President’s Office

The President’s Private Office is headed by a Secretary of State, who is responsible to provide advice for policy formulation and development of strategies that would provide for the implementation of government programmes and projects.  He ensures that administrative and secretarial support is provided to the President in all his functions.

Presidential Affairs Section

Responsible for all aspects pertaining to Presidential protocol and relates all aspects of the President’s public appearances.  This Section ensures the proper coordination between the President’s Office and the Protocol Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assumes the lead role in “themes” of national importance.  It organises events hosted by the President and prepares foreign visits undertaken by the President.  It also assists with the organization of incoming visits of Heads of State or dignitaries.

Public Affairs Section

Provides direct consultation between the President and the public.

Citizen Advice Bureau

Attends to members of the public, seeing to their concerns and queries on behalf of the President.  Provides guidance and counseling, raises public awareness, and refers public concerns to appropriate referee(s) and ensures that the referees provide feedback to public concerns and queries raised.

National Audit Committee

Ensures the prudent use of resources and assets of the State.  Receives and scrutinizes all accounting reports and financial operations of all Public Sector organizations from Auditor General’s Office, the Chief Internal Auditor and other audit institutions.  It monitors the performance and effectiveness of these organizations and ensures accounting officers’ discharge their long established and laid down duties and responsibilities.

The National Audit Committee ensures that fraud and irregular reports have been investigated and appropriate legal and/or disciplinary action has been taken to minimize losses associated therewith; and in such case ensures that control systems are enhanced to avoid further misuse of State resources and that satisfactory risk management mechanisms are in place to promote accountability and transparency in handling public resources.

This Committee initiates investigations on observed or reported cases of any misuse of State resources or when so requested by the President.  It draws the attention of the President to any matter affecting the prudent use of State resources at any time.

President’s Office Administration

The Administration Department maintains the State House buildings Annexes, and provides support services to all the Departments in the President’s Office.  It is responsible for the financial and administration control of all Departments in the Office of the President and administers the Ministerial personal emoluments and funds for some Constitutional Appointees as well as the Centralised Overseas Travel Vote.  This Office

processes applications for overseas travel and arrangements for per diem allowances and airfares and is also is responsible for personnel and human resources management of the President’s Office.  It caters for meals for the President and the State House security personnel and makes the necessary arrangements for Presidential receptions and other forms of entertainment.  It provides maintenance and landscaping services for State House, its Annexes and the President’s residence.  It also manages the fleet of vehicles in the President’s Office including those allocated to Ministers and former President.

Landscape Management

The Landscape Management Division is responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing and maintaining the overall landscape development of Victoria .  The Division works in partnership with district administrations to develop and implement beautification and environment programme at district level.

The Landscape Management Division is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of nurseries to ensure a steady supply of plants for landscape programmes.  The Division coordinates the planning and monitors the implementation of major projects, liaising with the Ministry of Environment and other related agencies on matters related to environment policies, procedures and programmes. 

Risk and Disaster Management

This Department develops and implements the national emergency management programme that covers activities related to prevention, preparedness, response and mitigation to disasters.  It is responsible for coordinating rescue and to provide assistance to victims of minor disasters.

Information and Public Relations

The main role of the Department is to publish the Nation as a government newspaper with national and international dimensions and strive to continuously present Seychelles in a positive light both nationally and internationally.  It provides a press information service and liaises with the national and foreign media.

The Department serves as a channel of communications and relations between the government and the public; publicizing, in a positive manner, government policies, programmes and actions and provides a channel for public expression on national issues.  It provides positive information to the national and international media of developments in Government and Seychelles and, whenever possible, keeps government informed of reports of Seychelles in the same media.  It fosters a positive relation between the Government and the Public and promotes a positive image of the Government as a whole.  It also promotes the economic, political social and diplomatic interest of Seychelles nationally and internationally, and the Seychellois national culture and value that contribute to nation building.

Cabinet Secretariat

The Cabinet Secretariat is headed by a Cabinet Secretary and is responsible to the President for the management and coordination of all procedural operational and logistical services supporting formal Cabinet activities in scheduling of Cabinet business.

The secretariat records Cabinet Minutes and Cabinet decisions and ensures that business presented to Cabinet conforms to approved standards and requirements.  It receives, processes and distributes Cabinet documents for consideration by Cabinet and disseminates Cabinet decisions in a timely manner.  The secretariat also acts as custodian of the Cabinet documents of the government, liaises and advises, Ministers, Departments and Agencies on Cabinet operations and requirements and assists the President in following up decisions of the Cabinet.

• 1960-61, Teacher Training College, teacher
  
• 1962-71, with Cable & Wireless Telecommunications
  
• 1970-71, treasurer & secretary, staff union
  
• 1971-74, accountant, then assistant manager, then manager of Hotel des Seychelles
  
• 1974-77, member, executive committee of Seychelles People’s United Party (SPUP) & coordinator of party branches, editor of party newspaper The People
  
• 1977-79, Minister of State, Administration & Information;
  
• 1978 - to date, member of central executive committee of ruling Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF), secretary general of SPPF
  
• 1979-93 Chief of Staff of Seychelles People’s Defence Forces
  
• 1979 - 86, Minister of Education, Information, Culture & Telecommunications
  
• 1986 - 89 Minister of Education, Information, Culture & Sports
  
• 1989 to 91, Minister of Finance
  
• 1991-93 Minister of Finance & Information
  
• 1993-96 Minister of Finance, Information, Communications, Defence, First Designated Minister to discharge the functions of the Office of the President
  
• 1996, appointed country’s first Vice-President, retains portfolio for Finance, Information, Communications
  
• 1998 elected Vice-President, retains portfolio responsibilities for Finance, Economic Planning, Environment & Transport, and Information Technology & Communication
  
• 2000 Vice-President, Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Environment & Transport, Information Technology & Communications.
  
• 2001 to April 2004 Vice-President, Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Information Technology & Communications
• Also the Patron of the Seychelles Football Federation