A group of young officers from the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) and the Marine Police Unit have completed a two-week training conducted by a group of officers from the United States Coast Guard International Division.

Yesterday in a short ceremony attended by the Commissioner of Police Ernest Quatre as well as key officers of the SCG at its base at Ile Perseverance, the young officers received their certificates and boarding officers’ pin.

Three young officers – Andry Esparon, Jerome Philoe (both from the SCG) and Dominic Hess from the Marine Police Unit – were awarded a special honour graduate coin for excellence in the training. They have been selected for further intensive training in their field.

Seychelles is hosting a series of meeting of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF).

A series of four meetings which started with the EASF Day yesterday at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) will take place during next week.

Delegates from five Eastern African countries including Seychelles are taking part in the meetings.

EASF Day, which is held in different member countries, is a unique opportunity to bring together a cross section of people interested in or working for peace in the Eastern Africa region to learn more, share ideas and experiences on common issues using a unique and effective approach – the Standby Force approach.

Established by governments of Eastern Africa in a shared understanding of the urgent need to provide security and peace for the region, the EASF is mandated to address present security threats and conflicts and prevent future conflicts from escalating into large scale military conflicts, civil wars and genocide.

The Seychelles Police Force are now more equipped to deal with such issues as pirates hand-over after a joint training exercise with the Japanese Coast Guard.

The exercise took place earlier this week at the Seychelles International Airport in the presence of dignitaries from Japan and Seychelles.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Japan and Seychelles covering the conditions of transfer of seized property of suspected pirates was signed in 2014. The agreement covers issues such as pirates capture by the Japanese Navy, trial and possible conviction and repatriation to Somalia.

The scenario during this week’s exercise was that of two pirates who had been captured by the Japanese Coast Guard and taken into custody, along with evidence.  The Japanese Coast Guard then handed over the pirates and evidence to the Seychelles Police Force.

The Marine Police Unit now has a permanent base on the east Mahé coast.

This follows the opening yesterday of a satellite station at Roche Caïman, opposite Eden Island. 

The new facilities, which have been sponsored by Eden Island Development Company (EIDC), add to the unit’s headquarters on Bois de Rose Avenue and another station on Praslin.

Consisting of an office, a cell plus shower and toilet facilities, they are equipped with communication and first aid equipment. Two speed boats are also permanently based there.

Law enforcement, defence and security personnel from the region are now better equipped to combat terrorism after attending a seminar on the subject.

The five-day trans-regional seminar on combatting terrorism was organised by

the Joint Special Operations University (JSOU), the Defence Combatting Terrorism Fellowship (CTFP) and the US embassy.

It took place from August 29 to September 2 at the Coast Guard Training Base at Ile Perseverance.

The 30 delegates from Morocco, Afghanistan, Benin, Cameroun, Kenya, Mali, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Nigeria and Seychelles received their certificate on Friday at the close of the seminar.

During the seminar, the delegates were able to identify and analyse regional and trans-regional combatting terrorism capabilities, challenges and opportunities.

Present at the certificate presentation ceremony were the Chief of Staff of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) Colonel Michael Rosette, the Joint Special Operation at the University of Tampa, Florida Carlos Burgos, along with senior SPDF and police officers.

Eleven police officers and recruits gave blood yesterday as part of activities to commemorate Police Day which falls on September 21.

Twenty-five people responded to the call but out of this number only 11 were eligible to donate blood.

This blood drive was organised by the Seychelles Police and the Blood Transfusion Unit (BTU) of the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Seychelles Police health and safety officer, Jeanine Maria, said she is satisfied with the outcome as she would have deemed it to be unsuccessful if no one had turned up but however she had hoped for a higher turnout.

“I think that most of them could not turn up since they have been working very hard during the election period so it’s understandable that they could not come. However next time I would like more of them to make the effort,” she said.

Although some may argue that this is a small contribution it should be noted that the police department make it a habit throughout the year to donate blood upon request of the public or Ministry of Health.

When it comes to request for blood Mrs Maria said the person usually approaches an officer they feel more comfortable to do so who then liaises with her. After that she reaches out to the Ministry of Health who prepares a date for the officers to come donate blood.

Moreover, a health and safety unit which serves as mini clinic for the officers was opened in May this year.

This clinic, headed by Mrs Maria herself who is a qualified nurse by profession, eases daily screening and health talks in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Drug & Alcohol Council (Dac) and other departments.

The Commissioner of Police, in consultation with the Electoral Commissioner and the chief executive officer of the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA), has imposed a restriction on the sale of liquor during the election weekend.

The restriction will be effective from 11pm on Friday September 9 (tomorrow) to 8.30am on Sunday September 11, 2016 on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.

This measure applies to shopkeepers, operators of public bars including toddy, lapire and baka bars, dance halls, discotheques and members’ clubs.

Noting that these places must not sell and/or deliver liquor to members of the public during the restriction period, a joint communiqué from the SLA and the Police says that they will be able to resume their normal operation on September 11 as from 8.30am.

The communiqué however adds that the restriction does not apply to restaurants and bona fide lodgers in hotels and guesthouses but does apply to any member of the public who wishes to consume alcohol in a public bar in a hotel.

Noting that the measure is to assist in the orderly conduct of the parliamentary election tomorrow and Saturday, the communiqué calls on licensees and members of the public for their assistance and cooperation.

The three female police officers who were among eight officers promoted yesterday (see lead article) have said they are ready to face the challenges that will come with their new responsibilities in the force.

Newly promoted inspectors Winnifred Baccarie, Vanessa Anacoura and Marie-Antoinette Gedeon have all been in the police force for over five years and have worked in several units of the force and gathered knowledge and experience through hard work and dedication to their chosen profession.

Police Commissioner Reginald Elizabeth said Inspector Anacoura will now be the station commander at the Central Police headquarters, Inspector Gedeon will be responsible for the traffic section while Inspector Baccarie will be taking new responsibilities at the Police Academy.

“We need officers in these key positions to ensure the structural organisation of the force works effectively,” Commissioner Elizabeth said.

Five new dog handlers and their dogs have joined the Seychelles Police Force following the completion of a four-month general purpose police dog course.

This is seen as an additional big boost for combating crime in the country.

The five dog handlers were presented with their certificates during a small graduation ceremony on Thursday afternoon at the Petit Paris based Public Order and Tactical Response Services (formerly Public Services Support Wing).

Corporal Eddy Luc came out as the best overall graduate.

The graduation ceremony was attended by the Commissioner of Police (Compol) Reginald Elizabeth, deputy Commissioner Vernon Hunter, Chief Superintendent Sean Jackline, the commanding officer of the Public Order and Tactical Response Services, assistant Superintendent Peter Dacambra, assistant Superintendent James Tirant, the commanding officer of the Seychelles Police Dog Unit David Victor, partners, parents and other police officers and dog handlers.

A group of 18 officers from Seychelles and Mauritius who have completed a three-day training course in boat search to counter illicit trafficking in maritime environments have received their certificates.

Eight officers were from the Seychelles Marine Police, Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) and the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA), while 10 others were from the Mauritius Coast Guard and Marine Police.

The three-day training was funded by INTERPOL through a European Union (EU) project, Crimlea and the Norwegian funded project EVEX.