Seychelles part of group set up to monitor Somali prisons

[Grandlarousse]

Seychelles part of group set up to monitor Somali prisons

The superintendent of Seychelles Prisons Maxime Tirant was part of an international group who visited the UNODC mentored prisons in Garowe (Puntland) and Hargeysa (Somaliland) recently.

The International Monitoring Committee (IMC) was set up to govern the operation of the mentored prisons where pirates convicted in regional prosecuting countries have been transferred to serve their sentence.

Other members of the IMC are representatives of the UNODC, representatives from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom.

UNODC’s work in Somaliland and Puntland finds its foundation in the January 2011 report of the secretary general’s special advisor on legal issues related to piracy off the coast of Somalia which called for the construction of two prisons, each of 500 beds, in Puntland and Somaliland.

The IMC is the mechanism that has been established in accordance with the agreements between UNODC and the governments of Puntland and Somaliland.

Its aim is to assess the implementation of minimum international standards in the said detention facilities and provide recommendations on how to promote compliance with the same.

The IMC is tasked with conducting periodic inspections of Hargeysa central and Garowe prisons. This visit constituted the first of its kind and marked the start of operations of the IMC. To perform its duties the IMC is granted full access to the detention facilities, including holding talks with the prisoners.

The IMC stayed in Somalia from October 5-7 during which time the members visited Garowe prison in Puntland and Hargeysa prison in Somaliland.

During the visit meetings were also held with national authorities in respective locations to review the status of the current agreements, discuss future transfers of convicted pirates and more broadly explore opportunities for further cooperation in the areas of criminal justice and correctional services.

The IMC positively assessed the visit to both prisons and elaborated specific recommendations for national custodial services to address with the support of UNODC.

The implementation of the recommendations set forth, along with the review of general detention conditions, will be the object of the next IMC visit which will take place in approximately six months.

The President of Puntland and the Ministry of Justice in Somaliland reiterated their support to UNODC and the international donor community and acknowledged the advancement of the condition of prisoners and benefits that UNODC programmes have brought about in the areas of criminal justice and detention.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243379

13 contrôles de navires lors de la 42e mission de l’OSIRIS
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243382

Ports authority celebrates 10th anniversary
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243383

National Assembly - Minister Morgan in Question Time
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243378

[Grandlarousse]

Indian naval ship to carry out EEZ surveillance

23-October-2014
The INS SukanyaThe Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sukanya, an offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, is expected in Seychelles today to carry out surveillance of Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) October 27 to November 1.

During the deployment of the ship from October 23 to November 14, she will be visiting Port Victoria on two occasions.

During her port call in Victoria, INS Sukanya will be providing extensive technical assistance and training to the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG).

The deployment of INS Sukanya to Seychelles follows a bilateral agreement between the two countries to carry out surveillance of the EEZ of Seychelles.

The ship will carry out EEZ surveillance in areas designated by the SCG and with SCG personnel onboard.

During the surveillance, the SCG personnel will be trained in navigation, seamanship and various other ship related evolutions.

INS Sukanya is part of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy and is well equipped with state-of- the-art equipment and sensors.
The ship also has a helicopter onboard to assist in anti-piracy operations.

The ship’s commanding officer is M. Doraibabu, who is a recipient of the prestigious Nao Sena Medal. He is helped by a team of professional and highly motivated officers and sailors.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243405

[Grandlarousse]

Seychelles to be represented at anti-piracy meet in Dubai

29-October-2014
Minister MorganSeychelles will be represented at an anti-piracy conference in Dubai this week hosted by the United Arab Emirates and DP World (an Emirati marine terminal operator company).

Seychelles delegation will be headed by the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Joël Morgan, who is as well the chair of the high level committee for piracy and the Reflecs 3 steering group.

The theme chosen for this year’s conference is ‘Security State Recovery: Sustaining Momentum at Sea, Confronting Instability on Land’.

While in Dubai, Minister Morgan will as well chair the steering committee meeting of Reflecs 3 and will be attending several bilateral meetings with key partners from the region and certain international organisations.

