Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment Pierre Laporte has accused the opposition of wasting time in the National Assembly. Minister Laporte appeared before the National Assembly on Tuesday. He was there to answer a Private Notice Question (PNQ) from Opposition Leader Bernard Georges.
Mr Georges asked when Seychellois workers would receive back pay for unpaid portions of their 13th-month salaries. He also sought details on first-class travel by the President and the abolition of housing allowances for ministers.
“Following promises made before the election that all workers would receive back pay for unpaid portions of their 13th-month salaries, that first-class travel would be ended, and that housing allowances for ministers would be abolished, can the Minister inform the Assembly when these measures will be implemented?” Mr Georges asked.
In response, Mr Laporte said he was not aware of such a pledge.
“What I know is that President Herminie previously asked the former administration: ‘After approving back pay for themselves, when will Seychellois workers also benefit from similar back pay?'” Mr Laporte said.
He said the commitment outlined in the United Seychelles manifesto and the government’s first 100-day contract focused on reintroducing the 13th-month salary. Moreover, he added that this was not the case under the previous LDS administration.
Addressing questions about first-class travel, Mr Laporte said the President had pledged to reduce unnecessary travel and excessive spending.
However, he said this would not “compromise dignity, security and operational persistence attached with the President’s office”.
“The President will continue to travel in a responsible and consistent manner and stature of his office,” Mr Laporte said.
The discussion then turned to housing allowances for ministers.
Mr Laporte confirmed that three ministers currently receive housing support.
“In two cases, the residences of ministers were considered not appropriate and not safe for a minister. In another case, one minister comes from an inner island and therefore needs accommodation on Mahé to serve her responsibilities,” he said.
He described the arrangements as practical. He also criticised the opposition for promoting what he called “selective narratives”.
Mr Laporte accused opposition members of raising issues that the government did not consider a priority.
During supplementary questions, he said the government had largely abolished housing allowances. Only a few ministers still benefited from the arrangement.
He also revealed that some ministers received financial assistance to improve their homes.
“SCR1.2 million remained in the security budget. The government took a decision that, since we were going to abolish housing allowances for ministers who did not need them, the money would instead be used to upgrade the residences of certain ministers,” Mr Laporte said.
Later in the session, Mr Laporte confirmed that he was among the ministers who received financial assistance.
“I was one of the ministers who received financial assistance to upgrade certain aspects of my home,” he said.
He added that Minister Barry Faure also benefited from the programme, which he described as a one-off payment.
Mr Laporte also named the three ministers currently receiving housing allowances as Minister Eveline Rose, Minister Geralda Desaubin and Minister Idith Alexander.