Bilateral co-operation on homeland security issues such as police and prisons management, drugs smuggling and detection, health and detoxification treatment of drug users in prisons were the subjects of discussion when Home Affairs Minister Mitcy Larue met the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, in Port Louis this week.

Minister Larue is heading a high level prisons and police delegation during an official five-day working visit to Mauritius.

She is accompanied by the Superintendent of Prisons, Vic Tirant; her special advisor for Police, Sheryl Vengadasamy; principal probation officer Elsia Nourrice and prisons security intelligence officer, Shafik Andrade.

Talks with the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Pravind Jugnauth, focused on the strengthening of friendly relations and bilateral co-operation between the two countries.

Mr Jugnauth, who also holds the portfolio for Home Affairs, External Communications and the National Development Unit, pointed out that Seychelles and Mauritius share similar social problems such as drug trafficking and poverty which is affecting the productivity and socio-economic development of both island states.

A new detention facility for male detainees awaiting trial was officially opened on Wednesday, as part of reform initiatives being undertaken by the prison authorities.

The Detention Remand Facility, the country’s first, is located within a compound of the Seychelles police at Bois De Rose Avenue (formerly the Seychelles Coastguard base).

The facility, which was officially commissioned by the Minister for Home Affairs Mitcy Larue,  

has cost R6.5 million and has been fully financed by the government of Seychelles.