Wavel 2011

On the campaign trail

2011-05-03T13:27:00.000+04:00

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Standing by the Private Sector

2011-04-08T12:11:00.000+04:00

My commitment to the private sector as the engine of economic growth is 100%. I am proud that the SNP has been in the forefront of economic liberalisation and it is a commitment that we will pursue in Government.

Nowadays, we hear quite often the phrase ‘the private sector is the motor of the economy.’ It’s good that the ruling party has come round to this point of view - until a couple of years back, it was not the case.

However, there is still a gulf between theory and practice. Take for example the Chamber of Commerce. This organisation has for years been a strong voice for the private sector. Recently, with interference from both politics and government, it has lost its role, with the result that it is no longer a useful voice but goes along with everything that the government says.

The Chamber of Commerce is one organisation that the SNP considers very important in building the right economic climate. It needs to be a body that is properly set up with full-time workers focussing on various areas of trade, commerce, business opportunities and investment. The country needs a private professional body that challenges, proposes and takes initiatives. In a sense, we need an organisation that is as active as the STB in tourism.

A strong Chamber of Commerce should be one of the principal representations on an Economic Council that will meet and discuss with Government to map out economic growth.

One place where a great gulf exists is simply in mapping out the road ahead. At present, there is no single body where the private sector and Government meet to create and exchange ideas, weigh options, and reach a consensus on where we need to go. Everything of this sort is still firmly under Government control and that is a major weakness. There is no sharing of a plan for development.

I firmly believe that we can have a strong and vibrant economy, looking forward to the future. But we must map the road ahead together as a country. One political party cannot do it right if it does it alone.

At the moment, President Michel is keeping it to himself, to the extent of arguing that economic growth needs continuity, meaning that he has to stay in power. ‘Don’t rock the boat’, he said at the investment forum this week.

A change of Government in a democratic country is not rocking the boat. Mr. Michel is obviously not making any allowances for democracy.

For Seychelles, a change of Government now is exactly what is required. It will strengthen and confirm our democratic system. It will be a display of real stability. Investors and businessmen need the demonstration of political stability which an orderly change of Government can bring.

We have always advocated that economic development is protected and advanced by democratic progress. The strengthening of democratic institutions removes favouritism, unfair competition and poor standards. A bad judiciary will not protect investment just as unfair laws will not protect workers. The SNP will continue to strive for the best for the private sector and the country.

We will continue to encourage clean, serious and law abiding investors, both local and foreign to develop partnerships and bring in their investment while ensuring that the Seychelles private sector emerges as the real force in our country’s economic development. I believe this can happen. Let the real stability come on the 21st May 2011.

Believe Before You Preach

2011-04-01T16:08:00.004+04:00

What do the current leaders of our country still believe in? They have gone full circle on most of the things they declared were sacred in their policies. So, in what direction do they want to lead Seychelles? Multi-party politics was declared an obstacle to development in 1977, and so all political parties, except René’s, were declared illegal. Private schools, doctors, dentists, lawyers, newspapers etc… were banned. A few years ago, all of these sprung up again, and they were declared a sign of development and progress. The list is really long. I am certain that each one of us can easily think of at least two such examples. The plain truth is simple: Mr. René, Mr. Michel, and their political party have fooled the people. They have lied to us, and many members of our society have fallen in their traps.

Last week we got another example of how we have been led astray. Gilbert Pool, the mastermind of Expo 2020, declared that the Kreol language was basically useless and that English was the language we all needed to master. I will not enter into a linguistic debate, but I will express my personal exasperation at hearing such a statement.

Many people felt very strongly against the teaching and promotion of the Kreol language in the schools. They had valid reasons, just as there were valid reasons why it should have a place in the curriculum. But people were not given any say. Our leaders decided first one way, then another. Today, we are still struggling for the right balance. Kreol obviously does not meet all our educational needs but, on the other hand, there has been some great work done in the mother tongue, one being the translation of the New Testament. Many people are literate in Kreol and this has become an important means of written communication to so many. Now, Gilbert Pool tells us it’s all useless. I take great offence at Mr. Pool’s denigrating views on Kreol. After all, it is our mother tongue.

What has really upset many people, including myself, is the fact that this statement came from Mr. René’s former right-hand man, the one who coined every election slogan for the reds, and who has just come out of the woodwork to try and save Mr. Michel from election defeat. If this is the truth coming out of the loyal servant’s mouth, then it indicates how Mr. René’s policy all along was to close the doors of the Seychellois through the promotion of Kreol. Unfortunately for him and his friends, we are a much stronger people, and indeed we can master English, French and the sciences to ensure that we move on. Rather than twist our language policy again, I am calling on the Seychellois people to allow our schools to have the resources that they need to educate.

