‘Think like a lawyer’ |07 June 2023
S4 students learn more about ‘separation of powers’
As part of Children’s Day celebrations, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), in collaboration with the National Council for Children (NCC), is running a series of sessions to allow a group of students from the schools in Seychelles to get a better understanding of the ‘separation of powers’.
Twenty-two secondary four (S4) students coming from Anse Royale, Anse Boileau, Pointe Larue, Plaisance, International School Seychelles, Mont Fleuri, English River, Belonie, Beau Vallon, Independent School and Perseverance secondary attended the first session on the ‘Executive’ yesterday at State House.
They were greeted by the secretary of state for Cabinet Affairs, Mohammed Afif, and the deputy Cabinet Secretary for Policy Affairs, Margaret Moumou. The OAG was represented by Attorney General Frank Ally, Muhammad Saley, Mickela Marie, Sophie Vel and Nissa Thompson.
During very animated sessions, the students learned about the separation of powers by way of a short workshop delivered by lawyers from the OAG.
The students were able to answer the various questions and participate in an exercise that introduced them to the role of the Executive in policy-making.
Ms Moumou gave a detailed presentation on how the cabinet meetings happen and also spoke about the protocol and the dress code.
After the presentations, the students were divided into two groups, where each group was given a policy proposal that they had to present to the cabinet of ministers (played by lawyers from the OAG).
One group presented a policy proposal that will talk about the age of consent to be increased, with the other group presenting a policy proposal on the reduction in the age of voting. The cabinet then discussed and debated the policies with the students, and a decision was taken by the cabinet.
The chief executive of NCC, Yasmin Umarji, explained that a similar activity was organised last year and the OAG once again contacted them for a similar one.
“At NCC we believe in giving children a voice or even a platform to express themselves. Working with the younger generation makes us realise that children and the youth will not be able to talk about their rights if they do not know about them. These sessions will give the youth the opportunity to become more aware of their rights, the Constitution and the laws.”
Gabriella Havelock, a student from Beau Vallon, was very vocal in different sessions. “So far I learnt about the new terms such as legal rights, the work of the cabinet of ministers and the President in the making of laws. My aim is to become a lawyer and I have already started reading law books and I’ve even read the Constitution of Seychelles.”
Another participant, Ishmael Dubel from Belonie school, learnt about the different policies, the supreme laws. “When I came here I was not really prepared but now I understand the importance of knowing the laws and our rights in any case. Everything I heard today is new to me and it is an interesting world.”
During the day, the students also had the chance to visit State House and the room where the cabinet meeting is held.
The students will participate in two other sessions: Mock trial - Supreme Court (June 14) and a Legislature session - National Assembly (June 17) in collaboration with the Seychelles National Youth Assembly.
In the mock trial that will take place in the Supreme Court before Justice Gustave Dodin, the case will be a criminal matter, involving assault, with a backstory of bullying. The students will be asked to assume different roles in the trial.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the session yesterday at State House.
Vidya Gappy
