Author: pr Desk

Posted on

Vacancies in ISIE Board to be filled by end of next week, says Bouasker

Three Independent High Authority for Elections (French: ISIE) Board vacancies will be filled by the end of next week before the publication of the presidential decree calling voters and the decree on the division of electoral constituencies, said President Farouk Bouasker.
The announcement was made at the opening Friday of a training session for TAP journalists on the theme: “the Constitutional and Legal Framework of Elections of local and regional councils, the National Council of Districts and Regions and the Stages of the Electoral Process.”
The date of elections of local councils was set for next December 17, Bouasker said. The filling of vacancies in ISIE Board and the publication of the presidential decree calling for voters are due before September 17.
The election body finalised logistics organisation for the upcoming elections and the number of polling stations and centres as well as accredited staff will be kept unchanged.
There will be a local coordinator and a deputy coodinator for these elections who will represent the ISIE in each constituency, he added.
Local elections to have 279 local councils in place will take place in 2,155 constituencies. This is the first step towards the creation of regional councils and, subsequently, the National Council of Districts and Regions.
To this end, the ISIE implemented the territorial division project which helped determine the administrative boundaries of 2,085 Imadas in 279 delegations.
TAP CEO Najeh Missaoui laid emphasis on the importance of local journalism which, he said, is at the core of coverage of local elections.
TAP journalists boast a wealth of experience in covering elections. The specific nature of local elections requires training in the relevant legal framework.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Posted on

Tunisia calls for greater efforts to combat irregular migration

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, called on the international community to make an additional commitment to combat irregular migration in an “effective” and “responsible” manner.

In an address during his participation at the 160th ordinary ministerial session of the Council of the League of Arab States, the FM reiterated Tunisia’s call for a radical reform of the global financial system. This reform must be based on a new approach aimed at achieving sustainable and comprehensive development goals, he was quoted as saying in a ministry statement.

Minister Nabil Ammar also stressed that the developments taking place on the international stage require the establishment of new common approaches to address the challenges at hand and their impact on security and stability in the Arab world.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Posted on

Seychelles’ health ministry receives cutting-edge equipment from SMS private clinic

The Seychelles health ministry has received cutting-edge medical equipment from Seychelles Medical (SMS) to help in its commitment to universal healthcare.

The recent donation consists of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment with advanced technologies that contribute to various medical applications which is worth SCR 3 million ($232,400). The equipment was handed over to Dr. Danny Louange, chief executive of the Health Care Agency by the director and owner of Seychelles Medical, Justin Etzin.

The donation includes DNA fingerprinting, forensic, analysis, genetic disease diagnosis, and pathogen detection, including viruses like Hepatitis B and C, HIV-1 among others.

Seychelles Medical said that these tools hold tremendous potential for enhancing research capabilities and improving patient care at Seychelles Hospitals and healthcare facilities.

The director and owner of Seychelles Medical, Justin Etzin, said: “We are proud to stand alongside the Ministry of Health in their mission to provide excellent healthcare to the people of Seychelles. Our donation of specialised high-end laboratory equipment, including cutting-edge DNA replication and detection machines, showcases our dedication to advancing medical diagnostics and research in the country.”

In addition to laboratory equipment, SMS is also providing bio-safety cabinets, refrigeration systems, storage solutions, and other equipment, along with consumables that bolster safety measures for medical operations and examinations within the hospital setting.

The Minister of Health, Peggy Vidot, expressed gratitude for the generous donation.

“The collaboration between Seychelles Medical (SMS) Private Clinic and the Ministry of Health exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships in advancing healthcare and medical services in the country,” she said.

Meanwhile, Seychelles Medical has embarked on its next phase and is offering medical protection that will allow Seychelles companies to provide their employees with fast and easily accessible healthcare.

Etzin told SNA that “investing in employees is pivotal to a company’s success’. This investment encompasses not only training and development but also prioritising their health and indwelling.”

“The ‘Ultimate Medical Protection’ grants employees access to a wide range of exceptional benefits, including around the clock doctor consultations at their home or work place, full annual checkups, monthly wellness clinics, family-centric advantages, and access to an international online health and wellness platform featuring yoga classes and healthy recipes,” he added.

Seychelles Medical clinic was set up in 2011 and currently offers extensive services to local individuals as well as visitors to the island nation.

“We provide a 24/7 on-call doctor service, available for Seychellois at their home or workplace, starting at just SCR500 ($38). Whether you have suspected food poisoning, flu, need a prescription, have an elderly relative that cannot travel to the local hospital, or anything else, our doctors will come to you,” said Etzin.