If they tried to fool us with the Kreol language, to the extent of setting up a Kreol Institute, declaring Victoria as the Kreol capital of the world, teaching Kreol, etc… then we ought to seriously consider all the lies that our people have been fed with since 1977.

We all know the limits of the Kreol language. It is not an a scientific or technical or international language. But to downgrade it the way Pool did was simply too much. Maybe it was his farewell act and he wanted to tell our people that they have been taken on a long ride for too long and to get out of their sleep.

Today the time has come to question seriously what the current leaders of this country believe in. Unfortunately we will discover that we are dealing with a group of opportunists. Instead of dealing with present day difficulties and opportunities, they take us on a 2020 dream. Truth and reality remain their biggest hurdles. We ought to be worried and this is another reason why we have to take the future seriously.

During the last eight weeks of their rule, they should stop feeding our people with lies. May they start believing first and preaching afterward.

SNP Leader meets Danish diplomat

2011-03-30T15:30:00.006+04:00

The SNP Leader Wavel Ramkalawan met with the newly accredited Danish Ambassador, Geert Aagaard Andersen.

The meeting took place at the party headquarters at Arpent Vert.

Mr Ramkalwan took the opportunity to discuss Denmark’s willingness to help Seychelles in its renewable energy sector.

He says his administration will be committed towards a green future with appropriate investment in in solar and wind energy.

Join in the greates adventure: Change a 34yr old dictatorship

2011-03-25T14:53:00.001+04:00

Everyone aspires to doing something memorable and important in one’s life. Some aspire to climb Mount Everest or land on the moon. I believe that the youth of Seychelles, in particular the 7000 first time voters, can be in for an adventure that will be a lifetime experience: Their vote can help Seychelles experience the first democratic change of government through the ballot box! This to me is a great adventure and a lifetime achievement.

The May election will be determined by the youth. This is what should make it exciting for them. The choice they have can be summed up in this way: Vote for Mr. Michel, and nothing will change. They will still be subject to political pressure, security clearance, and they will still be made to feel that whatever they want to pursue in life will depend on the government or their affiliation to some youth political organisation.

On the other hand, a vote for the SNP candidate will mean that first of all they will have turned an important page in the history of Seychelles. It will be the first legitimate change of government since we became an independent nation in 1976. It will also mark a new road for the country where the youth will not be subject to any political pressure. They will be entering an era when they will be respected for who they are and what they believe in, with freedom to seek employment and obtain it on merit, the elimination of security clearance and other means of control. In a nutshell, they will be in control of their own lives.

The youth vote will achieve even more. It will determine the country’s direction. For the first time in 34 years, we will seek to establish real democracy by pulling down all the barriers that have kept us is a one-party mode. The Seychellois will no longer feel that they should behave as loyal subjects to one person’s whims or risk losing everything. The youth can give our people back its respect and dignity.

When I speak to young persons, they always express their disappointment in many areas, especially with the lack of facilities in schools or the hardship they experience to get a job once they have qualified. They see the big gap between what is promised by the authorities and what actually happens in reality. They are tired of being pushed around, and most say that unfortunately they just have to play along in order to move forward in life.

May 21, 2011 will be the opportunity to reverse this present trend and get a government that does what it promises. What will make this happen is simply the fact that the rights of everyone will be respected and the youth will be allowed to stand up and make their demands heard by the government. There will be no tear gas, AK47’s or batons, but instead, there will be attentive ears willing to listen and carry out necessary reforms. This is part of the change the youth of Seychelles can give their country in about 8 weeks. The mere thought is exciting.

History has always been the greatest judge of humanity, and this is not about to change. This is why the May election has been described as a ‘rendez-vous’ with history. If you miss this chance, you will have to wait for another 5 years to correct it.

I am calling on the youth to ‘Get it right the first time.’ I believe our youth will rise to the occasion. Together we can make it happen for our generation and future ones. On May 21, let us all be part of the greatest adventure in our country’s modern history: Let us together change a 34yr old government. As the Nike slogan goes, ‘Just do it!’

New SBC Act Fails Constitution, SNP Leader says

2011-03-22T15:47:00.001+04:00

A new law to regulate the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation will do nothing to improve the functioning of state owned media, SNP leader Wavel Ramkalawan has said after the law was passed in the National Assembly this week.

