Bill 29 2025 - Public Persons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests) (Amendment) Bill, 2025

[12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 1 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE PUBLIC PERSONS (DECLARATION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025 (Bill No. 29 of 2025) EXPLANATORY STATEMENT ON THE OBJECTS AND REASONS FOR THE BILL 1. The Public Persons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities, and Business Interests) Act, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as “the said Act”) was enacted as an important legal framework to promote transparency, integrity, and accountability within public administration. The said Act mandates the submission of declaration by public persons not only in respect of their own assets, liabilities and business interests but also those of their spouse and immediate family members. This was designed to prevent corruption, illegal enrichment and conflict of interest by ensuring full financial disclosure. 2. The said Act was amended in the year 2021, inter alia, by removing the obligation of a public person to submit declaration in relation to his or her spouse and a member of his or her immediate family. 3. It is proposed — (a) to amend the definition of “liabilities” and to re-introduce the definition of “members of immediate family” in section 2; (b) to amend section 8 of the Act to re-introduce the provisions relating to declaration of assets, liabilities and business interests of the spouse and immediate family members; and (c) to substitute Second Schedule. 4. This Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives. Dated this 11th day of December, 2025. VINSENT S. PERERA ATTORNEY-GENERAL ——————— [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 2 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE PUBLIC PERSONS (DECLARATION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025 (Bill No. 29 of 2025) ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTIONS 1. Short title 2. Amendment section 2 3. Amendment of section 8 4. Substitution of Second Schedule [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 3 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE PUBLIC PERSONS (DECLARATION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025 (Bill No. 29 of 2025) A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC PERSONS (DECLARATION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS) ACT, 2016 (ACT 26 OF 2016). ENACTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Public Persons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests) (Amendment) Act, 2025. [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 4 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE Amendment of section 2 1. Section 2 of the Public Persons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests Act, 2016 (Act 26 of 2016) (hereinafter referred to as the “principal Act”) is amended — (a) in the definition of “liabilities” by inserting the words “or member of his or her immediate family” after the words “public person”; and (b) by inserting after the definition “liabilities”, the following definition — ‘ “member of immediate family” or “member of his or her immediate family” in relation to a public person includes the public person's spouse, any biological or adoptive child who is below the age of eighteen years or any biological or adoptive child whose means of support is wholly or partially from a public person, irrespective of age;’. Amendment of section 8 2. Section 8 of the principal Act is amended — (i) by adding at the end of paragraph (a), the words “and the details of members of his or her immediate family”; (ii) in paragraph (e) — (a) in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), after the words “he or she” the words “or any member of his or her immediate family” shall be inserted; (b) in subparagraphs (v) and (vi), after the words “jointly with any” the words “member of his or her immediate family,” shall be inserted; (iii) in paragraphs (f) and (g), after the words “he or she” the words “or any member of his or her immediate family” shall be inserted. Substitution of Second Schedule 4. Second Schedule to the principal Act is repealed and therefor substituting the following Schedule — “SECOND SCHEDULE [Section 7(2) and Section 22] DECLARATION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS INITIAL DECLARATION FORM [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 5 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE 1. IDENTIFICATION SECTION PERSONAL PARTICULARS OF THE PUBLIC PERSON Surname Name Residential Address Date of Birth (Date/Month/Year) National Identity Number Office held on the due date of s ubmission of declaration under section 7(1) of the Act Date of appointment/Election to the office Present position, if change of office 2. (A) ASSESTS, LIABILITIES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS IN THE NAME OF THE PUBLIC PERSON (a) Houses Parcel No. Year Built Actual/ Source of and Address or Purchased E stimated Cost Fin ance (b) Parcels of land Parcel No. Source and Cost of Stage of Source of a nd Date Purchase De velopment and Finance Address Acquired Estimated Cost [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 6 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE (c) Machinery plant and motor vehicles (State the number of vehicles owned within the last 2 years) Type Registration Price Date Current Source of and Number Paid Acquired Status Finance Make (i.e. sold or being used) (B) ASSESTS, LIABILITIES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS IN THE NAME OF MEMBERS OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY (a) Houses Parcel No. Year Built Actual/ Source of and Address or Purchased E stimated Cost Fin ance (b) Parcels of land Parcel No. Source and Cost of Stage of Source of a nd Date Purchase De velopment and Finance Address Acquired Estimated Cost (c) Machinery plant and motor vehicles (State the number of vehicles owned within the last 2 years) Type Registration Price Date Current Source of and Number Paid Acquired Status Finance Make (i.e. sold or being used) [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 7 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE (C) JOINTLY OWNED ASSETS WITH MEMBERS OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY OR OTHER PERSONS (a) Motor vehicles (State the number of vehicles owned within the last 2 years) Type Registration Price Date Current Source Members Co-owner and Number Paid Acquired Status of of Make (i.e. sold or Finance immediate being used) family (b) Other assets (State other assets owned within the last two ye ars) Details Price Date Current Source of Members of Co-owner of assets paid acquired status (i. e. Finance immediate family sold or acquired) (D) Other assets/property of the public perso n Description Cost Date Current Source of Registered acquired status (i.e, finance owner sold or being sold [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 8 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE (E) Other assets /property of the members of immediate family Description Cost Date Current Source of Registered acquired status (i.e, finance owner sold or being sold (F) Other income of the public person (a) Company Shares : Registered Price Date Current Source of Number Owner Paid Acquired Status Finance Estimated and (i.e., sold Current Value Details or being of Shares used) (b) Stocks, Bonds and Treasury Bi lls Number and Price paid Date Current Source of details of acquired status (i.e, . finance Estimated shares sold or current valu e being sold [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 9 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE (c) Insurance Policie s Number Price Date Current Source Estimated current value and paid acquired status of details of (i.e., income Insurance sold or Policies being sold) (G) Other income of the members of immediate family (a) Company Shares : Number Registered Price Date Current Source of Estimated and Owner Paid Acquired Status Finance Current Value Details (i.e., sold of Shares or being used) (b) Stocks, Bonds and Treasury Bil ls Number and Price paid Date Current Source of details of acquired status (i.e, . finance Estimated shares sold or current valu e being sold [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 10 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE (c) Insurance Policie s Number Price Date Current Source Estimated current value and paid acquired status of details of (i.e., income Insurance sold or Policies being sold) (H) Other Sources of Income: (i) Have you or members of the immediate family in the last one year received income from other sources, e.g., dividends, shares, bonuses, crypto etc.? YES or NO (delete whichever does not apply) If YES, please give details below: ……………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………… …………………………………...… Total Value ……………………………………………………………… (ii) Any other disclosure that you believe that are material and should be made known? YES or NO (delete whichever does not apply) If YES, please give details below: ……………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………… [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 11 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE (I) (a) Bank accounts of the public persons, local or international/abroad: Name o f Type of Account Balance Bank Account Number (b) Bank accounts o f the members of immediate family, local or international/abroad: Name of Bank Type of Account Balance Account Number (c) Joint bank accounts, local or international/abroad: Name Type of Account Name of Balance of Account Number Joint Bank Account holder [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 12 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE (J) ASSETS IN OTHER NAMES: (a) Do you or any member of your immediate family have assets in the name of any other person. YES or NO (delete whichever does not apply) If YES, please give details below: …………………………………………………….………… ……………………………………………………………… …….…………………………………………………….… ……………………………………………………………… …………….……………………………………… (b) Have you or any member of your immediate family financed assets which are in the name of other people. YES or NO (delete whichever does not apply) If YES, please give details below: …………………………………………………….………… ……………………………………………………………… …….…………………………………………………….… ……………………………………………………………… …………….………………………………………………… ….…………………………............................. (c) Have you or any member of your immediate family sold or transferred any assets previously owned by you in the last 2 years YES or NO (delete whichever does not apply) If YES, please give details below: …………………………………………………….……… …………………………………………………………… ………….………………………………………………… ….………………………………………………………… …………………….……………………………………… (d) Are you or any member of your immediate family owed any debt(s)? [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 13 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE YES or NO (delete whichever does not apply) If YES, please give details as follows: (i) Debts in favour of Public Person: Short-Term: Amount and Name of Public Person: ……………………………………………………... ……………………………………………………… ………………………….………………………….. ……………………………………………………... ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… Long-Term: Amount and Name of Public Person: ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… (ii) Debts in favour of other persons: Short-Term: Amount and name of persons: ……………………………………………………... ……………………………………………………... ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………... ……………………………………………………... ……………………………………………………… Long-Term: Amount and Name of person: ……………………………………………………... …….……………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………... ……………………………………………………… ………………………….………………………….. [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 14 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE (K) LIABILITIES (including loans, overdrafts etc.): Do you or members of your immediate family have any liabilities If yes give details as follows Description of liabilities To whom liable Amount owned (SCR) (L) BUSINESS INTERESTS: Do you or any member of your immediate family have any business interest? If YES, please give details as follows: (a) Those owned by public person Nature of Source of Partners Estimated Business Funding Income/Year (b) Those owned jointly by members of immediate family, close associates or agents: Nature of Source of Partners Estimated Business Funding Income/Year (c) Are you or any member of your immediate family affiliated in any way with any other institution, organisation or entity, whether or not you derive income or assets from such affiliation? If YES, please give details as follows: [12th Decem b e r 2 0 2 5 ] Public P ersons (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business 15 Interests)(Amendment) Bill REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE Nature of Institution, Nature of Estimated Period of Organisation or Affiliation Income/Year Affiliation Entity (if any) (M) Membership (Details of membership in Boards of Parastatals organisations or other organs of State) Name of Status Date of Average organisation (Chairperson/Director/ appointment monthly Member) fee DECLARATION (a) I, declare that the information I have provided above is a correct account of my situation with regard to assets, liabilities and business interest that could be attributed to my name; (b) I have no objection to the Commission verifying the above information; (c) I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and correct. Declared at: …………………….. this …………… day of ……..………. ………………………….……. Signature of Public Person FOR THE COMMISSION'S USE ONLY Received by: ……………………….……………………. Signature: ………………………………………………… Title: …………………………………………………....... Date: ……………………………………………………..