Day: May 10, 2023

Tunisia strongly condemned “the perfidious air strikes committed by the occupying entity in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in a number of martyrs and dozens of wounded, including unarmed children and women, in flagrant violation of all international laws and standards,” said a statement issued Wednesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad. In the face of this “dangerous and repeated escalation”, Tunisia reiterated its rejection of this brutal aggression and the systematic abuses and attacks against the brotherly Palestinian people that threaten their security and right to life. It also renewed its “full solidarity and unwavering support to the Palestinian people in the defence of their legitimate rights, first and foremost the establishment of their independent state on their territory, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital”, calling on “the international community to intervene urgently to put an end to these criminal violations and to provide them with international protection”, said a statement from the Foreign Ministry. The occupying entity’s army launched on Tuesday morning a series of large-scale air strikes and land incursions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, resulting in the martyrdom of 22 and dozens of injuries, including women and children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, will lead a high-level delegation to Abu Dhabi, UAE, to discuss the development of two major national projects, namely the Port Victoria and Seychelles International Airport developments, according to a press statement from State House on Tuesday night.

He will be accompanied the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, the Minister for Transport, Antony Derjacques, the Secretary of State for Finance, Trade and Investment, Patrick Payet, the chief executive officer of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), Garry Albert, and the chief executive officer of Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA), Sony Payet.

In November 2022, EGIS Emirates was appointed for the review and preparation of an updated 30-year airport master plan for the Seychelles International Airport. The selection of EGIS Emirates, a global consulting, construction engineering and operating firm, was completed through a request for proposal through a memorandum of understanding. The MoU was signed between Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), SCAA and the Ministry of Transport in July 2022.

Meanwhile, in January 2021, a high-level delegation from the Abu Dhabi port visited Seychelles to provide technical advice for the expansion of Port Victoria and construction of other projects related to fishing ports.

Port Victoria, which is currently 270 metres long, will be extended by an additional 330 metres to accommodate two boats measuring up to 250 metres in length at the same time. Space will also be made for the installation of two mobile cranes for loading and unloading of ships, storage yards and warehouses.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

A group of 18 students, whose main interest lies in the fisheries sector, has been given a second chance to study at the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA), where they will be undertaking the Sustainable Fisheries Programme for young seafarers.

The 18 students of various ages are those who did not get accepted to the academy upon completion of their secondary school studies but will now have the opportunity to learn various aspects of fishing and life at sea, during the four-months course.

Speaking to the students, during the orientation day held on Tuesday morning, the Director of SMA, Captain Prasanna Sedrick, urged the students to seize the second chance they have been given and to give it their best, so that this course can continue and benefit others.

“You, the young people of Seychelles are the backbone of the country, and we will give you everything you will need to succeed, but you also have to do your part,” said Sedrick.

As part of the programme, the students will learn numerous maritime techniques, including safety, marine mechanics, hook and line preparation, fish trap making and navigation, among others.

This marks another step in the country’s efforts to bring more young people into the fisheries sector, which at the moment is dominated by the older generation.

The programme is being supported by the Ministry for Fisheries and Blue Economy, the Ministry of Education, as well as the Ministry for Employment.

“Throughout the years, I have learnt that there are a number of students who do not qualify to get admission to the academy and they end up sitting at home for a long time, where they eventually lose interest in the field they had dreamt of working in,” said the fisheries minister, Jean-Francois Ferrari.

He added that this is not a good thing, and this is why this second chance has been given to these young people.

Addressing the students during the launch of the course, Ferrari expressed his desire to see all the students succeed in this course and go on to higher levels.

“If you fail, I will also fail,” he said. “We have given you a second chance to develop and get a career in the sector you love and you must make the most of it.”

One of the students, Aurelie Yat-Kwan, aged 16, said that her dream is to work on one of Seychelles’ tankers.

“When I got the call from the minister himself, telling me about this course, I had no hesitation at all in saying yes,” said Aurelie, who said that after finishing her secondary studies last year and failing to be accepted by SMA, she has been out at sea with her uncle during this time.

Speaking to the media, the head of fisheries programme at SMA, Michael Barbe, said the aim is for this programme to continue, where others can join in the future and help to keep the sector alive, especially among the younger generation.

