VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Seychelles Licensing Authority conducted 2,153 inspections for new licence applications in 2023, an increase of 17 percent on the 1,832 inspections carried out in 2022, the authority has reported. The figure points to a deliberate shift away from a front-loaded approval model towards one in which compliance is checked after a licence has been granted. Authority officials described the rise as a sign that the new approach is beginning to bite.
Chief executive Ronny Antat said the authority had stopped carrying out inspections under the remit of other agencies, such as the health and tourism departments, unless a complaint was received. Licence recommendations now come from those partner bodies, and the authority focuses on post-licensing inspections to confirm that licence conditions are being honoured. He said the new approach allows the authority to deploy its limited staff more effectively.
Inspections are also driven by a risk-based analysis, with higher-risk activities receiving closer attention. Mr Antat said the new approach had already produced a more targeted response, with the share of licensed breaches identified rising across the categories the authority tracks. The authority is now able to plan its inspection calendar around the sectors most likely to present problems.
Despite efforts to discourage breaches, the authority had to step up enforcement. In 2022 it issued 18 warnings to businesses, a figure that rose to 32 in 2023. Alongside warnings, the authority can impose fines of up to R500,000 and has the power to suspend, cancel or revoke licences outright. The sale of alcohol outside permitted hours remains a major issue across several locations, and the authority has suspended retail licences and opened further investigations.
Senior licensing officer Josianne Toussaint reported an increase of nearly 200 percent in complaints from the public, from 40 in 2022 to 148 in 2023. The rise is attributed to better communication channels and a more visible complaints process. Most complaints relate to noise and to illegal garages, particularly in residential areas. The authority has urged complainants to provide admissible evidence, such as written statements, so that legal action can be pursued.
The authority has also made several of its services available online. Business licence applications and renewals, road tax payments, and vehicle registration transfers can now be completed through the SLA website, with appointment bookings available 48 hours in advance. The authority is celebrating its 40th year of operation in 2024, and officials said the digital push would be a central part of the anniversary programme.