The law fails to meet the requirement of the Constitution for all state-funded media to be impartial and to accord access to divergent political views. "Article 168 of the Constitution specifically states that all media which receive money from the state must be so 'constituted and managed' that they are not influenced by any person or group," Mr Ramkalwan noted. "For that to happen for the SBC, it is absolutely necessary for its Board to be made up of persons independent of the Executive and of anyone representing political parties."

The most glaring fact is that all appointments to the seven-member SBC Board depend on the President. In effect, the President has total control of the Board.

Firstly, the Chairman and two members are appointed by the President from nominations made by the Constitutional Appointments Authority (CAA), which is effectively controlled by the President. Since he appoints the chairman and one other member of the 3-member CAA, the President's wishes effectively determine the nominations of the CAA and the subsequent appointments.

Secondly, two members are from Government organisations, from the Ministry of Information and the Attorney General’s office. Thirdly, the President directly appoints two other members of the SBC Board.

The SNP leader considers that the law is unconstitutional. It fails both the key terms of Article 168 which is that state-funded media should be 'constituted' and 'managed' to be independent of political influence.

Commonwealth election team call on SNP candidates

2011-03-21T15:37:00.002+04:00

The SNP candidates for the May presidential election met with a Commonwealth pre-election delegation at Arpent Vert to discuss on conditions for fair elections.

The SNP delegation was headed by Presidential Candidate Wavel Ramkalawan. It included the Vice-Presidential nominee, Nicholas Prea, SNP Secretary-General Roger Mancienne and legal advisor Bernard Georges who is also the SNP Liaison with the Electoral Commissioner's office.

The Commonwealth group was led by Ambassador Ayo Oke, head of the African section in the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Political Affairs Division and two technical experts, Martin Kasirye and Sabhita Raju.

Ambassador Oke says they are here to assess the political situation prior to elections including the issues of concern of the different parties.

The SNP officials took the opportunity to review the outstanding obstacles to a fair electoral process, including the state broadcaster SBC’s bias, the use of state resources by the ruling party, the use of the security forces for partisan politics and the failure to do away with restrictions on the right to assembly imposed by the Public Order Act.

The SNP Leader says, his party has made a written submission on these points to the group and expects that they will be taken up with the Electoral Commissioner.

Ramkalawan meets with Spanish diplomat

2011-03-18T16:03:00.000+04:00

The SNP Leader has met with the Spanish ambassador Antonio Sanchez-Benedito Gaspar to discuss the issue of piracy in the Indian Ocean.

The meeting took place at Arpent Vert. Ambassador Gaspar was accompanied by Commodore Edmond Hoareau.

He was briefed on the Seychelles National Party’s support to the authorities in the fight against piracy.

The SNP has primarily used the National Assembly platform to bring support to the Coast Guard, fisheries community and families affected by the scourge of piracy.

Mr Gaspar reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to help Seychelles and the region in the fight against piracy.

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner: Signs of Hope and Change

2011-03-18T14:58:00.000+04:00

Since the beginning of this year, there have been many signs that our people are ready to carry out their own revolution after 34 years of rule by one political party. Fortunately, we will not need the methods which have been used in North Africa. We will have a change of government in the ballot box.

Since last year, many people have openly expressed their support for a new Seychelles. People from all walks of life have expressed their disappointment and frustration at the way our country is being governed. We need a change that will unite our people, bring out the locked energies in each one of us, rid our nation of discrimination and allow us to have a normal and peaceful life. This is what gives rise to hope.

The hope has not come without effort. The work of our MNAs, district representatives and activists has been important. There are also many people who quietly bring a message of change when they talk to their work colleagues, friends and others.

The debate on the State of the Nation brought out the main differences between the ruling party and the SNP. From our side, people have seen a new vision and heard new ideas. From the Parti Lepep, there have been the same old insults and personal attacks. This, in fact, shows one of the choices that people have to make.

During the debate, the SNP took its time to share this vision. We talked of rebuilding the foundations of our country by bringing our people together in unity, removing politics from the civil service, and not allowing it to dominate our lives, giving every child and youth the same opportunities to learn and be a responsible adult, empowering our workforce, sharing the country’s wealth equitably, while encouraging clean and serious investment. All these are necessary tools in the rebuilding of our nation.

The encouragement also comes from the fact that our members and activists understand and share that message. They are therefore able to transmit the positive aspects that change will bring.