“We definitely want to have more of this and hope we can have a second one before this year ends, where we want it to be open to not only students who have just finished secondary education, but to anyone looking to get into the fisheries sector,” added Barbe.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Member countries of the Africa Island States Climate Commission (AISCC) are gathering in a three-day meeting to reach a consensus on the best practical ways to put into operation the AISCC and also discuss the expectations for the upcoming 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) in Dubai in November.

The technical and expert group meeting, being held in Seychelles from May 10 to May 12, seeks to establish a governance framework for the commission, debrief members on the outcome and follow-up of COP 27 – specifically the implications for African island states and how African island states individually and collectively are moving towards the implementation.

In his pre-recorded opening statement, the Seychelles’ President and chair of AISCC, Wavel Ramkalawan, outlined that “this is a unique opportunity for all members of AISCC to interact with each other and our key international partners and come up with concrete actions to be taken to make the climate commission finally operational.”

“It is vital now, more than ever, for the commission to provide support to member countries in addressing their climate ambitions, and act as a joint mechanism that allows countries to come together and address climate at the sub-regional level,” said Ramkalawan.

President Wavel Ramkalawan (State House) Photo license: CC BY

Seychelles’ agriculture, climate change, and environment minister, Flavien Joubert, said that “today we will be working on its establishment, and components that will ensure that in the future it will continue to function and provide results for its members.”

“At the same time, we are also considering different propositions and actions that we will take in the future. We have the Great Blue Wall [Initiative] that covers the conservation of the ocean, and we want it to be extended to Western African countries. There are also propositions on finance that will be placed forward among others,” said Joubert.

“We expect to have concrete information and propositions to place on the table when we meet with ministers in an online debriefing that will be held towards the end of the year during COP. We hope to get the commitment of other countries on the actions and that of partners when it comes to their support. We think that with this, African islands can get to a level that will allow them to undertake climate-related actions on the same levels as other big countries,” he continued.

The technical meeting will also encompass two extraordinary general meetings dedicated to exploring the issuance of a regional-level blue bond and the development of blue carbon markets in the African island states.

AISCC was set up on the sidelines of the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP22) held in Marrakech in 2016. Seychelles is the chair of the Commission with other member states being Cabo Verde, Comoros, Equatorial New Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe, and Tanzania.

Its aim is to enable the African Island States to work together towards a shared, long-term vision to effectively take ownership of its available resources, namely its ocean spaces. This is to be done by inspiring leadership and facilitating collaboration in mobilizing financial resources and technical expertise at national, regional, and international levels to combat the climate crisis.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Angolan minister of National Defence, Former Combatants and Motherland Veterans João Ernesto dos Santos has reiterated the combative preparedness of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), aimed to protect national independence and the integrity of the Angolan State.

João Ernesto dos Santos was speaking at the meeting chaired by the Commander-in-Chief of the FAA, João Lourenço, with the military leadership of the three branches, namely the Army, the Air Force and the Navy.

The minister highlighted that the brigade’s tactical maneuver exercise is a demonstration of compliance with the methodological and organisational indications on the operational, combative and patriotic educational preparation of the Armed Forces.

“It is with great enthusiasm that the military leadership, representing the entire staff of the FAA, loyal to the Republic of Angola, the people and the established political and democratic power, welcomes the Commander-in-Chief to hear the guidelines for current and future challenges to the national security of the Angolan State”, he underlined.

João Ernesto dos Santos argued that these guidelines are in line with the Constitutional assumption, which aims to guarantee the preservation of national independence and sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the democratic State of Law, freedom, defence of the territory.

The minister said that this strategy, in favor of promotion of national territory, defence of wisdom, among other challenges, is against any threats and risks.

The strategy also ensures cooperation for national development and contributing to international peace and security.

The meeting addressed the challenges of the military members at different levels

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Cabinet Council’s Commission for Social Policy assessed Wednesday in Luanda the draft Presidential Decree that approves the Legal Regime of the General Education Subsystem.

This was during a meeting chaired by the minister of State for the Social Area, Dalva Ringote.

The diploma establishes the norms for organisation, school management and curriculum for primary and secondary education institutions.

The document guarantees a harmonious and comprehensive training of quality that allows the development of intellectual, work, artistic, civic, moral, ethical and physical capacities, allowing the approximation between the school and the community.

The Commission also appreciated another diploma providing for the setting up the rules for the creation, organising, and functioning of public, public-private and private institutions, which run courses in the technical-professional secondary education subsystem, defining the model of autonomy institutional framework of these institutions in the pedagogical, administrative and financial domains, clarifying their legal nature.

