Minister Jumeau meeting with members of the SNYA's environment commission

More and more youths are coming to the fore and taking a leading role in environment protection, the Minister for Environment, Mr Ronny Jumeau said, commending all youth organisations who have been assisting the ministry in its effort to protect and manage the environment.

The minister was speaking at a meeting he organised last week with the eight-member environment commission of the Seychelles National Youth Assembly (SNYA). The meeting was attended by the Speaker of the Assembly, Captain Clifford Andre and some other members of the Assembly.

Pointing out that he valued the youth assembly and considered it as a serious body which could contribute effectively in environment efforts, Minister Jumeau said the aim of convening members of the commission was to find out how they could further assist his ministry in its endeavour.

While youth groups like the Youth Action Team (YAT) and other organisations at district level have been coming forward and adopting specific environment projects, the youth assembly, the minister said, could play a more important academic role by exerting pressure where needed and in making an input in the adoption of environment legislations.

"The youth assembly is the ideal body to represent all youths in the country in environment matters, to voice their concerns and put pressure on the authorities in question," Minister Jumeau said.

The assembly, he said, could assist the ministry in its effort to educate and sensitise the population, and in the enforcement of environment policies as well as in taking a more pro-active role to help push things forward.

Speaker Andre said the gesture taken by the minister to discuss with the commission was a sign that he was extremely committed to see the environment protection efforts bear fruits by working closely with the country's youth.

Speaker Andre promised that the tree planting activity carried out at Salazie Sans Soucis recently was just the beginning of the newly tied bond between the ministry and the youth assembly.

The session, he said, was very important for them as it would give them an insight into the ministry's environment policy.

Such knowledge, he said, could help them better play an active role in environment protection.

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