Labank Santral e Lotorite Servis Finansyel pe al konmans en seri konsiltasyon piblik lo nouvo lalwa ki pe ganny propoze pour ranforsi drwa konsonmater dan sekter finansyel.
The Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) and Financial Services Authority (FSA) is inviting interested parties and the public to review and provide input or comments on the proposed Financial Consumer Protection Bill.
Access the draft bill here
The draft bill can also be viewed on the CBS website
Comments and input should be emailed to consumeraffairs@fsaseychelles.sc
For further information, please contact 4380800 (Policy & Legal Unit).
The Financial Services Authority
The Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) would like to inform all its licensees and other stakeholders that it has initiated its Business Continuity Plan (“BCP”) protocols in order to ensure minimal disruption in its daily operations. The FSA would like to reassure all licensees, that it will continue to carry out its normal operations with the aim of maintaining its established service standards across all departments of the FSA.
The FSA encourages all licensees and stakeholders to be cognizant of their internal contingency plans vis-à-vis the situation surrounding the outbreak to equally safeguard its interest, and that of its clients.
As a precautionary measure, the FSA would appreciate for all its licensees and other stakeholders to, as much as possible, forward communications to the FSA by electronic means. Whilst it is important that letters are physically sent to the FSA it is advisable that a scanned copy of these are also sent.
It is encouraged also that payments be effected via electronic means such as through bank transfers via arrangements already in place with the FSA. Note that the FSA shall exert its discretion, subject to exigencies, in relation to certain normal practices such as face-to-face meetings in line with the recommendations issued by the Department of Health.
The FSA would appreciate for all licensees to remain informed of any official developments regarding the current situation as it progresses and to take the necessary actions and precautions. Simultaneously in the event of any major developments the FSA will advise with regards to any changes to the status quo should the circumstance so dictate.
The FSA will like to advise all licensees that due to COVID-19 pandemic there are spam emails that are being circulated over the internet. If you receive such emails, we urge you not to click on those links within the emails. If you are unsure about any suspicious emails received from the Authority, please contact us to verify.
The Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) remains vigilant amidst the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation and implementing precautionary measures to make sure consumers are protected.
SCAMS
Scammers are constantly finding new ways to steal your money. Pay close attention to scams related to coronavirus (Covid-19). You can protect yourself by knowing what to look out for.
To help protect yourself, you should;
TREATING CUSTOMERS FAIRLY
The FSA remains engaged in ensuring that all licensees and stakeholders safeguard the interest of its clients during the Corona pandemic.
In this regard, complaints connected with the operations or management of licensees, should be sent to through the following ways;
The Complaints Handling Form and all relevant documents can be submitted by any of the following means:
INSURANCE
We remain in regular communication with insurance providers to ensure that the impact of coronavirus on their operations, is being well-managed.
Consumers should be aware that insurance covers differ from policy to policy. If you are unsure about any of your insurance covers you should contact your provider/ broker directly.
The FSA strongly advises the public to refrain from travelling abroad. However, for those who must travel should undertake the following precautions;
GAMBLING
The FSA strongly advise the Casinos and Slot Machine operators to ensure the safety of the consumers and strongly urges the general public to avoid establishments that congregate large crowds as advised by the Public Health Authority Advisory dated 11th and 15th March, 2020.
With its inaugural conference held in 2003, Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) is comprised of national gambling regulators from the African Continent. Seychelles as one of its newest member jurisdictions, being represented by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), attended the 14th Annual GRAF Conference for the first time this year.
Hosted in Botswana by the Botswana Gambling Authority, at the Grand Palm Hotel Casino Convention Resort. The conference’s opening ceremony was launched by Honorable. Moiseraele Goya, the Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Botswana. The conference hosted speakers from numerous gambling regulatory authorities of Africa, such as Botswana, South Africa, Malawi, Limpopo and key service providers from the gambling industry, including Gambling Laboratories International (GLI) and Casino Association of South Africa (CASA). As a new member jurisdiction, representatives of FSA were invited to the stage for an official welcome and a brief speech, given by the Deputy CEO of FSA, Ms. Zenabe Daman. As part of its mission to increase efficiencies in the gambling regulation, administration and enforcement of gambling laws in the region, the GRAF conferences cover a range of topics which are key to protection of citizens through ensuring adherence to regulatory laws applicable in the member states, and serve as a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences between various stakeholders of the gambling industry.
Attending the 14th Annual GRAF Conference has greatly enhanced FSA’s understanding of several key topics of the gambling industry, its impact on economies and societies, and the challenges that it presents. The FSA will continue to actively participate in GRAF conferences in the future in order to continue its development as a gambling regulator, to acquire and share knowledge and to enhance Seychelles’ position as a reputable gambling destination in Africa.
Group Photo of delegates
PWC FinTech Training
The FSA organised a capacity building session on FinTech which was facilitated by Mr. Henri Arslanian and Mr. Tom Huynh from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Hong Kong. The whole day training took place on the 5th December 2018 at the Savoy the Resort and Spa and was attended by all the stakeholders. The session covered the following topics:
The training serves as a starting point to educate and enhance the knowledge of the FSA staff and the stakeholders on FinTech.
BitMEX in the Seychelles
The individuals behind BitMEX, a wholly owned and operated company by HDR Global Trading Limited (a Seychelles IBC), visited the Seychelles during the week of 10th-14th December 2018. During their visit, Ms. Angelina Kwan BitMEX, Chief Operation Officer delivered a short session on what is Bitcoin and the mining of bitcoins, on the 14th December,2018, at STC Conference Room.
Further to the training session, Mr. Arthur Hayes the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of BitMEX signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the FSA. The MoU will provide a framework that would allow for a strategic partnership and the fullest possible cooperation between the parties.
The FSCA conducted a familiarisation programme on 21st – 23rd November 2018, in Pretoria, South Africa. Of which two FSA staff attended. The familiarisation was mainly focused on Consumer Financial Education programmes currently being implemented by the FSCA’s Consumer Education Department. The FSCA places great emphasis on projects concerning financial awareness, whereby they have developed various financial awareness projects targeting different market niches within the financial market.
The programme was brought about so that other countries in Africa can have an understanding of the developments in financial consumer education achieved by the FSCA in South Africa. In addition, the FSCA wanted to share with the participants a breakdown of the different projects they currently have in place and developing, and what are the achievements and downfalls they have faced over the years. Furthermore, the aim was to explain and educate the participants on how to go about with developing and implementing such projects and how to monitor and evaluate its effectiveness.
On the last day of the familiarisation programme, the participants went to visit a township where the FSCA was implementing a financial consumer education project for boys aged 12 – 13 years on the importance of saving money and the numerous way they can do so.
The programme was an opportunity to educate other regulators on how to better understand and develop their financial consumer education projects and how best to implement it so that it reaches the wider population in an efficient and effective manner.
Bois De Rose Avenue, P.O. Box 991
Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles
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