Seychelles Licensing Authority to Introduce Provisional Licences in Legal Overhaul
VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Seychelles Licensing Authority is preparing significant improvements in its legal framework to accommodate new business activities that fall outside existing regulations. Chief executive Ronny Antat said on Thursday that the authority is working on a new framework to grant provisional business licences. The move is intended to give the authority time to design proper licences for activities it does not currently cater for.
The authority aims to introduce the provisional licences within the year, indicating progress in the initiative. Mr Antat said the current legal framework is restrictive in a sense, and that many new activities have emerged that the authority does not yet have a proper licensing category for. He emphasised the need for an update to bring the framework in line with the modern economy.
The authority also plans to undertake a comprehensive review of the Licences Act 2010 and its accompanying regulations. This ambitious project will involve launching a tender process to modernise the legal framework and remove obstacles hindering new and innovative activities. The review is expected to take several years to complete but is a central part of the authority’s reform agenda.
In line with efforts to enhance customer convenience, the authority is in talks with the Department of Information, Communication and Technology (DICT) to digitalise its services. All transactions are processed through designated programmes developed by DICT. Despite occasional hitches with the systems, the authority is committed to implementing changes and introducing new capabilities, ensuring smoother processes for business and traffic-related licences.
Expanding its reach, the authority will soon open a new office on Praslin Island, extending its services beyond the main island of Mahe. This move aims to better serve customers on the inner islands. However, the authority is not without its challenges, with human and financial resources remaining the biggest hurdles to faster service delivery.
