The National Assembly Tuesday April 6 approved the setting up of a new body which will take over and manage all government housing units, properties and buildings.

It did so through the approval of the Property Management Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2004 presented by the Minister for Land Use and Habitat, Joel Morgan.

Mr Morgan said this new initiative was in line with measures being undertaken under the Macro-Economic Reform Programme (Merp) and the government's housing policy.

The Property Management Corporation (PMC), Mr Morgan said, would be responsible for the management and maintenance of properties that were previously being looked after by the Seychelles Housing Development Corporation (SHDC), which has been phased out. Among its objectives as stipulated in the Bill, PMC has to ensure the equitable provision of accommodation to the people by sale, lease or rental of houses or flats and to ensure the provision of required utility services.

PMC will be administered by a Board of Directors of between four to eight members appointed by the President of the Republic and will include the principal secretary for Habitat, the managing director of the Housing Finance Company Ltd and the managing director of PMC.

With regards to the source of finance for the company, Minister Morgan said it was essential for PMC to be able to cover all its expenses through the revenues earned from its activities such as sale of properties and rents collected from its tenants. 

Staff members previously working with SHDC who meet the posts requirements at PMC would be transferred to work for the new company, he said.

The Bill received the support of members of the majority Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF) party, but members of the Opposition voted against it, arguing that certain provisions in it gave the minister too much authority and control over the allocation and transfer of houses.

Members who gave their reaction included Hon. Andre Pool, Robert Georges, Annette Georges, Nicholas Prea, Patrick Herminie, Barry Faure, David Pierre and Wavel Ramkalawan.

Members of the Opposition claimed that there was a danger in entrusting the minister with too much power saying that tenants could be discriminated against because of their political affiliation.

In his summing-up address, Minister Morgan strongly refuted the allegations made by the Opposition. He reiterated that the government was committed to implement its social housing policy which he stressed was for the benefit of all Seychellois seeking a decent roof over their heads, regardless of their political affiliation or religious background. 

With regard to fears expressed by members of the Opposition that certain provisions gave the minister too much power, Mr Morgan said, as a minister, he was accountable not only to the President and Vice-President, but also to the people of Seychelles. Every directive given by him to the PMC Board of Directors, he said, would be in writing, so a record would be kept and published in the company's annual report.

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