Bill 6 2022 - Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles (Tenth Amendment) Bill 2022
AI-assisted research summary: This amendment changes the Constitution’s wording for the Defence Forces and gives them power to enforce written laws in specified areas.
[5th May 2022] Supplement to Official Gazette i CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES (TENTH AMENDMENT) BILL, 2022 (Bill No. 6 of 2022) EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF AND REASONS FOR THE BILL The object of this Bill is to alter the provisions of the Constitution relevant to the Defence Forces. The Constitutional Review Committee of 2008 recommended that article 163 of the Constitution is amended to crystalize the functions and powers of the Defence Forces. The Constitutional Review Committee at page 56 of its report recommended that — “. . . given the vast extent of the EEZ of Seychelles and our limited resources, [it is recommended that] article 163 (1) be amended to allow the use of the Defence Forces to police and enforce our laws in those waters where Seychelles has jurisdiction. The Defence Forces could thus be used [to] protect the waters against pirates and to prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs into Seychelles.” In this regard, the Government is seeking to make it clear in the Constitution that the Defence Forces can exercise powers to enforce any written law in relation to matters such as public security, environmental protection, maritime security or maritime zones. Dated this 25th day of April, 2022. FRANK D.R. ALLY ATTORNEY-GENERAL ——————— ii Supplement to Official Gazette [5th May 2022] CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES (TENTH AMENDMENT) BILL, 2022 (Bill No. 6 of 2022) ARRANGEMENT OF ARTICLES ARTICLES 1. Short title 2. Amendment of the Constitution 3. Amendment of article 163 [5th May 2022] Supplement to Official Gazette iii CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES (TENTH AMENDMENT) BILL, 2022 (Bill No. 6 of 2022) A BILL FOR AN ACT AN ACT TO ALTER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES. ENACTED by the President and the National Assembly. Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles (Tenth Amendment) Act, 2022, and shall be read together with the Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles, Cap. 42, as amended, which is hereinafter referred to as the “Constitution” iv Supplement to Official Gazette [5th May 2022] Amendment of the Constitution 2. The Constitution is amended by repealing the words “Defence Forces of Seychelles”, wherever they appear, and substituting therefor the words “Seychelles Defence Forces”. Amendment of article 163 3. Article 163 of the Constitution is amended — (a) in clause (1) — (i) by renumbering subclauses (c) and (d) as subclauses (d) and (e), respectively; (ii) by inserting immediately after subclause (b) the following new subclause — “(c) to enforce any written law in relation to public security, environmental protection, maritime security or maritime zones, and any other matters as may be specified in an Act;”