US embassy senior defence attaché pays courtesy call on National Assembly’s DSC |22 January 2024
The meeting in progress
The United States Senior Defense Attaché for Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Comoros, CDR Jeffery D. Schwamb, paid a courtesy call on the chairperson of the National Assembly’s Defence and Security Committee (DSC), Clifford Andre, on Wednesday last week.
The latter was accompanied by vice-chairperson François Adelaide, the committee assistant secretary, Donatienne Chetty, and the public relations manager, Angelique Hill.
Mr Andre noted it was a pleasure to be meeting with Commander Schwamb to discuss pertinent matters relating to the DSC and its mandate.
He briefly detailed the directives of the DSC and noted that increased capacity-building opportunities for both members and assisting staff of the committee was a high priority.
Alongside this was a request for increased exposure to the procedures and parameters involved in the communications between the US military and US congress, in order to facilitate benchmarking and elevate the experiences of members who form part of the DSC.
Hon. Andre then made a recommendation that invitations from the US embassy regarding regional conferences and seminars on relevant subject areas such as maritime security, drug and human trafficking, and national resource protection be sent directly to the Legislature to ensure a higher level of participation and a general improvement in the certified portfolio of the DSC.
Commander Schwamb responded positively, noting that having up-to-date knowledge of processes and policies is vital to such a committee, especially when playing a key oversight role.
Commander Schwamb also remarked that the US-Seychelles friendship has remained strong and steadfast, and that any recommendations or suggestions to improve it would be well received.
The fruitful meeting then ended with both parties agreeing to remain in discussion and continue developing the collaborative relationship between the United States and Seychelles.
Contributed