As for the health sector, the Support and Protection Plan for People with Albinism (PAPPA) 2023/2027, which contains the main sector tasks to be carried out in the various domains, was also appreciated.

The commission also assessed the National Contingency and Emergency Plan for the Prevention of Influenza A (H1N1), with a view to ensuring effective support and mobilizing resources in a timely manner for a possible national emergency.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Angolan head of State João Lourenço Wednesday appointed Rui Manuel de Sousa Malaquias member of the Economic and Social Council, the Presidency’s Office has announced.

In another decree, João Lourenço terminated the functions of Delma Monteiro, as a member of the Economic and Social Council, said a note from the Press Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic.

Born on November 7, 1980, Rui Manuel de Sousa Malaquias has a Master’s degree in Finance from the Catholic University of Portugal – Centro Regional do Porto, and a degree in Economics from the Catholic University of Angola.

He also attended various training related to the economic and financial sectors.

The Economic and Social Council integrates various figures from civil and business society.

It was created in 2020 by President João Lourenço aimed to ensure dialogue with society on contributions to the country’s socio-economic situation.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

The Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication (MINTTICS) announced Wednesday in Luanda the launch of the 2023 National Journalism Award.

The National Journalism Award was instituted on May 10, 2007, aimed to encourage and distinguish journalistic creativity and investigation.

The initiative is also intended to promote quality and merit in the exercise of the profession, being disputed in four regulatory categories, such as Press, Radio, Television and Photojournalism.

According to a press note addressed to ANGOP, all Angolan journalists, whether working inside or outside the country, whose works have been published in the Angolan media, between August 10, 2022 to August 10, 2023, can apply for.

Applications must be submitted to the respective Adjudication Committee by August 10th, 2023, by filling in an Entry Form, which will contain the adhesion instructions.

The ceremony to announce the winners should take place on October 30th and the awarding of certificates and trophies on November 30.

The Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication urges Angolan journalists to participate, putting their research and creativity’s ability to the test.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

President of the Republic João Lourenço stressed Wednesday the ongoing equipment process in the Angolan Navy (MGA), which he described as part of a strategy to cover the other branches of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).

The statesman was speaking at the opening of the meeting with FAA military leadership in Menongue, south-east Cuando Cubango province.

In his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, João Lourenço said that the equipment underway at MGA is “a first experience in this management”.

In his speech, the president said that the MGA is being equipped with naval vessels of different categories, with the capacity to combat piracy and international terrorism in territorial waters and on the national maritime coast.

According to him, the ongoing process in the Navy will allow this branch of the FAA to also cooperate with other counterparts in the countries of the Gulf of Guinea.

Apart from acquisition of modern military hardware, weapons and military technique, the Angolan President stressed the importance to train officers and specialists in the best military schools and academies in the world.

The combat preparedness, the President went on, and the training of man in the military education facilities in the country must be a constant, to maintain a very high degree of combat readiness of the FAA units.

In his speech, the Commander-in-Chief of the FAA explained that teaching in military

schools and academies must be secured by contracted expatriates, as well as by Angolan general officers and officers, including retirees from different specialties.

According to the Head of State, it is important that lectures are given to the cadets, by the witnesses still alive, about their participation in the great battles registered

in the country.

Defence industries

Addressing FAA military leaders, João Lourenço said that particular attention should be paid to the need to develop defence industries focused on production, maintenance of weapons and military technique.

The referred industry should also be dedicated to the production of ammunition, uniforms, boots and barracks utensils.

Soyo Naval Base

At the opening ceremony of the meeting, the President of the Republic announced the conclusion, within two months, of the works to expand and modernise the naval base of Soyo, in the province of Zaire, which is expected to become the main naval base in the country. “All efforts must be directed towards the FAA developing agricultural and livestock production on a large scale, to guarantee the food self-sufficiency of

their herds and have surpluses to inject into the consumer market”, he

said.

The Head of State considered it fundamental that the FAA contribute to the resolution of problems in the communities close to its units.

He spoke of the need for engineering units to support the maintenance of secondary and tertiary roads, as well as the construction of bridges, boreholes and water reservoirs for populations and livestock.

João Lourenço said that the participation of the FAA is also necessary in rescue operations for victims of natural disasters, in mass vaccination campaigns, in the collection of solid waste and in other social actions.

Source: Angola Press News Agency