"Let us work together for a better Seychelles where peace, order and stability prevail as we remain politically mature."

This was the wish of Speaker Francis MacGregor to the Members of the National Assembly on Tuesday December 17,  after his re-election to the post in this third Assembly of the third Republic.

Speaking after the MNAs had taken their Oath of Allegiance, Mr MacGregor noted that in their pledge to be faithful, bear true allegiance, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, there was also that duty to ensure that the country remained stable and politically mature.

Looking back at the country's parliamentary history, Mr MacGregor said research he had carried out showed that this was the country's eleventh parliament since Seychellois received the right to vote in 1967.

He said the first parliament was made up of only eight members representing eight districts and this increased to 15 in 1970. There were 25 parliamentarians in 1976 and today there were 34.

This, he said, showed progress in widening representation of the population in parliament.

Mr MacGregor also underlined progress made in women representation in the Assembly saying that in 1967 there was only one woman and today 10 out of 34 or 30 percent representation.

This, he said, put Seychelles among the top ten countries where representation by women in parliament was concerned.

Explaining that in the current Assembly over half of the members were new, he said he expected the members to learn from each other.

Mr MacGregor said the public had to understand that the Assembly was principally a forum for dialogue and decision making where laws, motions and international treaties were approved and where important people such as ministers and ambassadors were appointed.

He said in the Assembly dialogue took place through debate and all MNAs had to respect the opinions of others even if they did not necessarily agree with them.

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