The National Information Services Agency |28 June 2021
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The National Information Services Agency (Nisa) was created in 2010 as a non-budget dependent agency.
It was on March 23, 2010 that the National Assembly approved legislation for the setting up of the information agency which provides information services in an efficient, objective, impartial and cost-effective manner to the public and state institutions. Nisa is a corporate body aiming for financial autonomy.
On April 27, 2010 former President James Michel appointed Merline Volcère as the chief executive of the newly created Nisa. She had over 30 years’ experience in public administration and was until her appointment as Nisa head, the director general for administration in the President's Office.
The main function of Nisa is to publish the Seychelles NATION newspaper. Robert Andre, most senior journalist at Seychelles NATION, was named the new director and editor of the daily newspaper.
The posts of assistant director were taken up by Gerard Govinden and Marie-Anne Lepathy.
Although its main function is to produce the Seychelles NATION newspaper and other publications, it will also provide support to the printing and publishing industries, using state-of-the-art technology. This will allow it to contribute to the development of the press section in mass media in Seychelles.
Seychelles NATION, the publishing arm of Nisa, is an established information outlet for the government, national institutions, the private sector and public in general.
Part of the mission of Nisa is to contribute to national development and nation-building.
Commenting on the formation of Nisa, former President Michel said: "It is another big step in the development of a reliable and sustainable information service to the public. It is a major public service provider and there is the need to render its operations and functions more efficient."
The President, who held the portfolio responsibility for information, explained that there was clearly a need to have more pages for articles and advertising.
"There were budgetary constraints but the successful economic reform has given us the perfect opportunity to create a corporate body for the cost-effective production of the Seychelles NATION and provision of other information services to both government and the public," added Mr Michel.
"At this time of big changes, I wish to thank the staff at Seychelles NATION for their dedication and hard work. Nisa is a big, but exciting, challenge. It ushers in an entrepreneurial working environment. It will have its own bank account and be responsible for its revenue generation and financing. Nisa empowers staff to build their new organisation into a business success," the former President said.
Mr Michel also appointed the five-member board of directors responsible for the agency's policy and control.
They were Rene Morel (former principal secretary, department of information and public relations) as chairman, and board members, Deacon Louis Agathine, Damien Thésée (Ministry of Finance), Sebastien Pillay (University of Seychelles) and Myrna Bonnelame (private sector).
Before the enactment of the Nisa Act and … the Seychelles NATION newspaper fell under the Department of Information and Public Relations organisational structure. It was headed by a director who was also the chief editor.
On March 5, 2013, former President Michel appointed a new board of directors of Nisa for a period of two years.
Mr Morel stayed on as chairman and the other board members were Lena Desaubin, Deacon Louis Agathine, Brenda Bastienne and Barbara Kilindo. In accordance with Section 6 (2) of the NISA Act, the board will appointed Deacon Agathine as vice-chairperson.
The whole board stayed on for another two years, until December 2017.
On December 21, 2017, former President Danny Faure appointed the full board of Nisa following the revision of the Nisa Act (2017) which provides for Nisa to be governed by an inclusive board of directors which is responsible for the policy and control of the agency.
The board’s chairperson and vice-chairperson are nominated by the Constitutional Appointments Authority, while the other five board members are drawn from the civil society, the academia, the Association of Media Professionals, and the government.
The NISA board of directors serves for a five-year mandate.
The chairperson of the Nisa is Lucy Athanasius, appointed on the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, in accordance with Section 6 (2) of the Nisa Act.
The vice-chairperson is Roseline Houareau, also appointed on the recommendations of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, under the same section of the NISA Act.
Five other members were appointed following nominations by their respective institutions, in accordance with Section 6 (5) of the Nisa Act:
Marie-Anne Ernesta (nominated by the Association of Media Practitioners of Seychelles)
Claudette Albert (nominated by the Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles)
Barbara Kilindo (nominated by the Department of Information)
Joëlle Perreau (nominated by the University of Seychelles)
Conrad Lablache (nominated by the Attorney General)
The Chief Executive (CEO) Gerard Govinden is an ex-officio member of the Nisa board.
