‘Respe ou Vwazinaz’ Programme against anti-social behaviour to be launched soon By Laura Pillay |30 April 2021
Yesterday’s meeting with stakeholders (Photo: Louis Toussaint)
Law enforcement authorities are counting on the public’s support in its efforts to combat anti-social behaviours across Seychelles, through the ‘Respe ou Vwazinaz’ programme which will soon be launched and effected.
Following a meeting yesterday which brought together all stakeholders, Minister for Internal Affairs Errol Fonseka highlighted the urgency of the campaign, which will see a more proactive police force, in addition to judicial action against persons who are found to have committed offences including harassment, public intoxication, loitering and littering.
“The idea behind this programme is to regulate the dire situation across our country, in all our districts, in Victoria Market Street, even in the regions including Glacis, Plaisance whereby there are hotspots and persons engaging in anti-social behaviour, things that are really not pleasing to a family who is walking along with their children on a shopping trip and to have to face this daily. The problem is that this has gotten so bad that it is becoming a norm. It is not right that we don’t know where crime starts and what is right, and we are accepting a really wrong social situation. If we don’t make an effort and we just look on and do not act, our country will suffer greatly,” Minister Fonseka said.
“The programme is giving the deterrence that a police officer should have, because deterrence is something which stops someone from doing something. But the problem we had before, because we did not have a fast-track mechanism, whereby when we make an arrest for a small offence, the procedures were so complex that it made it hard for the police to enforce this. It is true that the police need to be visible, but what is most important is that, with the mechanism which the legal side has assisted us with, there is a deterring element, as people know that now the police is not just verbally warning them, but that legal action can be taken against them. Therefore, it will give the police an opportunity to do their duties better,” Minister Fonseka explained.
Among the stakeholders present during yesterday’s meeting were Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Flavien Joubert; Chief Justice Ronny Govinden; Deputy Attorney General David Esparon; Acting Commissioner of Police Ted Barbe; as well as representatives of the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA), Seychelles Prison Services, the Mayor’s Office, the Agency for Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation (Apdar), probation and the private sector, represented by the Retailers Association of Seychelles.
The AG’s office, as the principal legal advisor to government, provides the legal framework for the police to be able to deliver on their law enforcement role well, be it for small offences or big offences. As the office responsible for public prosecutions following police investigations, the AG’S office is looking to recruit additional employees in the public prosecution section to handle minor offences and misdemeanours, in addition to implementing a fast-track mechanism to complement that of the Magistrates court where small offences are dealt with.
“We will use the different legal provisions, Chapter 7 mainly, not only those that we were accustomed to using before, but also anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) which is provided for by our laws, but has not been used much. But we need to try and apply it, with the investigations that the police will conduct,” Mr Esparon stated, clarifying that ASBOs will, when the programme comes into force, cover a broader range of behaviours besides noise pollution, harassment and nuisance for which it was enforced in the past.
An ASBO is a court order which can be obtained by local authorities in order to restrict the behaviour of a person likely to cause harm or distress to the public. If the individual further breaks the conditions of the order, they may face imprisonment or other legal consequences.
Chief Justice Govinden iterated the judiciary’s commitment towards attaining the objectives of the campaign, elaborating to note that he, if need be, will earmark a legal officer to handle only such matters.
Aside from the crime-fighting component, the programme comprises an environmental aspect, with emphasis on curbing behaviours that are detrimental to the environment, including littering, and improving the quality of the environment.
“From an environment perspective, we are very happy with the efforts to put the programme in place, because what we have seen in the past, when there are cleaning programmes, for instance at district-level, one of our biggest issues is litter in the corners. I think if the police and partners can control these, it will also improve the quality of our environment in the country, including the places where people litter, on beaches and all,” Minister Joubert said.
“In addition, the role of the ministry is to help in the rehabilitative component. We are engaged with working with the police and judicial system, to create opportunities for persons to participate in activities at district level, to for instance, cleaning the many sites that need cleaning and clearing, so there is a possibility of integrating these persons in positive activities, which is how environment is engaged in the programme,” Minister Joubert noted.
No additional resources is required to implement the programme, noted Minister Fonseka, although more manpower is needed within some divisions such as the Probation Office. Under the programme stakeholders are to pool or share resources, to facilitate and support law enforcement.
“The resources we need most is the encouragement from the public. This is what will help us greatly, that the public understand what we are doing, that they understand why we are doing it, that they understand that if we do not do it, we are in big trouble. Come behind us and assist us to do this,” Minister Fonseka urged.
Laura Pillay