State House

Office of the President of The Republic of Seychelles

News

Press Statement issued by the President, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Heads of the Judiciary on 9th May 2017

Acknowledging that the Heads of the three branches of Government draw their authority and responsibility directly from the Constitution and their mandate directly from the People of Seychelles whom they serve, the President Danny Faure, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Pillay, the Chief Justice, Mathilda Twomey and the President of the Court of Appeal Francis MacGregor met and make the following joint statement:

1. We, the Heads of the branches of government have mutual respect for the importance of the separation of powers and respect the integrity of each of the institutions of Government. We are committed to maintaining and protecting the independence of the Judiciary and the institutions set up to protect the Seychellois democracy, including the Constitutional Appointments Authority and the Ombudsman. We accept that the Constitutional Appointments Authority is set up in terms of the Constitution and its function includes the setting up of tribunals. We respect the Tribunal set up in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and call for all people to allow it to run its course free of influence.

2. The people of Seychelles are best served if we work together to achieve the national objectives, whilst respecting the separation of powers. We commit to working together to strengthen the democracy of Seychelles, united in our diversity and in our differing roles. We commit to exercise care and caution with regards to statements and pronouncements criticizing each other in public.

3. We strongly decry any attempts to undermine the institutions of state and the principle of separation of powers.

4. We will continue to work together to ensure that Seychelles is run in an open and democratic way.