Questions can be answered with enthusiasm and conviction. They are not spreading a message for their own benefit, but for the welfare and prosperity of a whole nation. The strength of their message is that they are not trying to buy people with material goods, but instead convincing them. This will be the success that will bring real change to Seychelles.

Our Convention last Sunday, to name our Presidential candidate team, was a moment of great encouragement. I was honoured to accept the party’s nomination as the Presidential candidate. It was with great confidence that I announced my decision to name Nicholas Prea as Vice-Presidential nominee. The spontaneous applause from everyone present confirmed that the choice was the right one. People from all walk of life and from across the political spectrums have since then expressed their support.

I am sure that Nicholas will bring a breath of fresh air to State House. He will lead in turning the Presidential team into one that remains close to the people, and above all, be the servant and not the boss of the nation. As I have said, the presidential team will not load itself with ministerial portfolios, but instead will be there to give strong leadership and to remain close to people.

What has happened so far are small but decisive steps leading towards a new Seychelles. Through determination and a lot of effort we will achieve the task ahead. Obviously the biggest hurdle is changing people set in a particular way of thinking for 34 years. Let me reassure you that even this is happening, and at a fast pace.

We are heading for change. I call on all of you not only to be agents of change, but to be the change our country needs.

Ramkalawan picks Prea as running mate

2011-03-14T20:07:00.001+04:00

SNP presidential hopeful Ramkalawan has picked Nicholas Prea, the elected Member of the National Assembly for Bel Ombre, as his surprise running mate in the May election.

At 46, he is three years younger than Wavel Ramkalawan and is credited with his leadership qualities as the Opposition Whip in the Assembly.

The announcement was made at the party extraordinary convention at the STC Conference Hall on Sunday.

Mr Prea, is highly respected for his work in the National Assembly International Affairs Committee, his participation in the Seychelles’ negociation with the World Trade Organisation and the Economic Partnership Agreement.

Mr Ramkalawan described Mr Prea as exemplary, serious and competent.

“With a Vice-President as Mr Prea, am confident that Seychelles will be in good hands as he is the perfect right-hand man.”

Mr Prea’s soft and concessionary approach to politics is expected to appeal to the blue soft Parti Lepep supporters.

He is a devoted Catholic and father and has over the year worked tirelessly to help various communities notably the fishing and farming communities.

Mr Prea was introduced to the convention by his Assembly colleague, Hon. Gervais Henrie, who said he was inspired to join politics by Mr. Prea’s humane approach to politics.

Ramkalawan launches SNP's campaign

2011-03-13T19:02:00.000+04:00

Wavel Ramkalawan has accepted the Seychelles National Party’s nomination to run for president of the Seychelles in front of a crowd of some 250 supporters and party activists.

In an address at the party's extraordinary convention, he promised he would do his best to make Seychelles a better country.

“After SPPF/Parti Lepep's 34 year rule, we we need to seize this opportunity to live a life free of politics, to do away with victimisation and intimidation.

This is the fourth nomination of Mr Ramkalawan by the SNP.

In his speech at the STC Conference Hall, Mr Ramkalawan promised to do his best to unite the Seychellois nation and make Seychelles a better country.

He also attacked the record of President Michel’s administration and said he’s open to new ideas and new ways of conducting the business of government.

"This election is our chance to do away with mediocrity, broken promises and to ride of our fear of the government."

Mr Ramkalawan criticised President Michel as out of touch with the concerns of the working Seychellois. He added that the President had failed to help them on issues such as the cost of living, the right to work, health care they can have confidence in and quality education.

He also stressed that he would reform the civil service and makes it free of politics.

“No civil servants will be tolerated to overtly show their political affiliation, whilst conducting their professional duties. The ruling party’s supporters have nothing to fear under an SNP administration.”

Joined for the occasion by his wife Linda, Mr Ramkalawan was given a standing ovation by the crowds.

SNP Leader To Ask on Air Seychelles Future

2011-03-11T16:42:00.000+04:00

SNP Leader Wavel Ramkalawan is calling for the Government to clarify the situation regarding Air Seychelles. In a Private Notice Question (PNQ) to Vice-President Danny Faure as Minister of Finance, Mr. Ramkalawan will ask about the financial situation of the airline and future plans.

The questions will come at a time of mounting concern for the future of the airline. The recent management changes, in particular the sudden departure of Captain David Savy who has been in total control of the company for a dozen years, has shown that a drastic shake-up in underway. Savy’s departure has caused further speculation about what exactly was happening with the airline.

