Press Release - From State House - Victoria -Seychelles

Please find below a press release.

Srdjana Janosevic

Press Secretary
Office of the President

P O Box 55, State House, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
Tel: (248) 295706 Fax: (248) 225067
Mobile: (248)722410

Email: sjanosevic@statehouse.sc
sjanosevic@statehouse.gov.sc
sjanosevic80@hotmail.com



PRESS RELEASE
31.03.2010

ATTORNEY GENERAL BEGINS WORK TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

Following the presentation of the report on the review of the Constitution to the President by the Constitutional Review committee Chairman, Mr. Francis Chang-Sam earlier this year, the President has mandated the Attorney General to undertake the process of re-drafting of various laws that pre-date our Constitution as well as to begin the work needed to amend those sections of the Constitution that need updating.

The Attorney General, Mr. Ronny Govinden, has explained that a two-track approach will be followed. In the first instance there are a number of laws that need to be updated or clarified in the light of the provisions of the Constitution. Mr. Govinden explained that in many cases there was a general consensus on the need for this update and the AG’s office would submit the proposed amendments in due course for the consideration of the National Assembly over the course of the year 2010. In other cases, further debate at a national level may be required.

In the second instance many of the recommendations of the Committee concern the content of the Constitution itself. As the procedures for modification of the Constitution involve either a 2/3 majority in the Assembly or in some cases a referendum, there is a need to ensure that proposed changes undergo further consultation and discussion to ensure that proposals meet the will of the people.

The Office of the President will be making the report public on its website as of Thursday 1st April 2010 and will be inviting members of the public to make their suggestions and contributions in writing to the Attorney General.

The report can be consulted at www.statehouse.gov.sc and written submissions should be sent addressed to the Attorney General, National House, P.O Box 58, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles.

The Attorney General will compile the different suggestions in the context of the report and propose a ‘document for discussion’ which can then be discussed at a wider level.

As part of the process, the Attorney general will undertake a national consultation exercise in 2011 on the basis of the ‘document for discussion’. This is in line with the recommendation of the report that the public at large be given more opportunity to comment on proposed changes and amendments.

The president has reiterated his thanks to the members of the Constitutional Review Committee for their diligence in producing the report which is a key means for strengthening the institutions of the Republic.

“The Constitution is the voice of our nation, and it is our responsibility as a nation to ensure that we uphold its principles in all that we do. The process of review is one which enhances our democratic values and allows the Seychellois people to participate in the shaping of the laws that govern us” the President added.