President Faure on measures to deal with COVID-19

Address by President Danny Faure on measures to address the COVID 19 situation




President Foure Press release 20.03.2020

Seychelles has entered extraordinary times, they are unprecedented. They are exceptional in terms of the coronavirus pandemic. They are exceptional in terms of the public health emergency. They are extraordinary in terms of the impact of this pandemic on the economy of our country. They are extraordinary in terms of their impact on our social practices and traditions as a people. Tonight I will announce additional measures that we must take in these extraordinary times.

20.03.2020

Author:
Karl Schnürch

As I speak, 7 patients here in Seychelles have tested positive for COVID-19. All 7 patients are in the treatment centre at the Family Hospital in Perseverance. Health workers, Red Cross volunteers and many others continue to work extremely hard day and night to carry out contact tracing and other necessary work.

At present, there is no evidence that there has been any transmission of this disease in the community, i.e. spread of the virus from an unknown source.

Our quarantine system is effective, but the more people are quarantined, the more pressure is put on our human and logistical resources.

Despite all the measures we have taken and all the advice we have given, some of our Seychellois brothers and sisters continue to travel abroad to places that are at risk.

Following the discussions I have had today with the Commissioner for Public Health, Dr Jude Gedeon, it is clear that there is a public health emergency. In such a situation, the Act gives the Commissioner of Public Health the power to draw on additional resources to respond to the situation. The Commissioner of Public Health will publish a notice on the matter in the Gazette on Monday 23 March.

Angesichts dieser neuen Situation möchte ich heute Abend ankündigen, dass die Regierung weitere Maßnahmen ergreifen muss, um zu verhindern, dass noch mehr infizierte Menschen auf die Seychellen kommen und das Virus in unserer Bevölkerung verbreiten.

Firstly, from Monday 23 March, I am imposing a 30-day travel ban on all foreign travel by our citizens, except for medical emergencies authorised by the Ministry of Health. The legal instrument enabling the implementation of this measure will be published on Monday 23 March.

Secondly, all foreign workers now working in a GOP and outside Seychelles will not be able to return to the country until further notice. This comes into effect immediately.

Third: No new GOPs will be issued until further notice. This also comes into effect with immediate effect.

Fourth: All public schools and day care centres on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue will remain closed until further notice. This also applies to all post-secondary institutions, the University of Seychelles and the Guy Morel Institute.

Fifth, as Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, I have asked military personnel who have left the Defence Forces in the last three years to join the Reserve in accordance with applicable law. This will provide us with further resources in these extraordinary times.

Sixth, we are increasing the capacity of our quarantine and treatment facilities.

We will receive more equipment and medicines from friendly countries.
With the support of the World Health Organisation, we have developed a programme to obtain additional staff support when needed.
In the next 3 weeks we will have a new quarantine facility on Ile du Swet.
Seventh: I have asked all ministries, departments and agencies in government to identify human resources for rapid training in contact tracing to support the Ministry of Health and increase their capacity to carry out their work.

Today, on behalf of the Government, I express our solidarity with all Seychellois citizens abroad. I urge you to follow the advice of the health authorities in your respective countries.

I applaud the efforts of all public servants, private sector employees and members of civil society who are doing their best to adapt to this ever-evolving situation in which we find ourselves. I ask them to continue to follow the advice of the Ministry of Health; listen to the official announcements on radio and television.

Tonight, I appeal to each of us to avoid using social media to cause confusion and to stir up fear. There is no need for that. What we need is to follow the health authority to get the latest and accurate information about the pandemic.

Let us stay well informed. Let us stay calm. Let us stay united.

Dear Seychellois brothers and sisters,

This pandemic has had a huge negative impact on the global economy. Seychelles, as a small country, has not been spared.

Tonight I want to make it clear that the economic damage as a result of this pandemic will be real.

I want to assure you that we will do everything in our power to ensure that no worker loses their job and no business is shut down because of this pandemic.

It is clear to me that once this economic tsunami is over, the global outlook stabilises and tourists return to our shores, Seychelles must be in a good position to bounce back quickly.

The aim of the measures I am announcing tonight is to keep the economy alive in these extraordinary times we are in.

First, the government will guarantee the salaries of all private sector workers for the months of April, May and June. A total of SCR 1.2 billion has been budgeted for this intervention. The government will not authorise any dismissals.

Secondly, the government will increase the budget for the Social Protection Agency so that it is able to support those affected. An amount of SCR 30 million will be allocated to the Social Protection Agency.

Thirdly, the government will increase the budget for the Unemployment Relief Scheme (URS). A sum of SCR10 million will be allocated to the Ministry of Labour.

