The chairman of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) board, Gerard Lafortune, has raised concerns about provisions in a proposed new SBC Bill. He says changes to board appointments could weaken broadcaster’s independence
Speaking in an interview with SBC, Mr Lafortune said he had expected the legislation to deliver stronger measures to protect the broadcaster’s independence.
“This bill has been talked about for many months, and we had great expectations,” he said. “I certainly had great expectations that it would have been something more than what it is offering now. But now that I have seen the bill, I will tell you frankly that I am disappointed because my expectations were much higher.”
Mr Lafortune acknowledged that the bill contains language aimed at strengthening the independence and impartiality of SBC as a national broadcaster.
However, he said the legal provisions do not clearly explain how the bill will deliver those objectives.
“Instead, there are possibilities for eroding the independence of SBC as the national broadcaster, an independence that is guaranteed by the Seychelles Constitution,” he said.
Mr Lafortune said his main concerns relate to proposed changes to the appointment and composition of the SBC board.
He pointed to reforms introduced in 2017, which he said followed extensive consultations involving political parties at the time.
According to Mr Lafortune, the amendments received unanimous support from all 30 members present in the National Assembly.
He said the 2017 framework created a balanced appointment process through the Constitutional Appointments Authority (CAA).
Under that system, positions were advertised and candidates went through a selection process before recommendations were submitted to the President. The President then made appointments in consultation with the Chief Justice and the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Mr Lafortune said the proposed bill removes the role of the CAA.
Instead, a three-member committee appointed by the President would select nominees for the board and submit their names to the President.
“For me, this is where the independence of SBC is being eroded because it is the President who appoints the three members of the committee,” he said. “There is therefore no transparency in that process. This is my biggest concern.”
Mr Lafortune also said the proposed amendments could increase opportunities for political influence over the broadcaster.
He noted that the bill introduces a provision making political interference from outside the organisation a criminal offence.
“This did not exist before, so that is a positive aspect,” he said.
However, he argued that the proposed board structure would give the government of the day greater scope to appoint members.
“As a result, SBC risks becoming more of a state broadcaster that serves as the voice of the government, rather than the voice of the people, as it is intended to be and as is guaranteed under the Constitution,” he said.