SITE Kicks Off Post-Secondary Youth Assembly Elections with Keisha Govinden’s Narrow Win
The democratic pulse of Seychelles’ youth beat stronger yesterday as the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education (SITE) in Mont Fleuri became the first post-secondary institution to hold elections for the 21st cohort of the Seychelles National Youth Assembly (SNYA). In a closely contested race between two candidates, Keisha Govinden emerged victorious with 14 votes, narrowly defeating Gabriella Verlaque who secured 12 votes, with one invalid ballot among the 27 cast. The election marks the start of the post-secondary phase of SNYA elections, following successful polls in all secondary schools in March, and introduces the Vocational Training Centre at North East Point as a new participating institution this year.
Speaking after her election, Ms Govinden, encouraged by peers to run and previously informed by an SNYA talk, pledged to vigorously represent her fellow students. She immediately highlighted a primary concern raised on the campaign trail: the absence of a school uniform at SITE, which forces students to spend more on clothing without a clothing allowance. Her election underscores the SNYA’s continued role as a key platform for youth empowerment and civic engagement since its establishment in 2003. The electoral process will now continue across other post-secondary institutions, including the Seychelles Maritime Academy and the Seychelles Institute of Technology, with the full 21st cohort to be inaugurated on May 30, 2026.
