Africa-Press – Seychelles. The proposed budget allocation for the Ministry of Transport for next year has been approved by National Assembly members.
This was after members yesterday morning examined the different aspects of the budget and the projects being planned to be carried out next year. Following the discussions, 20 Assembly members voted for the budget allocation, seven abstained and no one voted against.
Minister Antony Derjacques was in the National Assembly to present his ministry’s budget and he was accompanied by principal secretary Patrick Andre for the department of land transport and principal secretary Alan Renaud for civil aviation, ports and marine.
The ministry comprises different transport related entities and Minister Derjacques informed Assembly members that other than the Seychelles Maritime Safety Agency (SMSA) and the Seychelles Land Transport Agency (SLTA), there are other state-owned enterprises ( SOEs) that fall under the transport ministry but whose budgets have already been considered and have been taken care of by the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade.
He went on to note that the budget allocations for the departments have received a considerable increase and this is to fund their different new projects among them the proposed electrification of SPTC buses which is expected to cost R332,000, the proposed restructuring in the department of land transport which is expected to amount to R12.7 million and additionally to cater for the forthcoming 10% salary increase for civil servants as well as 13th month pay for employees.
Minister Derjacques went on to highlight the different road projects that his ministry has already completed in 2022 as well as those still ongoing all aimed at reducing traffic congestions, improving pedestrians’ safety as well as reducing the amount of time people spend in traffic jams.
Meanwhile, questions raised by Assembly members in regards to the work of the departments included the need to harmonise taxation and levies impose on vehicles and on these issues PS Andre said discussions are ongoing with different concerned parties in view of formulating a clear policy. The need for more monitoring to ensure better quality road works, transport movement in the town area, need to have specific time for movement of oversized vehicles, the need to consider introducing overhead pass and underpass for pedestrians on which Minister Derjacques said there is an allocation of R1million in the budget for the SLTA to pilot the project next year.
Meanwhile PS Andre has reminded Assembly members that traffic is dynamic and that on a daily basis technicians and officials observe the situation on the roads, they conduct surveys to analyse its impact and find ways to continue to improve circulation, public safety and security.
Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration secures R 13.764 million budget for next year
Twenty-seven Assembly members voted for, no member voted against while one abstainedthus giving the Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration its budget for next year.
Presenting the allocation for Assembly members’ consideration, Minister Derjacques remarked that R1.3 million from the 2023 budget of the Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration (SMSA) is to cater for the 10% proposed salary increase, the 13th month pay, recruitment of two new employees, travel fees, medical fees, protective gears and new equipment including some for security.
Minister Derjacques noted that for 2022 the SMSA has collected an estimated sum of R2.8 million and for 2023 it is being estimated that it will collect R4.4million as dividend to government.
Chief executive of the SMSA Captain Joachim Valmont was also present alongside Minister Derjacques to answer questions and provide clarifications to members on the different projects the maritime safety entity plans to carry out under this budget next year.
The need to install strong currents demarcation buoys in the sea at Grand Anse Mahe raised by MNA Waven William who remarked that even though there are signboards to alert visitors this is not enough. Mr Valmont said there are no provisions for this at present but Mr William stressed on its importance as more and more visitors come to the area. Mr Valmont noted that once his team complete some work on Praslin, he would ensure that a survey is conducted at Grand Anse Mahe in view of installing the buoys. Other issues raised concerned maintenance and installation of safety signboards on different beaches, installation of safety features on well frequented public beaches, need to better regularised jet skis, licensing fees, port state control among others.
SLTA’s budget of R176.975 million gets unanimous Assembly approval
The budget of the Seychelles Land Transport Agency yesterday afternoon received the unanimous approval of Assembly members when all 30 members voted in n favour.
Minister Derjacques remarked when introducing the budget for this entity that it has received an overall increase of R11.8 million compared to the 2022 budget and that the main increase is a sum of R19.2 million for the CAPEX programmes.
Present alongside Minister Derjacques was the chief executive of the SLTA Parinda Herath.
The discussions on that budget head centred on different road projects nationally and in the different districts namely road widening, extensions, issues related to way leaves, installation of street lights, resurfacing, crash barriers among numerous related issues.
Minister Derjacques and Mr Herath and other officials from the ministry spent the whole afternoon clarifying members concerns and answering their questions while explaining the challenges the SLTA continuously faces mostly in terms of budget, way leave, and topography of terrains among other related issues.
Meanwhile, Assembly members have recognised the fact that the SLTA is one of the agencies with which they work very well and which responds promptly to concerns related to their districts’ projects.
Today, the Assembly will examine the budgets of the disaster risk management division (DRMD), department of immigration and civil status, Seychelles Prison Service, the Department of Police and the Seychelles Fire & Rescue Services Agency.
For More News And Analysis About Seychelles Follow Africa-Press
