Category: English

Source: APO

The United States Embassy, through the English for Law Enforcement (ELE) program, is helping the Madagascar’s National Police and Gendarmerie Academies strengthen the English skills that officers need to communicate clearly during real operations, joint transnational criminal investigations, and information sharing with international counterparts.

Today, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold and Acting DCM Richard Hays presented National Police Academy Director Commissaire Divisionnaire de Police BEN HOUSSEN Evariste and Gendarmerie Academy Director Colonel RABARISON Tina Luc Olivier additional books and teaching resources from the Embassy, including materials authored by American law enforcement experts, to further strengthen their day‑to‑day training.

Launched by the U.S. Embassy in 2024, the ELE program is implemented by the U.S. English Language Specialists and the English Language Teachers’ Association of Madagascar (ELTA).  The program designed a specialized curriculum tailored to police and gendarmerie needs and produced online and printed teaching materials that reflect real-world law enforcement scenarios.  Malagasy English instructors at both academies are also continuously trained in a more interactive, skills-based approach to language learning that emphasizes listening, speaking, and the ability to operate in English in high-pressure situations.

A one-year follow-up program continues to support National Police and Gendarme English instructors as they implement the updated, law-enforcement-focused curriculum and integrate new teaching resources into their courses.

This sustained support ensures that English training remains embedded in the academies’ regular course offerings, helping Malagasy officers communicate clearly with counterparts across borders, respond to global security threats, and keep both our countries – and the wider region – safe.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Madagascar.

Source: APO

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On April 2, Ambassador GAO Wenqi paid a courtesy call on Mr. Gaspard Twagirayezu, CEO of Rwanda Space Agency.

The two sides exchanged views on China-Rwanda cooperation in the space sector and expressed their commitment to deepening the consensus reached by the two heads of state at the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, so as to inject new impetus into the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Rwanda.

Source: APO

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On April 1, Yin Chengwu, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, met with Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture of Liberia. The two sides exchanged views on agricultural cooperation and agreed to seize the development opportunities during China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period, striving to advance bilateral agricultural collaboration for the benefit of both nations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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On April 2nd, H.E. Yin Chengwu, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, met with Dr. Olushayo Olu, the Country Representative of World Health Organization (WHO) in Liberia. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in the field of health.

Ambassador Yin briefly introduced health cooperation between China and Liberia and China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and said that as one of the founding members of the WHO, China is willing to continue strengthening exchanges and cooperation with the WHO, work together to advance Liberia’s health development, and jointly build a global community of health for all.

Dr. Olu thanked China for its long-term support for WHO, and hoped to deepen cooperation with China within the framework of South-South Cooperation to jointly improve the Liberia’s health cause.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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Faster action on dangerous trees, the introduction of a national addressing system, and a new national drug survey are among key measures approved by Cabinet, as Vice President Sebastien Pillay outlined a series of reforms aimed at strengthening public safety and improving everyday service delivery.

Cabinet approved the decentralisation of dangerous tree management, transferring operational responsibility from the Forestry Section to the Ministry of Local Government through District Administrations.

District Administrations will now take the lead in identifying and addressing tree related risks within communities. This includes continuous monitoring, early identification of hazards, and timely intervention where trees pose a threat to homes, infrastructure, or public spaces. Tree lopping and removal will be carried out where necessary.

The Vice President emphasised the need for a more responsive and proactive approach, noting that timely intervention is critical to reducing potential damage and safeguarding communities.

He further noted that District Administrations will operate in coordination with environmental authorities, while the Forestry Section will retain its advisory and regulatory role, particularly in relation to protected and endemic species.

Under existing regulations in Seychelles, the cutting or removal of trees requires prior authorisation from the relevant environmental authorities. Property owners are also reminded of their responsibility to ensure that trees on their land do not pose a risk to neighbouring properties or the wider community.

Cabinet also approved the Seychelles National Addressing System Bill, 2026, establishing a framework for the implementation of a standardised, modern, and digitally enabled national addressing system.

The Bill provides for the establishment of a National Addressing Department and a National Addressing Database Unit to oversee governance and data management, alongside the adoption of international addressing standards and postcode structures.

Highlighting the importance of this reform, the Vice President noted that the absence of a proper addressing system has limited Seychelles’ ability to fully engage with international services.

“There are countries that cannot transact with Seychelles because we do not have a proper addressing system. At present, what we use as a postcode is simply four zeros. This new approach is intended to resolve that,” he said.

He added that the system will significantly improve service delivery, including engagement with courier services, logistics, and access to data for planning and research purposes.

“With a proper system in place, locations will have clearly established addresses. What makes an addressing system effective is that it is linked to a place, not to an individual. Ownership may change, but the address remains the same,” the Vice President added.

Cabinet further approved a National Drug Use Prevalence Survey to provide reliable data on drug use in Seychelles. The findings are expected to strengthen policy formulation, guide targeted prevention and treatment interventions, and support informed decision making across relevant sectors.

Cabinet further directed the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to take coordinated steps to strengthen the visibility, use, and preservation of the Seychellois Creole language and culture within schools and across the wider community.