He said that for tourists visiting Seychelles, SMS allows them the choice of receiving medical consultations in the comfort and privacy of their hotel rooms.

On the health situation in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, Etzin said that it is remarkably positive.

“The nation has made significant strides in ensuring the health and wellbeing of its citizens and residents. Seychelles boasts a robust healthcare infrastructure with excellent facilities and highly trained medical professionals. One of the most impressive aspects of Seychelles’ health system is its commitment to universal healthcare,” he added.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Posted on

Seychelles International Airport gets ACI Level 1 accreditation

The Seychelles International Airport received a Level 1 accreditation during the Airport Council International (ACI) Customer Experience Global Summit held in South Korea on Wednesday.

The ACI developed the accreditation for the aviation industry to deliver a better service to its member airports and to provide a 360-degree view of airport customer experience management.

To achieve a Level 1 accreditation, customer experience must be a priority of the airport and one that is communicated internally and externally. The airport must also establish a fundamental structure by understanding customer expectations, satisfaction, comments, and complaints.

Seychelles’ President Wavel Ramkalawan sent a message of congratulations to the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) on Thursday.

“This is a great achievement as many airports have not reached this level. The rapid processing of arriving passengers through the Seychelles Electronic Border System has greatly contributed to this award,” said Ramkalawan.

The President said: “As we continue to aim for the highest standards, I call on everyone to give of their very best to give both visitors and locals the best experience at our airport. As we plan our new terminal, I am hopeful we will deliver a higher standard of service.”

The revamping of the Seychelles International Airport started in July.

The head of infrastructure projects at SCAA, Marlon Santache, said in a previous interview that “the work that we have done will enhance the visitor experience. We have been able to increase the space available by rebuilding the DMCs (destination marketing companies) kiosks and making them more compact. We have also placed new lights, ceiling, and flooring as well.”

The total cost of the refurbishment project is budgeted at SCR14.2 million ($1 million) and is expected to be completed in December.

Additionally, since November 2022, Seychelles moved to a digital platform where embarkation and disembarkation forms are submitted through the Seychelles Electronic Border System.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Posted on

Seychelles-Russia Friendship Association relaunches at exhibition by Russian alumni

Seychelles’ Russian alumni celebrated a significant milestone through an exhibition showcasing photos of former students during their studies through which the Seychelles-Russia Friendship Association was also relaunched.

The over 70 photos, contributed from the personal archives of the former students, relayed and showcased memorable moments and experiences, friendships established, and their lives in a foreign country.

The exhibition was organised to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the sending of the first cohort of Seychellois to the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in pursuit of further studies.

It was on September 5, 1978, that two Seychellois, Jemmy Solin and Priscilla Julie, left Seychelles to study in Moscow. Since then, around 300 other candidates have undertaken long-term and short-term courses in the USSR, which is now the Russian Federation after its dissolution.

Speaking on behalf of the alumni and in her capacity as one of the first Seychellois students to study in the former USSR, Priscilla Julie, provided an account of her experience in Moscow.

“We all had to immediately start learning the language in order to go about getting our food and other essentials because nobody understood English or French. Our studies were conducted in the Russian language throughout and this was a big challenge for most of us,” shared Julie.

The chairperson of the association, former Seychelles’ Vice President Vincent Meriton, outlined that the decision to send students to the USSR was made possible “after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Seychelles in 1976 and the drive to build the capacity of our human resources at the dawn of our nationhood.”

He said that “the experience has been transformative, as we have gained not only proficiency in a new language but also a deep appreciation for the world’s history and geopolitics from a unique perspective.”

“As we celebrate this milestone, we pledge to give back to our community. We recognise the debt of gratitude we owe to our country and our people. It is our duty to contribute to our homeland’s well-being. This is why we have gathered here today. There is no better day to renew this pledge,” added Meriton.

Following their studies, members of the Russian alumni have contributed and are contributing to different sectors of the socio-economic development of Seychelles. These include education, sports, health, politics, aviation, media, and military services.

During the ceremony, the chairperson presented a certificate of appreciation to the Russian ambassador to Seychelles, Artyom Kozhin, for the embassy’s valuable contribution towards the capacity building of the country.

“Our country is ready to offer more scholarships to the local students. The cooperation in the education sphere is not purely about academic studies, but also in fields like tourism, sports, and culture. Learning the Russian language is an opportunity not only to explore great Russian literature but to also earn more money in the tourism and IT industry,” Kozhin shared.