Minister Morgan will be accompanied by Seychelles ambassador to the UAE Dick Esparon; Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rosette; director of Reflecs 3 Joseph Bibi; deputy director of Reflecs 3 Dave Thomas; Jacques Belle from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Raymond St Ange, the minister’s adviser on security affairs.

Several members of the delegation are attending the contact group for piracy off the coast of Somalia (CGPS) working group 3 meeting being held simultaneously there and which Seychelles co-chairs.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243471

[Grandlarousse]

New ship to boost maritime patrol

The much awaited naval ship from India, INS Tarasa, has arrived at the Seychelles Coast Guard base on Ile Perseverance.

Her new name is still under wraps and will be unveiled when she becomes the latest addition to the fleet of SCG later this week.

INS Tarasa is a gift from the government of India to the government of Seychelles to help boost the operational capabilities of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF).

The chief of naval staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral R.K. Dhowan, will be visiting Seychelles for the handing over ceremony scheduled for November 7.
The patrol ship, a fast attack craft in the Topaz class, is designed for multipurpose missions including patrolling, surveillance, anti-piracy, anti-terrorism, anti-illegal fishing and other such roles.

With an exclusive economic zone of 1.3 million square kilometres, and limited resources available to the Seychelles Coast Guard, it has always been a challenge for the SPDF to effectively patrol and control such an extensive area.

The gifting of the patrol vessel by India will boost its capability to better protect the island country’s maritime resources, effectively assist mariners in distress and provide the much required security for all those who ply the surrounding waters.

The gifting of the new ship is a testimony not only of the excellent relations between the two countries, but also of India’s commitment of support to the professional development of the defence forces of Seychelles.

This 40-metre long new patrol ship will be the second ship to be gifted by India after PS Topaz in 2005, and will be the fourth in the Seychelles Coast Guard’s existing fleet, the other two being Andromache and Etoile.

The new addition is expected to further enhance Seychelles’ strength in fighting piracy, illegal fishing, drug trafficking and safeguard Seychelles waters and the region.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243513

[Grandlarousse]

Seychelles helps in re-building Somalia’s maritime sector

11-November-2014
The Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) has trained six Mogadishu port control officers as part of an on-going programme to re-build Somalia’s maritime sector.

The training, held at the Djibouti Naval Base, was sponsored by EUCAP Nestor.

The request by EUCAP Nestor in September 2014 for the SPA to assist in this mission was regarded by the authority as an opportunity not only to share its well developed expertise, but also for Seychelles to contribute towards the re-building of Somalia, considering that Seychelles has been and still is at the forefront against maritime piracy in the North Western Indian Ocean region.

This intensive training, which was in two phases, was conducted by EUCAP Nestor instructors as well as Allen Chetty, the operations director and pilot from the SPA.

The first phase focused on theoretical aspects of port control equipment such as automatic identification system (AIS), radar system, electronic chart display information system (ECDIS), and global maritime distress satellite system (GMDSS).

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243607

[Grandlarousse]

SCG personnel complete second basic training

06-December-2014
Twenty-one personnel of the Seychelles Coastguard (SCG) have successfully completed their second basic training.

They all graduated in a ceremony held yesterday at the Seychelles Defence Academy at Ile Perseverance in the presence of Foreign Affairs principal secretary Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, acting chief justice Durai Karunakaran, the commissioner of police Ernest Quatre and EUCAP Nestor head of mission, Etienne de Poncins.

The Basic Training programme which started in August and lasted for eight weeks is a foundational training programme for privates recruited to the SCG. The objective of this programme is to provide the participants with the required maritime knowledge and essential skills they need in order to perform their duties at sea.

“I am very proud to see the progress made and the sustainable results achieved by our partners in such short time. EUCAP Nestor is in Seychelles for only two years and in that time the Seychelles have become more and more a role model for maritime security capacity building for other countries in the region.

Seychelles now regularly sends staff to neighbouring countries to train and share their acquired knowledge,” said Mr de Poncins.

