A historic milestone was achieved today, Thursday 11th of June 2026, at State House, when the President of the Republic of Seychelles H.E. Dr. Patrick Herminie assented to the National Assembly Administration Act, 2026. The Assent Ceremony was attended by the Vice-President H.E. Mr. Sebastien Pillay, the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Azarel Ernesta, Chief Justice His Lordship Mr. Rony Govinden, the Minister for Finance, National Planning and Trade Mr. Pierre Laporte, the Leader of Government Business Hon. Sylvanne Lemiel, Members of the National Assembly, officials of the Parliamentary Service led by the Clerk Mrs. Tania Isaac, Secretaries of State, Principal Secretaries, and other distinguished guests.
The National Assembly Administration Act, 2026, establishes a legal framework to support the administrative and operational independence of the National Assembly and strengthen the institution's governance and management structures. Delivering remarks at the ceremony, Minister Laporte highlighted the importance of the separation of powers and the need for strong and independent branches of government as essential pillars of a modern democracy. He noted that “strong institutions are fundamental to good governance. Effective public administration is not solely about policies and programmes; it is also about ensuring that our institutions have the appropriate legal foundations, governance arrangements, and accountability mechanisms necessary to serve the people of Seychelles efficiently and responsibly.”
In her remarks, Speaker Hon. Azarel Ernesta described the occasion as a historic moment for the institution and expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the development of the legislation over the years. She paid tribute to President Herminie for his longstanding support of parliamentary autonomy and acknowledged the contributions of the Honourable Members of the National Assembly, government officials, and officers of the Parliamentary Service in bringing the Act to fruition. Speaker Ernesta noted that the assent of the Act marks the beginning of a new phase for the National Assembly, with further work ahead to fully implement its provisions and strengthen the institution's capacity to fulfil its constitutional mandate.
The National Assembly views the enactment of the Administration Act as a significant step towards strengthening parliamentary democracy, good governance, and institutional effectiveness in Seychelles.