Another certificate will be forwarded to the Ministry of Education, in appreciation for enabling the pursuit of further studies of Seychellois in Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States educational institutions.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Posted on

Documents signed on Security Sector Reform Support Project and Local Development and Local Governance Project for 2023/2027

The documents on the Security Sector Reform Support Project and the Local Development and Local Governance Project for the period 2023-2027 were signed on Wednesday in Tunis during a meeting between the Minister of Interior Kamel Feki and the Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Office for Arab States, Abdallah Al Dardari, and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Tunisia, Celine Moyraud.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, the meeting included an exchange of views on the existing areas of cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and the UNDP, in particular the Security Sector Reform Support Project. The latter has been launched since 2011 through the implementation of a number of important projects, such as the community policing project and the code of conduct for internal security forces.

In this regard, the parties expressed their satisfaction with the level of partnership between the two sides and their desire to further strengthen areas of cooperation of mutual interest, especially in the field of local development and local governance.

During the meeting, the UN official was also briefed on the reality of the situation of irregular African migrants in Tunisia and the fallacies that have been put forward about the Tunisian State’s handling of this file.

The efforts made by the security services to deal with this phenomenon and to protect and assist migrants, despite the difficulties faced by Tunisia, were also presented. The Minister called on the UN to support national efforts to implement the programme for the voluntary return of irregular migrants to their countries of origin.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Posted on

Bechir Akremi’s pre-trial detention extended by four months (Lawyer)

The period of pre-trial detention of Béchir Akremi, a dismissed judge and former public prosecutor at the Tunis Court of First Instance, has been extended by four months, announced lawyer Hammadi Zafrani, a member of Akremi’s defence committee.

Contacted on Wednesday by TAP, Zafrani said Bechir Akremi had been summoned on Wednesday by the examining magistrate at the judicial counter-terrorism division to inform him of the decision to extend his pre-trial detention. Béchir Akremi is the subject of an investigation into the murder of Chokri Belaïd.

In this context, the lawyer pointed out that his client, who has been detained since March 10, 2023 in connection with this case, has appealed against the decision.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Posted on

Tunisia deeply concerned over military escalation in occupied Palestinian territories

“Tunisia is deeply concerned over the escalation by the Israeli army in the Palestinian occupied territories, especially Al-Quds,” Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar said on Wednesday in Cairo.

Ammar also reminded of “Tunisia’s stance in support of the just Palestinain cause and the Palestinian people’s right to recover their legitimate rights” as he attended a meeting of the Arab Ministerial Committee in charge of International Action to Confront Israeli Illegal Policies in Al-Quds.

Palestine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs provided an overview of the latest developments in Al-Quds as Israeli occupation forces keep endeavouring to change its demographic, economic, historical and cultural character, reads a ministry press release.

The meeting issued a declaration dennouncing Israeli practices in Al Quds and calling for measures to increase the resistance of the Palestinian people.

The meeting, chaired by Jordan, was attended by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Morocco, heads of delegations of the United Arab Emirates and Algeria and the SG of the Arab League.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Posted on

Foreign Minister holds talks in Cairo with his Syrian and Mauritanian counterparts

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, held talks in Cairo on Wednesday with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic, Faisal Mekdad, on the occasion of their participation in the 160th ordinary session of the Council of the League of Arab States, held at ministerial level.

The talks focused on bilateral relations and the main items on the Council’s agenda, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two ministers praised the relations between Tunisia and Syria and their common will to develop them. They also discussed the main Arab developments and partnership relations with regional and international gatherings.

The meeting made it possible to establish the compatibility of positions on the need to adhere to the values of justice and equality, to defend the right of States not to interfere in their internal affairs, to preserve their sovereignty and to protect their national unity.

The Foreign Minister also met in Cairo on Wednesday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad, Mohamed Salem Ould Marzouk, according to a second statement from the Foreign Ministry.

The two sides stressed their shared keenness to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially agriculture, fisheries and tourism, and to elevate partnership relations to the highest level, with the need for good preparation for upcoming bilateral events.

They stressed the need to continue coordination and consultation on various regional and international issues of common interest within the Arab, African and UN frameworks in order to serve the common interests of the two countries.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Posted on

Parliament Speaker receives ISIE report of 2022 legislative elections

Speaker of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP) Brahim Bouderbala, Wednesday, had a meeting with President of the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) Farouk Bouasker who handed him the report of the 2022 legislative elections.

Bouasker spoke of the content of the report which includes the activities of the ISIE during the various stages of the electoral process in addition to the recommendations of the body concerning the electoral operation, reads a statement of the ARP.

The meeting focused on the preparations ahead of the elections of the national council of regions and districts, the same source said.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse