From Wednesday 1st to Friday 4th of July 2025, the National Assembly of Seychelles has had the pleasure of hosting a parliamentary delegation of the People’s Majlis of Maldives for a benchmarking visit. The delegation was led by Deputy Speaker Hon. Ahmed Nazim, accompanied by Minority Leader Hon. Ibrahim Nazil, Hon. Hussain Riza Adam, Hon. Hassan Zareer, Hon. Husnee Mubarik, and Foreign Relations Officer Ms. Mariyam Waheed.
To enhance their understanding of the functions and structure of the legislative system of Seychelles, the delegation had the opportunity to call on the International Affairs Committee (IAC), Defence and Security Committee (DSC), and the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC). Each Committee met with the delegation to address critical aspects of national governance, from international relations to security, and the importance of financial oversight.
The National Assembly’s engagement within international forums and parliamentary associations took centre stage as the IAC convened to discuss the importance of parliamentary exchanges and benchmarking such as this. Led by Chairperson Hon. Waven William, the Committee gave the delegation an overview of the mandate of the IAC which includes the review of Foreign and Tourism policies, oversight of related departments and ministries, the review and ratification of international agreements, protocols, conventions, and treaties, as well as the maintenance of diplomatic ties with parliamentary institutions.
Deputy Speaker Nazim offered his insights into the counterparts of the Maldives, noting that their Foreign Relations Committee performs similar roles, with slight differences in their mandates such as the lack of financial oversight and the emphasised role of the Committee in appointing Ambassadors and national representatives. Chairperson of the Foreign Relations Committee Hon. Hassan Zareer noted that the Secretariat of the People’s Majlis of Maldives also play a key role in establishing parliamentary relations, liaising with international organisations, as well as protecting the institutional memory of parliament.
This was followed by a call on the Defence and Security Committee, led by Chairperson Hon. Clifford Andre, in which key topics such as the collaboration with key entities such as the Police Force, Intelligence Services, and Defence Force, the scrutiny of relevant budgets, and the role of the Committee in consultation and liaising between such entities on matters of national importance were discussed. The delegation led a dialogue on the shared gaps experienced by both parliaments, notably the extensive oversight on the Executive but distinct lack of oversight on the Judiciary. Hon. Nazim also remarked that issues in national security, such as the unfortunate attempt on the life of former Speaker of the People’s Majlis Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, had led to extensive reviews of legislation to ensure that centralised intelligence has the capacity to develop and address such instances. Hon. Andre echoed these sentiments, emphasising the need for capacity-building and regular training exercises for such Committees, their staff, and all relevant agencies.
A final meeting was then held with the Finance and Public Accounts Committee where discussions on fiscal responsibility and budgetary oversight were led by Chairperson Hon. Sebastien Pillay. Hon. Pillay began by explaining that the FPAC is a Standing Sessional Committee with a mandate enshrined within the Constitution of Seychelles, with a customary practice of electing the Leader of the Opposition as Chairperson. The Committee’s functions include the scrutiny of government funds in conjunction with the Report of the Auditor General, considering any matters relating to the economic use of public funds, and the summoning and examination of persons and records through processes such as Public Hearings.
Hon. Nazim commented on the customary practice of the nomination of Chairpersons, remarking that Maldives has a similar practice however it is neither the Majority or primary Minority party that takes up such a role – instead a Member of a smaller Minority party will take the role of Chairperson to ensure due involvement in such processes. Hon. Georges Romain gave a concise intervention of the importance of the Committee particularly in the region, noting that despite being a small nation Seychelles remains ahead in many practices and procedures such as transparency through live Public Hearings. Members of the Committee then took the opportunity to discuss the socio-economic differences between Maldives and Seychelles that affect public funds, such as retirement and the aging patterns of the population, proportion of expatriate workers, and the variance in the tourism sector due to geographical features and investment in infrastructure. The fruitful meetings with all Committees were closed with a souvenir photograph and exchange of gifts, as a symbol of continued friendship and parliamentary cooperation.
Benchmarking visits such as this serve as a valuable opportunity for mutual learning and enable parliamentary institutions to reflect on best practices, shared challenges, and innovative solutions. The exchange between the 7th National Assembly and the 20th Parliament of the People's Majlis highlighted both the similarities that unite ‘small island’ legislatures and the unique approaches each has developed in response to its national context. The National Assembly is pleased to have hosted the delegation and extends its best wishes to all Members as they continue their journey in strengthening democratic governance in the Maldives.