In line with broader reforms, Cabinet approved the Seychelles Culture, Arts and National Heritage Bill, 2026, which repeals the SNICHA Act, 2021, and establishes a new governance framework placing cultural institutions under the Ministry responsible for Culture to improve coordination, oversight, and accountability.

The Bill provides for the reorganisation of key institutions, including the Seychelles Creole Institute, Seychelles Arts and Crafts Agency, Seychelles Creative Agency, Seychelles Museum, Archives and Library Authority (SMALA), and the Seychelles Heritage Agency.

Cabinet also approved in principle the pursuit of a Public Private Partnership for the restoration and sustainable use of Maison St Joseph, with government mandated to engage private sector partners to develop a restoration and long term management framework.

In addition, Cabinet approved the Commission for the Enforcement, Implementation and Monitoring of the Recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission Bill, 2026. The Commission will oversee the implementation of recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission, including matters related to reparations and accountability.

The Vice President described this as a necessary step forward in ensuring closure, accountability, and national progress.

“The government has shown courage in establishing such a commission. When we speak about taxpayers’ money being used to compensate victims, I also pay taxes. I do not have a direct say in how those funds are used, and others may share similar concerns,” he said.

He added that questions of responsibility must be carefully considered in matters involving compensation.“For example, if taxpayers’ money were to be used to compensate those affected by fungus, should we blame those that constructed the building, or those who assigned workers to operate within it? These are questions that require careful consideration.”

The Vice President emphasised the importance of decisiveness and forward momentum. “If we continue to revisit the same debate, the country will not move forward. Our position is clear. Once a decision is taken, we act on it and move ahead,” he said. He noted that the Commission will determine the process it will follow, with a clear focus on delivering outcomes, ensuring accountability, and advancing national reconciliation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

Legislators are furious that the refurbishment of X-ray rooms in 20 hospitals is has stalled because of non-compliance to procurement guidelines by the health ministry.

The revelation came to light in a report from the Auditor General showing that the non-compliance with Section 60(6) of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act, had affected several procurements.

The report for the financial year ending December 2025 was deliberated upon during a meeting between the Committee on Public Accounts (Central Government) and Ministry of Health officials led by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine, on Thursday, 02 April 2026 at Parliament.

Findings of the report further faulted the ministry for failure to prepare a multi-year procurement plan for projects worth Shs 3.43 billion.

Despite the ministry utilising 99.9percent of its Shs 228.8 billion budget, MPs also raised concerns over persistent out-of-pocket payments and underfunded immunisation programmes.

The Kassanda County North MP, Hon. Patrick Nsamba (NUP), challenged the continued reliance on Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) collected from patients seeking specialised services such as X-ray and scans at regional referral hospitals.

“These are services our people cannot easily access elsewhere. If we already know how much is collected annually, why can’t government budget for them so that patients receive them free of charge?” Hon. Nsamba asked.

He argued that incorporating such costs into the national budget would ease the burden on citizens and improve equitable access to healthcare, an objective aligned with Uganda’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage.

However, Atwine indicated that NTR projections are centrally controlled, limiting health facilities’ ability to plan independently. Citing dialysis treatment at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital in Kampala District, she acknowledged the funding gaps, revealing that government allocations often fall below the actual cost of delivering services.

“A single dialysis session costs about Shs 400,000. Government contributes Shs 215,000, leaving the patient to pay about Shs 150,000. Yet a patient needs at least three sessions per week,” she explained.

This translates to roughly Shs 1.2 million per week per patient, underscoring the heavy financial burden on individuals with chronic conditions.

Atwine admitted that ideally, such services should be fully subsidised, but noted: “There is no country that can fully fund all healthcare needs without a strong pooled financing mechanism like a National Health Insurance or heritage fund.”

The Mawogola County South representative, Hon. Gorreth Namugga, also the committee deputy chairperson, raised alarm over “delays and shortfalls in funding for immunisation programmes,” especially as Uganda now vaccinates against at least 14 diseases under its Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

Atwine said that some vaccines are not fully funded, forcing the ministry to seek supplementary budgets: “We have quantified the gaps and engaged the Ministry of Finance, but often the funding comes late, affecting implementation,” she said.

Kalungu West County MP, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu (NUP), questioned the ministry’s reliance on external donors, noting declining contributions in recent years: “For the last five years, donor support has been inconsistent. What measures have you taken to address this gap?” he asked.

While the ministry demonstrated strong budget absorption, the Auditor General’s report reveals that only 36 out of 51 planned outputs were fully implemented, representing Shs 148.3 billion in expenditure. The remaining 15 outputs worth Shs 80.2 billion were only partially implemented, with some activities either incomplete or not executed at all.

The omission, auditors warned, creates uncertainty in funding and risks delays or cancellation of projects.

In defence, the permanent secretary attributed some gaps to system limitations, including earlier constraints in the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, and pledged improvements in planning and monitoring.

She said they would strengthen work-plan tracking and develop corrective action plans for partially implemented projects in the 2026/27 financial year.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.