Work in progress to turn former court house into history museum

Work in progress to turn former court house into history museum

11-July-2014



The former Supreme Court building in Victoria will become the National History Museum after renovation work on it is completed.

The surrounding courtyard and buildings associated with the former Supreme Court will also be demolished and will see the emergence of historical buildings of Seychelles coming back.

This was said by the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange during an inspection tour of the former Supreme Court building in Victoria yesterday.
The minister was accompanied by a delegation concerned with the project.

“We will bring back the building to its original state and the Seychelles National History Museum will move in,” Minister St Ange said, adding that the new building should be completed within eight months.

“The surroundings of the new building will afterwards see the construction of a series of façade and old style buildings that will take us back to what we had in Seychelles. This will be the second phase of the whole project. It means part of the museum will also see historical buildings of Seychelles coming back to life,” said Minister St Ange.

“If we value our past, we put it in a place where we give it credit,” he said.

The minister said it is also in the plans to have a square there, with for example cafeteria, food and souvenir outlets, a place where people can sit, appreciate Victoria by day and night and on weekends.

He said this is aimed at making the new site a real museum but also with commercial activities in the current car park.

“These frontages will be used by different businesses to enable us to have an income to manage the place financially,” said Minister St Ange.

Minister St Ange noted that the former Supreme Court building itself is a very solid structure, compared to its new additions like the steps and balustrades which are not.

The cast iron balustrades, which are very old indeed, are being remoulded and a place in Sri Lanka has been identified for the work, which is done by hand.
“We are trying to bring back the building as precisely as possible back to its original style,” said Glenny Savy who also forms part of people working on the project.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=242288

The Liaison Unit of Non-governmental Organisations (Lungos) celebrated its 25th anniversary on Sunday July 20.

Twenty-five years ago on that day, a small group of NGOs met to discuss the formation of a liaison unit. This idea was initiated by the Commonwealth Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Seychelles Credit Union. The idea for a liaison unit to assist and guide non-governmental organisations in Seychelles germinated in the minds of a small group of NGOs in 1989.

The stated purpose was to: “encourage, promote and coordinate programmes and activities related to care and welfare issues through service delivery, mobilising resources, research and innovation, human resource and development (sic) public information, education and advocacy to bring about change and development by all NGOs in Seychelles, without prejudice to the autonomy of the individual members of Lungos.”

The role of Lungos has forcibly evolved beyond its constitutional mandate from that of liaison unit at the time of inception in 1989 to one whose current operation reflects and is comparable to a national platform for Civil Society in Seychelles.

Over the two decades, Lungos has seen itself consolidate its role as the national focal point for civil society in Seychelles, establishing collaborative partnerships with a multitude of organisations of world repute. Lungos has played a key role in voicing the needs and concerns of the country’s civil society and in advocating greater civil society involvement in national development and decision-making.

The state recognised and confirmed the vital role of civil society organisations (CSO’s) through the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Lungos in June 2008.

Lungos has eight Commissions, namely: Environment & Natural Resources, Faith Based , Gender, Professional Organisation, Social & Health, Rights & good Governance, Youth Culture & Sports and the Socio-Economic Commission. The Commissioners make up the Lungos Board.

In this 25th year, Lungos is set to dissolve. Before end of this year (2014), a new platform for Civil Society will replace Lungos and it will be called Citizen Engagement Platform Seychelles (CEPS).

Contributed

Seychelles Nation

National consultative forum discusses national unity

22-August-2014
Promoting national unity was the main focus of yesterday’s second meeting of the National Consultative Forum chaired by President James Michel.

According to a communiqué from State House, the forum considered a number of written submissions from members on initiatives for promoting national unity, and eliminating remaining obstacles that may still be hindering this progress.

Members received an update on progress on electoral and constitution reforms already under consideration by government.

The status of the Public Order Act, currently under consideration by the judiciary, was also raised. Suggestions were also made for the establishment of a Law Reform Commission.

The forum also advised that the national media, in particular the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, had an important responsibility to promote inclusiveness and national unity.

The promotion of local culture and artistic productions was also highlighted.

The importance of local agricultural production in the context of national food security was raised.

Members started discussion on strategies for enhancing educational provision and outcomes, and will dedicate a future meeting to this subject.

Source Seychelles Nation

Judiciary marks Constitution Day with exhibition
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=245782

SPF clarifies purchase of Continental property

24-June-2016
The Seychelles Pension Fund has clarified its recent purchase of Continental Property from Heirs Richard Mancham (seller).
The Seychelles Pension Fund (SPF) said in a communiqué that negotiations for the purchase of the property started in July 2015 and five valuation reports were received from five different licensed valuers.
Two valuations were given by the seller and three were sought by SPF.
SPF decided to use the average of the five valuations, which came to R21,975,427 as the maximum price that it would be willing to pay for the property and the seller agreed to this.
As a consequence, the property (V5344 covering an area of 1,704m²) was bought by SPF from Heirs Richard Mancham for R22 million.
The purchase of Continental Property allowed SPF to acquire one of the last few remaining prime locations in the centre of Victoria.
The property is ideally located for a commercial complex development and SPF has already sought advice from the Planning Authority for its development.
SPF’s initial assessment shows that the development will be viable with a rate of return of at least 10% spread over 10 years, in line with the rate of return on investments on SPF’s properties in Victoria.
There is already considerable interest in the development from individuals and businesses in leasing space in the new complex once completed.
SPF has reassured its members that all investments are made following rigorous established procedures which include an assessment of the financial viability of the project by an investment committee and approval by its Board of Trustees.
It will, as mandated, continue to look for new investments with a good rate of return to maintain its long-term sustainability.



Source Seychelles Nation