The Secretariat

The Secretariat of the National Assembly is headed by the Clerk under the direction of the Speaker. The Secretariat can be represented in an Organizational Chart as found below.

The Speaker is the head of the Legislative branch of Government and is the principal presiding officer of the National Assembly. The Speaker manages over the affairs of the Assembly and presides over the sessions of the National Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the Members of the National Assembly, from amongst the Members of the National Assembly. Read more about the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Dr. Patrick Herminie on his profile page.

The Clerk is the Principal Advisor to the House on the correct practice and procedures, and on the formal and informal rules which govern its everyday administrative activities. S/He is fully responsible for recording the decisions and proceedings of the Assembly and is responsible for the subsequent publication of the Minutes and the Verbatim Reports. The Clerk also assists and advises the Speaker to prepare for sittings and discusses with him/her any foreseeable points of procedural difficulty. The Clerk has the full responsibility of informing the Cabinet of Ministers on important decisions taken by the Assembly. As well as the Principal Advisor, the Clerk is also the Principal Administrator responsible for matters relating to the administration of the services of the National Assembly and its complement of staff. Under the direction of the Speaker, the Clerk is Head of the National Assembly Secretariat.

The Deputy Clerk becomes fully responsible for the National Assembly Secretariat in the absence of the Clerk. S/He keeps records of proceedings of the Assembly and its Committees and assists with the preparation of the Order Paper for each Sitting of the National Assembly.

The primary purpose of the Personal Assistant is to provide the secretarial, clerical and administrative support required by the Speaker. The Personal Assistant is required to exercise considerable judgement and discretion in completing assignments. The Speaker's Personal Assistant also keeps and publishes (when required) any of the Speaker's Publications as appropriate.

The National Assembly of Seychelles