After nearly a ten year absence, the Seychelles Media Association (SMA) has been given a new lease of life. The move was made possible with the support of the Reporters sans Frontières, which is based in the French capital Paris.
A similar association regrouping all Seychellois media professionals had existed in the past, but was short-lived.
However, the formation of the new body is attracting its own controversy. Its inaugural chairperson is the newly appointed Managing Director of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Antoine Onezime. As his appointment is made by the President, many feel this is a calculated attempt by the executive to influence this independent NGO.
The appointment of two members of parliament on the executive committee, although both are former journalists of the SBC have also raised a few eyebrows, about political meddling.
An independent media landscape is still in its infancy with the government controlling both the national broadcaster and the daily newspaper and limiting the liberalisation of the airwaves, whilst the ‘independent press’ is controlled by the political powers.
