Bill 15 2020 - STATE LAND AND RIVER RESERVES (AMENDMENT) BILL

[6th April 2020] Supplement to Official Gazette i STATE LAND AND RIVER RESERVES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2020 (Bill No. 15 of 2020) OBJECTS AND REASONS This Bill seeks to amend the State Land and River Reserves Act, 1903, to permit the President to grant a concession or lease of State land to a foreign State or an international organisation or a specialized agency of the United Nations by free grant or by payment of nominal price or rent. The purpose of granting a concession or lease of such land is to facilitate the establishment or presence of more embassies, high commissions, international agencies or residence of heads of mission. The object of the amendments is to give effect to legal obligations of the Republic of Seychelles under the Privileges and Immunities (Diplomatic, Consular and International Organisations) Act, 1980, and for the Republic of Seychelles to observe the doctrine of reciprocity under international law. This Bill is linked to Seychelles foreign policy on promoting bilateral cooperation and as such, where the doctrine of reciprocity is not feasible or cannot be applied, the President may grant a lease of State land to a foreign State or international organisation that is significantly contributing to the socio-economic development of Seychelles. The Bill seeks to amend section 6 of the State Land and River Reserves Act. In section 6, the words “foreign associate” is inserted in subsections (1) and (2). The President will have power to grant State land to a foreign State or an international organisation by free grant by a concession or lease on payment of a nominal price or rent. All such grants or leases will be conditional on the land being used for diplomatic purposes. The Bill also seeks to define the concept of ‘foreign associate’ for the purposes of these amendments. Dated this 2nd day of April, 2020. FRANK D.R. ALLY ATTORNEY GENERAL ——————— [6th April 2020] Supplement to Official Gazette iii STATE LAND AND RIVER RESERVES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2020 (Bill No. 15 of 2020) A BILL FOR AN ACT to provide for provisions to permit the President to grant a concession or lease of State land to a foreign State or an international organisation by free grant or by payment of nominal price or rent and for matters incidental thereto. ENACTED by the President and the National Assembly. PART I PRELIMINARY 1. This Act may be cited as the State Land and Short title Reserves (Amendment) Act, 2020. iv Supplement to Official Gazette [6th April 2020] Amendment of 2. The State Land and Reserves Act is amended as CAP 228 follows — (a) in section 2 by inserting in the proper alphabetical order the following definitions — ““foreign associate” shall be construed as meaning a foreign State, an international organisation or a specialized agency; “specialized agency” means specialize agency as defined under the Privileges and Immunities (Diplomatic Consular and International Organisations) Act, Cap 228.” (b) in section 6 — (i) by inserting in subsection (1) immediately after the words “or for purposes of public utility” the words “or for official or private premises of a foreign associate”; (ii) by inserting in subsection (2) immediately after the words “or for purposes of public utility,” the words “or for official or private premises of a foreign associate,”.