VICTORIA, Seychelles — The newly appointed regional representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Ashita Mittal, paid a courtesy call on President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House yesterday morning. Ms Mittal is in the country for three and a half days to strengthen Seychelles’ relationship with the UNODC and foster global cooperation on pressing regional and global challenges, such as drug trafficking, crime, terrorism and corruption.
The discussions between Ms Mittal and President Ramkalawan covered a range of topics. One of the key points was the ongoing collaboration on water management and the UNODC’s engagement with coast guards to tackle challenges posed by the high seas. This includes addressing drug trafficking routes that pass through the Indian Ocean into Seychelles and strengthening security measures at both the ports in Victoria and the airport. Ms Mittal praised Seychelles for its efforts to combat drug abuse with a public health approach.
She acknowledged the success of Seychelles’ drug control master plan, particularly highlighting the nation’s provision of treatment for over 9,000 injecting drug users and commended the country’s commitment to funding these services through national budgets, emphasising the importance of prioritising public health over punitive measures. The UNODC regional representative also spoke about how Seychelles is a key hub for maritime safety, with the establishment of a centre of excellence in maritime issues. Speaking about the youth, she described them as the ‘strength and wealth’ of the country and stressed the need to focus on cyber hygiene, mainly for young people, and to develop a culture of integrity and rule of law.
