The Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles hosted its most important meeting for this year and elected new Credential and Board members for the next 3 years. This took place in their annual general meeting (AGM) which also saw one of their most highly contested election. The AGM took place at the CEPS conference Room on Saturday 20th July and was attended by 64 members.
The AGM is a legal recommendation for all registered association and being the national platform, CEPS held its AGM as part of its accountability policy towards its members. Following the approval of 2022 AGM minutes, the 2023 Chairperson’s and the CEO’s reports were respectively presented. They both highlighted the progress and challenges faced last year and proposed new way forward. This was followed by the presentation of the Audited Report by the treasurer’s before taking questions and clarifications from the floor.
The second part of the AGM saw the election of members for the Board and Credential Committee. The latter needed five members from the six candidates. The main role of the Credential committee is primarily to vet application for new members deciding to join the platform.
For the Board election, twelve candidates contested the seven seats. Interestingly there were two candidates for both the post of chairperson and vice. Whilst the outgoing vicechair was re-elected with a comfortable majority, the Chairperson’s seat was much more competitive. Both candidates, Mr Kenneth Nalletamby and Mrs Odile Decomarmond delivered appealing speech to the packed conference room. After the ‘secret ballot exercise’ and counting under the watchful eyes of electoral commissioner Elvis Julie, Dr. Odile Decomarmond won by one extra vote. All candidates were reassured that there are vital roles to play. The full composition of the new CEPS Board:
Chairperson: Dr. Odile Decomarmond
Vice-Chairperson: Mr Michel Pierre
Secretary: Mrs Francoise Larue
Treasurer: Mrs Marion Orphee
Ordinary Member: Mrs Juliette Dine
Ordinary Member: Mrs Beryl Dodin
Ordinary Member: Mr Jean Claude Matombe
Ex-officio Member: Mr Alvin Laurence
The new board commenced their mandate in September 2024 whilst August was dedicated to the ‘’handing over’’. The Board’s main responsibility is to provide strategic direction to the CEPS Secretariat and represent the civil society sector nationally and internationally.
Quotes
Alvin Laurence – CEO CEPS:
‘’The AGM is the grand occasion where members exercise their power to ensure that those at their service, namely the Board members and Secretariat workers are accountable to the tasks assigned to them. This year it is even more special as members have to designate representatives for the next three years’’
Outgoing Chairperson – Francoise Larue:
‘’We have made remarkable progress over the past three years as we came out of Covid19 pandemic and adapted to the new administration of the country, but there is still much work to be done to elevate civil society to the required standard.’’
Newly Elected Chairperson- Dr. Odile Decomarmond:
‘’I come with a wealth of experience that I will apply to serve the sector and I look forward to learn more so that together, we can improve the work that is being done.’’
