Governor Abel announces her departure in March 2024   |29 December 2023

Caroline Abel, Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles has announced her departure from the office at the end of her contract, in March 2024,. Governor Abel officially made the announcement yesterday morning in a press conference at the International Conference Centre, when giving an update of the monetary policy rate.

She has served as Governor of the Central Bank for two mandates. Ms. Abel was first appointed as Governor of CBS on March 14, 2012, becoming the first woman in Seychelles to hold the position. She was re-appointed to serve a second six-year term in March 2018.

Hailed from Anse Boileau, Governor Abel completed her basic and secondary education in the same district. She holds a first degree in Economics with distinction from the University of Leeds and a Master’s in Philosophy in Monetary Economics and Finance, graduating with Distinction from the University of Glasgow.

Governor Abel started her career with CBS in 1994 as a Senior Bank clerk. She then moved to the Research and Statistics Division in 1999 as a Research Officer, and was promoted to Senior Research Officer and director of Research in 2001 and 2002 respectively. In 2006, she became the Head of the Research and Statistics Division. She was then appointed as First Deputy Governor in December 2011, following an amendment to the CBS Act, which made provision for two Deputy Governors, a post she held until her appointment as Governor in March 2012.

During the 6th African Business Leadership Forum and Awards, Governor Abel was awarded a special Commendation Award by Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. She was also presented with the African Female Public Servant of the Year Award by the African Leadership Magazine at the event. Ms. Abel was named among the Inaugural List of 100 Most Influential African Women in 2019 by Avance Media.

During her career, spanning almost 29 years, Governor Abel received several accolades for leadership roles and contribution towards the banking and financial sector – awards she has always dedicated to the CBS team.

“Many times, an organization is associated with a person. But I want to reassure the population that CBS is a team and even if Ms. Abel is moving forward, CBS will remain a solid institution. The team here is solid and there is nothing to worry about after March 2024. Staff will continue to work. I also want to thank the media for allowing CBS to continue to spread its messages,” she stated.

Governor Abel has not shared her future plans.

Vidya Gappy

Photos: Joena Meme