National Sports Council (NSC): Water Sports – Sail Training Scheme |20 November 2023

Mr Arissol and Ms Belmont during the press conference

Sail Training Scheme on lock-down amid review in management system

•          No police search on staff’s private properties, says NSC boss

In existence for over four decades providing training, thus playing a major role in the development of water sports in Seychelles, the Sail Training Scheme at Roche Caïman is presently under lock and key, after the National Sports Council (NSC) decided to temporarily close it down, while reviewing the facility’s management strategy.

Chief executive of the NSC, Marc Arissol, said following several complaints received regarding how the place was being run, an audit exercise was conducted, exposing various elements of non-compliancy, including lack of standard operating procedures (SOPs), describing the place as poorly managed.

Mr Arissol said this is one of his bad inheritances after taking the office in January this year.

This, he said, led to several illegal activities, including personal assets which were being kept on the premises without his knowledge, despite being told by owners that they did get permission from those who were running the facility.

He added that illegal commercial activities were being carried out, involving the use of NSC’s utilities – water and electricity – with permission.

In a press conference held on Friday at the Roche Caïman swimming pool, Mr Arissol said the illegal assets on the premises include old boats, containers whose owners are still to be identified in some cases.

He explained that as per the procedures, following legal advice, since being officially responsible for everything on the NSC premises, he called in several entities, including the police to be present while the containers were being opened.

Mr Arissol also confirmed that no searches whatsoever were carried at the homes, or on the properties of any NSC staff in relation to the closing of the Sail Training Scheme.

He said the two federations based at the Sail Training Scheme – Seychelles Yachting Association (SYA) and the Seychelles Canoeing Association (SCA) – have been informed, through a meeting regarding the closure, and necessary arrangements that should be made for their necessary running.

He explained that the letter from one of the associations, namely the SCA which was in circulation, was purely based on misunderstanding from within the association itself through lack of proper communication.

Also present at the press conference, Ghislaine Belmont who is responsible for administration at the NSC, said while they are in the process of upgrading the standard of facility, they are in close discussions with two associations on how to go about with their daily running, especially in terms of training.

Ms Belmont said the facility is expected to be fully operational in February next year.

Roland Duval