News Desk
VICTORIA, Seychelles — A high-level delegation from the Peoples’ Majlis embarked on a benchmarking mission to Seychelles this week, seeking to study the island nation’s legislative and judicial systems as part of efforts to strengthen democratic institutions back home.
The delegation, led by Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, met with Speaker Roger Mancienne of Seychelles’ National Assembly as a significant step toward enhanced parliamentary cooperation between the two Indian Ocean nations.
“We see similarities between our two nations, but the differences in how key institutions function and manage resources could provide valuable insights,” Hon. Nazim said during the courtesy call, explaining the delegation’s objectives.
The Maldivian group includes Minority Leader Ibrahim Nazil and parliamentarians Hussain Riza Adam, Hassan Zareer and Husnee Mubarik, along with Foreign Relations Officer Mariyam Waheed. They were received by Hon. Mancienne, Deputy Speaker Gervais Henrie and senior National Assembly staff.
Hon. Mancienne emphasized the importance of such exchanges for strengthening legislative processes. “Parliamentary benchmarking fosters robust decision-making and helps us adopt best practices in legislation,” he said, outlining a program that includes meetings with key committees overseeing finance, international affairs, and defense matters.
The Seychelles speaker acknowledged operational challenges, including resource constraints and administrative staffing shortages, but noted that parliamentary committees continue to fulfill their mandates through outreach and educational programs.
Deputy Speaker Hon. Henrie suggested that ongoing exchanges of technical expertise and information could deepen bilateral ties. “Our discussions revealed shared national and socio-political challenges that form a foundation for collaboration,” he said.
The delegation’s agenda includes observing National Assembly proceedings and conducting interactive sessions with various parliamentary committees. The visit reflects broader efforts by small island developing states to share governance experiences and strengthen democratic institutions.
Both nations face similar challenges as archipelagic democracies in the Indian Ocean, including resource management, climate change adaptation and maintaining democratic governance across dispersed populations.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts and Hon. Mancienne’s invitation for the delegation to observe legislative proceedings during their week-long stay.
