The Seychelles Police Academy (SPA) has stopped taking in for treatment people with drug withdrawal symptoms, the Public Health Authority (PHA) has announced.

The facility has been returned to the Seychelles Police.

It was on August 29, 2017 that the PHA requisitioned the SPA dormitories for the Health Care Agency (HCA) to use as a temporary treatment facility for the management of people who were on drug withdrawal to cope with the surge in the number of cases.

Since its opening a total of 115 people (99 males /16 females) have been managed there, according to a joint communiqué from the PHA and HCA.

“All clients were satisfactorily cared for. The SPA facilities have provided the optimal environment for caring of this group of patients with the appropriate level of security and enough space for therapeutic activities,” says the communiqué.

The communiqué notes that since the beginning of this crisis, there has been a decreasing trend in the number of clients presenting with illicit drug withdrawal symptoms. Currently, the number of people attending HCA facilities with these symptoms is around 0 – 2 per day.

The communiqué states that the drop-in centres that are under Wellness Clinic remain functional.  “Illicit drug users wishing to be assisted and who are not registered with drop-in centres, are advised to register with the Agency for Prevention of Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation,” it says.

The PHA and the HCA have thanked the SPA for its understanding and support during this time.

‘I am one of the rare people to have made it full circle in the criminal justice system’

New Commissioner of Police, Kishnan Labonté, has officially sworn to uphold the Constitution of Seychelles and administer law and order without fear or favour.

The official swearing in of Commissioner Labonte took place yesterday morning at State House before the President of the Republic Danny Faure, Vice-President Vincent Meriton, Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Pillay, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Mathilda Twomey, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nicholas Prea, other leaders in the National Assembly and high officials.

Also duly present were members of the commissioners’ family, namely his wife Jeanette Labonte, his son and daughter as well as his step-daughter.

As prescribed by Article 160(1) of the Constitution, Kishnan Labonte was last week nominated as Commissioner of Police by President Danny Faure, and his nomination was subsequently approved by the National Assembly.

With the ceremony yesterday, Mr Labonte officially replaces former Commissioner Reginald Elizabeth whose resignation took effect two days prior, on October 7.