VICTORIA, Seychelles — Four newly appointed members of the Electoral Commission of Seychelles were sworn in yesterday morning at State House by President Wavel Ramkalawan. The appointees — Jenny Adrienne, Patrick Hoareau, Steve Pointe and Dr Bernard Monnaie — have been reappointed to facilitate a smooth transition following the conclusion of the term of office of four outgoing members on July 14, 2025.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Dr Bernard Monnaie shared his extensive background, which is primarily rooted in education. He began his career at the Seychelles Polytechnic and spent five years in the education sector before transitioning to the tourism industry, then returned to education and ultimately joined the University of Seychelles. “I have been involved in elections dating back to 1997, since the inception of multi-party democracy in Seychelles. I initially volunteered to assist with the English River district and have been consistently involved in electoral processes. My decision to offer my service to the commission is based on the experience I gained from Seychelles’ elections,” he said.
President Ramkalawan extended his congratulations to the commissioners and underscored the pivotal role of the Electoral Commission in safeguarding the democratic foundations of the nation. He urged the appointees to uphold the highest standards of impartiality, transparency and professionalism. “You will have substantial responsibilities that lie ahead, particularly during the upcoming election period. The government will give you all the support you need to enable the new commissioners to execute their duties effectively.” The President further noted that the commissioners are not appointed by him; the selection process is managed by the Constitutional Appointments Authority, which issues public calls for applications and conducts interviews.