He said that EUCAP Nestor has worked closely with the SCG in developing programmes for this course and it was delivered jointly by EUCAP Nestor experts and SCG trainers. It is a comprehensive programme covering the full range of Coastguard functions and it could become a role model for other countries in the region. The programme included modules such as maritime domain awareness, Seychelles maritime regulations and legislation, seamanship and navigation, marine engineering, maritime safety, maritime security, crime scene investigation and evidence handling, environmental response, and fisheries enforcement.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Laurencine from the SCG talked about the collaboration of EUCAP Nestor and the SCG. “The support extended to us by EUCAP Nestor has no doubt contributed a great deal in building capacity within the SCG. The support started first by the deputation of EU experts to Seychelles specially attached to the SCG and thereafter by various means such as capacity building through trainings and exercises, donation of a fast response craft and different other types of instruments and equipment.”

He also congratulated the 21 participants saying: “The force needs you and has done the necessary part to impart the knowledge you require to be professionals in your services as seaman, it is indeed your future and all depends on each and every one of you.”

During his visit, Mr de Poncins also handed over to the SCG some equipment comprising hull fenders, life jackets and ballistic flotation life jackets.

He also met top officials including the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan, Chief of Defence Forces Brigadier Leopold Payet, the Attorney General Rony Govinden, acting CJ Karunakaran and Police Commisioner Quatre to discuss maritime security capacity building with Seychelles and international partners.

He also handed over a scanner/printer, 10 laptops and docking stations to the Commanding Officer of the Seychelles Air Force.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243873

[Grandlarousse]

Seychelles hosts AU ministers’ meeting on maritime security

09-February-2015

Compared to 2011 and 2012 when a modern form of piracy orchestrated primarily from Somalia had reached its peak in the Indian Ocean, the threat has now reduced considerably.

However, as it has been frequently reminded, it is not a reason for countries concerned, including Seychelles, to lower their guard against the phenomenon which still poses a threat to the region’s security and economy.

This is why the African Union (AU) ministers responsible for maritime safety and security are since yesterday meeting at the Savoy Resort and Spa at Beau Vallon to evaluate the current maritime safety and security situation not only in the Indian Ocean but also in the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
During the two days, the delegates will also decide on the next steps to be taken in order to enhance maritime safety and security in Africa.

Though the conference has been initiated by the AU, European Union (EU) countries and others like China, India and the USA as well as various international organisations are taking part as part of the international coalition against piracy. Together, they aim at reviewing shared objectives to tackle not only the root causes of piracy, but also other illicit activities such as drug and human trafficking, illegal migration, maritime pollution, armed robbery and terrorism.

Launching the conference, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan thanked the AU for granting Seychelles the honour and privilege of hosting the important meeting on lessons learnt in the fight against piracy.

Minister Morgan addressing guests and delegates at the opening of the conferenceMinister Morgan was speaking in the presence of former President James Mancham, Vice-President Danny Faure, acting Chief Justice Durai Karunakaran, government ministers, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly David Pierre and other invitees.

Other high level delegates present at the conference also include the AU commissioner for peace and security Ambassador Smail Chergui and the EU deputy secretary general for external action service Marciej Popowski.

Mr Morgan reminded the invitees and delegates that piracy has threatened the region’s security and economy, including the blue economy of which one main activity is fishing.

He added that if adequate measures had not been taken, today’s situation whereby piracy activity has been reduced to zero level would be different.
He gave the example of cruise ships now coming back to Port Victoria as they feel it is now safe to do so, compared to a drop in this activity some years back.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244459

[Grandlarousse]

Conférence de presse de l’ambassadrice et représentante spéciale de la lutte anti-piraterie :

12-February-2015
« La France ne va pas se retirer de l’Opération Atalante »


Suite aux rumeurs circulant et indiquant que La France comptait se retirer de l’Opération Atalante par laquelle l’Union Européenne (UE) porte son soutien aux pays de l’Océan Indien dans la lutte contre la piraterie maritime, ce pays a donné son assurance que ceci est loin d’être le cas.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244486