Keeping it safe for children

Starting from next month, children giving evidence in Seychelles' courts will do so via a video link to reduce the trauma they normally go through while testifying in person in the courts of law.

The video link project is the brainchild of the National Council for Children (NCC), to allow children more effective testimony against their abusers and offenders.

Up to now, the NCC has been strongly against children giving evidence in the same courtroom as their abusers.

The council's National Director, Ruby Padiwalla says, “too many cases of child abuse have been ineffectual in the past, due to the child’s inability to cope with the presence of their offenders in the same room where they are about to testify.”

A spokesperson for Space ‘95, the company responsible for the set up says, the equipment allowing for the link-up will be handled by the presiding judge of the day and are very user-friendly.

“The cameras cover four locations at a time and should allow the judge the advantage of projecting the angle of the courtroom he deems appropriate for the child testifying to see,” explained Andy Noel of Space '95.

NCC's request to relocate the courtroom where children normally give their evidence to their headquarters has been rejected.

“Although they financed all the equipment for the project, the judiciary strongly feels, such location should be independent of the child welfare organisation,” argued Melchior Vidot, who is the Registrar.

The video link set-up system has been endorsed by the Seychelles' judicial and the social development departments.

New age of environmental protection

The decision by Seychelles' largest telecommunications company to introduce e-top up technology is being hailed as a positive step towards environmental protection.

The Chief Executive of Cable & Wireless Seychelles, Charles Hammond says: "I am sure the service will have a positive impact in Seychelles. Just recently, the President in his National Day address voiced for a cleaner Seychelles, and we are proud to bring this first electronic, environmentally friendly top up service to the people of Seychelles!"

A company's spokesperson says that over a million plastic scratch cards get thrown away after use annually and litter the country.

The service, introduced under the name of 'eTopUp', allows customers to top up their mobile prepaid service electronically, giving them more flexibility in managing their prepaid accounts.

"Customers now can top up with as little as SR10 up to a maximum of SR1000 per transaction, such flexibility has contributed hugely to the success of 'eTopUp' in other Cable & Wireless businesses globally," according to the company's head of Mobile Phone Unit Oliver Fock-Tave.

Although Cable Prepaid customers now have the choice of topping their accounts using 'eTopUp' or scratch card vouchers, the company says it intends to move completely away from vouchers and offer only 'eTopUp' in the future.

"This has been the trend around the world as similar electronic top up systems have proved to be far more beneficial to all concerned," concluded Fock-Tave.

A Promise Kept?

The first consignment of subsidized laptops promised to Seychellois teachers earlier this year was delivered this week.

The 1500 Inspiron 1501 and 6400 Dell laptop computers are selling at only 25% of the local market price in order to popularise the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education.

The scheme initiated by President James Michel, during the recent parliamentary election campaign provoked controversies, with critics questioning its tender procedures, the implication of some high government officials behind the sale and the availability of foreign exchange to finance the purchase.

The minister of Education Bernard Shamlaye defended the scheme saying the teachers' positive response is proof of its popularity. He added that he was happy with the teachers' response to make themselves available for an opportunity.

“In making it possible and affordable for teachers to acquire personal computers, the government is acknowledging the important work that teachers do,” says the minister.

The Dell's Regional Manager for Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, Philippe Cahez, who was in the country to attend the handing over ceremony, described his company's partnership with Seychelles as the “beginning of a story which will continue in the months to come.”