Fourth: In exceptional cases, loan repayments are reduced for a period of 6 months after the central bank has cooperated with the commercial banks. If necessary, an individual may be granted a moratorium on loan repayments over this period. This will cover principal repayments and interest repayments during this 6-month period.

Fifth, following a decline in international oil prices, the PUC has seen a reduction in its cost of electricity generation by 25 cents per unit. The government has decided that the electricity tariff for the public sector will remain the same. This will enable the PUC to pass on this additional benefit to the other sectors, so that people in the domestic sector will see a reduction in electricity tariffs of more than 25 cents per unit.

The measures for private companies that have run into difficulties in these exceptional times are as follows:

Firstly, the government will provide financial assistance to these struggling companies to ensure that all their workers are paid in April, May and June. We are finalising the structure by which this will work and we will start the first payments in mid-April.

Secondly, since the government provides companies with the means to pay their employees, the Ministry of Labour will not authorise layoffs.

Thirdly, loan repayments will be reduced for a period of 6 months after cooperation between the central bank and the commercial banks. In exceptional cases, there will be a moratorium on loan repayments during this period. This will cover both interest and principal repayments during this 6-month period.

Fourth, for those companies that need more liquidity, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank are currently developing a framework that will allow these companies quicker and more affordable access to credit.

Fifthly, with regard to taxes for companies:

All tax payments due in March will be postponed until September 2020.
Corporate Social Responsibility Tax, Tourism Marketing Tax and Business Tax payments for April, May and June will also be postponed until September 2020.
Payments for all other taxes with deadlines in April, May and June remain in place (i.e. they are due in April, May and June respectively).

Sixth, for the agriculture sector, the government will ensure that everything produced can be bought through STC (if the farmer wants to sell to STC). In addition, the government has identified 14 plots of land that will be made available to the farmers' union for further production.

Seventh: Interest rates on investment loans in agriculture or fisheries are reduced to 1%.

Eighth, following the government's decision to maintain the electricity tariff for the public sector, the commercial sector will also benefit from a reduction in electricity tariffs of more than 25 cents per unit.

Ninth: The contributions that employers are required to pay to the Seychelles Pension Fund for the months of April, May and June - the 3% on their employees' salary - will now be due in September 2020.

Accomplices,

Seychellois brothers and sisters,

The measures I have announced this evening are designed to improve the situation we find ourselves in today. I want to assure you that we are doing everything we can. As we have seen, this is a dynamic situation and if we need to do more, we will.

As I said last week: the government will continue to do whatever it takes to continue to protect our people.

After meeting with the Commissioner of Police this week, I am satisfied with the measures taken to ensure law and order in the event of an incident during these unprecedented times.

In order for us to overcome the challenges caused by this pandemic, health and economic measures alone are not enough. The psychosocial aspect of this fight is also crucial.

It is important that people remain calm and responsible. STC and SEYPEC have shown that we have a solid supply of fuel and vital raw materials. The PUC continues to supply electricity and water. The ports remain open and goods continue to come in.

In view of these extraordinary times, the government will present a new budget for 2020 on 31 March. Our priorities have changed. I call on the National Assembly to adopt this new budget.

Tonight I would like to thank everyone who is working on the front lines of this pandemic. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all our health professionals and all the volunteers. I know you only sleep three or four hours a night.

Ich danke allen Mitarbeitern, die unsere Grenzen schützen und täglich mit Besuchern zu tun haben. Dazu gehören auch alle, die auf dem Flughafen und im Hafen arbeiten.

My thanks also go to all the other staff who support this national effort for the professionalism and dedication they demonstrate every day. Their patriotism is an inspiration.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the religious organisations that have been proactive and taken measures to reduce social contact and mass gatherings.

We all need to continue to work together - especially in the coming months.

This is a time to reflect on what we represent to each other. We need to continue to educate our children about the precautions they need to take. If you have elderly neighbours, remember to look out for them. Give them the support and care they might need. Help explain to others what precautions we all need to take. Pay attention to how we treat each other. Our family values. Our community values. What keeps us together as Seychellois.

Seychelles has never faced a crisis of this magnitude. It is times like these that truly test our character as a nation. We must combine our efforts to remain well informed, calm and united in this moment.

We will remain in this extraordinary state for some time to come. But if we remain vigilant, follow the advice of the Ministry of Health and take practical precautions to protect ourselves and our families, we will be able to keep our economy going and get on with our daily lives. In such a crisis, everyone has a role to play.

I am confident that we will master this great challenge that lies ahead of us. It will not be easy. It will require great sacrifices from each and every one of us. But if we continue to work together and always remain united, we will move forward together.

Seychellois brothers and sisters,

Let us continue to pray together for strength, courage and the good health of our people.

May God continue to bless our Seychelles and protect our people.

Thank you and good evening

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