On Wednesday 25th March 2026, the International Affairs Committee (IAC) led by Chairperson Hon. Egbert Aglae, met with a delegation from the Department of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM). The delegation was headed by Principal Secretary Mr. Daniel Cetoupe, who was accompanied by Senior Risk Management Officer Ms. Catherina Bonnelame. Also present at the meeting were Hon. Trevor Louise, Hon. Andy Labonte, Hon. Denise Clarisse, Hon. Alvin Grandcourt, and Hon. Wavel Woodcock. The Committee was assisted by Committee Clerks Ms. Samia Lebon and Ms. Emma Didon.
The main aim of the meeting was to discuss the Charter on the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as part of IAC’s responsibility to review international treaties and agreements prior to their being discussed in the House for ratification or accession. The meeting began with a presentation from PS Cetoupe on the CDRI Charter which included its history, vision, purpose, and the ways in which Seychelles would benefit from being a Party of the Coalition. It was noted that the CDRI aims to mainstream disaster risk reduction in infrastructural development, which integrates and considers climate change to produce resilient infrastructure.
The Committee engaged the delegation with questions on the country’s preparedness to tackle disasters and the involvement of the CDRI. This raised the matter of the existing Early Warning System and Information Management System, in which the CDRI with the facilitation of the DRDM, will assist the relevant planning and infrastructural MDAs by identifying risk triggers to allow for more effective implementation of risk measures in infrastructural development. PS Cetoupe informed the Committee that the DRDM’s Parent Act is set to be revised, including updates to the subsidiary legislation for all relevant MDAs and the National Integrated Management Plan, to properly cater for CDRI.
The Committee acknowledged the important risk management coordination the DRDM is undertaking nationally, which will be further bolstered by the CDRI. The fruitful meeting then concluded with the IAC extending its support for the approval of the CDRI by the House.
