiate the importation of five Cadillac Escalade bullet proof vehicles that arrived in the country over the weekend.
“There were no specific negotiation on the five vehicles. It was a donation that we were informed was approved under the security arrangement and we received the vehicles and other equipment when they reached Seychelles on June 3, 2023,” stated Vice-President Afif.
He explained that some donations are negotiated with the donor countries and are very specific while others are at the donors’ discretion who decide which is appropriate for the country.
In the case of the new vehicles, Vice-President Afif said he would not give any additional information.
“I am therefore not in a position to go into specific details as to why these equipment and the donation of other equipment were made, for national security,” he told the National Assembly.
He also explained that such high-standards vehicles were needed to cater for the many important people that come to Seychelles, citing the recent visits by the Swedish Royals, the Prince of Monaco and former Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta and the upcoming one by Rwandan President, Paul Kagame.
“The level of security needs to be high when you have these people in the country,” he stated adding “we need to provide the comfort and security needed”.
As to why is the country accepting vehicles, with driving wheels on the left-hand side, Mr Afif told the National Assembly that vehicles with left-hand driving wheels were permitted in Seychelles under Customs Management Act 2019.
“It is a restricted item but bot a prohibited item,” he stated.
The National Assembly also heard the vehicles are registered under the President’s Office.
Patsy Canaya