The board secretary is Thelma Estico.
The board of directors has four committees:
1. Remuneration (Chaired by Joëlle Perreau)
2. Investment and Audit (Chaired by Conrad Lablache)
3. Policy (Chaired by Barbara Kilindo)
4. Editorial (Chaired by Mary Anne Ernesta)
The objects of Nisa are:
a) to operate as an agency for gathering and disseminating information in an efficient , objective, impartial and cost-effective manner;
b) to contribute to the development of the mass media in Seychelles;
c) to promote the economic, political, social and diplomatic interests of Seychelles nationally and internationally;
d) to contribute to national development and nation-building;
e) to provide information support and to bean information outlet for the Government, national institutions and the public.
The functions of the agency are:
a) establish and operate facilities for the collection and distribution of information;
b) enter into agreements for the supply of information to the Agency and for the distribution of information;
c) compile, print, produce, publish and distribute the Seychelles NATION newspaper and other publications;
d) provide pre-press services and products to Government, other persons and organisations;
e) buy, hire or otherwise acquire and sell, let of otherwise dispose of or hypothecate or pledge or otherwise deal with any movable property or, with the prior approval of the Minister responsible for Land, any immovable property or any right in or immovable property’
f) operate bank accounts;
g) accept donations and receive moneys due to it;
h) with the approval of the Minister responsible for Finance raise or borrow money, with or without security, and issue debentures, bills of exchange or other negotiable instruments;
i) apply its funds to the establishment of a reserve fund, or invest moneys not immediately required for its affairs with any financial institution approved by the Minister in consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance;
j) act as agent or representative of any person, for any purpose connected with its objects for itself appoint agents or representatives for such a purpose; and
k) ensure the protection of all intellectual property belonging to the Agency.
The publishing arm of NISA, Seychelles NATION is an established information outlet for the government, national institutions, the private sector and public in general.
NISA has a workforce of 42 staff and 10 part-timers in different fields.
The NISA executive is headed by the Chief Executive Officer, assisted by a Deputy Chief Executive Officer. They are both appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Board of NISA as per the stipulations of the NISA Act.
VISION, MISSION AND CORE VALUES
Our Vision
To be the leading local news and information provider across all media platforms with a global reach.
Our Mission
Our mission is to educate, entertain and disseminate factual information in a timely and objective manner through the publication of the Seychelles NATION newspaper and other appropriate technological medium, to help people shape their decisions.
Our Core Values
We commit ourselves to work as a team respectfully and cooperatively in every task we do, striving to uphold trustworthynews, and at all times embracing integrity, inspiring trust and taking responsibility for our action.
Respectfully
- It matters to all staff
- Because we can move forward
- It brings about great results
Cooperatively
- It cultivates a spirit of oneness
- It shapes our behaviours
- It helps build self-confidence
- It unites us
- It projects a good image for the organisation
Trustworthy
- Its builds fairness and ethical journalism
Integrity
- It creates a product of value for staff and customers
NISA’s organisation structure
NISA’s Organisational Structure is called a Functional structure. This is because the products produced by NISA is on a continuous basis.
This structure groups the employees according to the functions they perform.
The NISA structure is made up of five different sections and this is according to their roles and skills:
1. Editorial;
2. Finance and Procurement;
3. Sales and Marketing;
4. Human Resource & Administration; and
5. Printing Press.
The heads (directors) of all these five sections sit on the management.
The sections are broken down into specialised sub-sections.
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THE NISA MANAGEMENT
Mr Gerard Govinden
Chief Executive Officer
Mrs Thelma Estico
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Ms Louisa Labiche
Chief Financial Officer
Mrs Marie-Anne Lepathy
Chief Editor
Vacant
Director Sales and Marketing
Vacant
Director of Operations for Printing
Vacant
Director of Human Resource and Administration
