The appointment of the new Director General of the Société d’Études, de Construction et de Réparation Navales (Secren) S.A. is currently drawing significant public attention, particularly following the Board of Directors’ decision to appoint Félicien Milison to lead the company.
However, this decision has met with mixed reactions. The Secren Executive Association issued a statement thanking the State for measures taken to support the company’s recovery, specifically citing the payment of salary arrears and the inclusion of the Secren file in the 2026 Supplementary Finance Law.
Conversely, last Thursday, a group of Secren employees, primarily represented by the Serema union, expressed their disagreement with the appointment of the new Director General, who is set to succeed Abel Ntsay. The protesters argue that the chosen candidate does not meet the criteria they had advocated for, nor does he align with the spirit of change they were seeking. They acknowledged, however, that Félicien Milison was among the three names proposed prior to the call for expressions of interest.
Disdain
According to their statement, the appointee subsequently distanced himself from their position and allegedly used documents established during their advocacy efforts in a controversial manner. They view this decision as a form of disdain toward their mobilization and demands, with some suggesting that he had minimized or even mocked their struggle.
The protesters pointed out that in other entities and services, fresh profiles deemed compatible with the drive for change have been placed in leadership positions, and they regret that this logic was not applied in the case of Secren.
In their view, the choice should have fallen on Alphonse Razafidrabe, the third name on the list, whom they credit with supporting their efforts to denounce what they described as the company’s mismanagement. They claim that Razafidrabe had engaged with employees and proposed a recovery strategy for Secren. In contrast, they criticize the newly appointed Director General for failing to consult with them and for departing discreetly for Antananarivo without prior dialogue.
“We are turning to the President of the Refondation de la République, Michaël Randrianirina, because during our meeting on January 7th, he stated that the solution would come from us. Why then appoint someone to lead Secren who does not match the proposal we defended?” questioned Hamad Jiry, spokesperson for the protesters and a delegate of the Serema union.
The protesters believe that no thorough investigation was conducted by those responsible for the appointments before reaching this decision. To them, this situation creates the perception of a lack of genuine change and a continuation of past practices.
By Raheriniaina
Captured & Published at: 2026-06-20 07:30:02 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/06/antsiranana-la-nomination-du-nouveau-dg.html