The PNQ, if it is not prevented by Speaker Patrick Herminie, should come up in the National Assembly next Tuesday and will help to shed light on the subject.

The commercial environment for Air Seychelles has been changing dramatically and took a further turn last week. Emirates Airlines announced that it was moving to two daily flights to Seychelles, a full total of 14 weekly. At the same time, Qatar Airways will also increase frequency to 7 per week.

The competition from these airlines is one of the main factors pressing on Air Seychelles. How the national airline will adjust to the intense competition is a question that should be taxing all those concerned.

This week, it has also been revealed that Air Seychelles is taking R75 million in loans from Nouvobanq to support recurrent and working capital requirements. It is also understood that the airline has been assisted directly by the Ministry of Finance last year, for a sum of R125 million.

In the background are other big questions about a possible strategic partnership with another airline which raises questions of job security for the personnel. Also looming is the fate of ground handling operations at Seychelles airport, a valuable source of income for Air Seychelles which has been subject to plans for passing to a foreign company. This week, Regar learned that of a possible deal to sell off some assets of the company’s domestic fleet to a private company, which would signal changes there as well. These are matters that badly need a public airing.

The future of our national airline is one that every Seychellois should be concerned about. The SNP, for its part, is concerned that the Government should not take any hasty moves that further jeopardise the viability of the airlines.

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner: Uniting the people of Seychelles

2011-03-11T16:29:00.000+04:00

I remember one occasion that brought the whole people of Seychelles together. That was Independence Day, 1976. The two main political parties, the Democratic Party (DP) of Mr. Mancham and the Seychelles People’s United Party (SPUP) of Mr. René had formed a coalition. The petty political squabbles had been overcome and our people stood united for one cause: the building of a nation.

Unfortunately there has been too many unnecessary incidents since then which have destroyed the unity of our people. These have not been accidental, but rather a carefully designed strategy.

Instead of seeking reconciliation, respect and unity, too often it has been a policy of ‘destroy the enemy’, meaning go after those who do not share the same views. With this as the guiding principle, Seychelles has become a place where people are afraid to speak their minds, where people do not trust others, and where our people too often depend on favours to move on in life.

I am concerned about and turning our country into a place where everyone can get on with life without politics breathing down their necks on a daily basis. We have to free ourselves from politics and allow this country and its people simply to get on with their lives.

The model that comes to mind, proving that if we do so we can achieve success, is the tourism industry. The government was always interfering with that industry, while the trade was always complaining. Consultation was not happening and instead of growing, there was a steady decline in the mainstay of our economy. The industry pressed for a bigger role and eventually this happened.

It changed everything. Instead of government running the industry, it was the industry itself, the interested players that took over. That was in 2009, when Mr. Michel announced that tourism was about to go down by 21%. What did we see? Without the interference of politics and government, Alain St. Ange and his team turned things around and we ended with only -1% decline. The following year 2010, saw the establishment of a new arrival record for our main industry.

What lessons can we learn and how can we use the model for the country?

First of all, it is a matter of putting the right person in the right job without looking at his political colours. There was a lot of reluctance at first when Mr. St. Ange was proposed. He was the SNP treasurer. A lot of questions were asked and even the then head of the STB was not happy. What they did not recognise was that Mr. St. Ange was there to do a job. He did just that and the results speak for themselves.

Secondly, civil servants should not be involved in active politics. In the SNP, we agreed that even if Mr. St. Ange was a political heavyweight, that he should free himself from active politics, and as a civil servant, do his job without any politics. It was not easy for us as a political party, but for the sake of the country we knew that this had to happen. This is called putting the country first and I believe that the same model of management of public affairs can and should be replicated in other areas such as our fishing industry.

Our country needs to move forward. I cannot recall the number of times I have called for the removal of politics from our daily lives in order for everyone to get on with life. It is not a choice, but a demand on each one of us, starting with State House. I am determined to see an end to politics in the civil service. At the same time present civil servants should know that their jobs are guaranteed and that there will be no witch hunting. This is part of recognising the talents of our people and making the civil service permanent and a life-time career.

We have to bring our people together. Unity will make us strong. We must not come together only to celebrate, but in everything that we do as a people we should be aiming to do the best not only for ourselves, but for the whole nation. United we stand, divided we will keep falling.

SNP Leader's Message on the Occasion of the International Women's Day

2011-03-07T14:26:00.000+04:00

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2011, I am pleased to express my solidarity with the cause of women’s emancipation and empowerment. I extend my sincere wishes to all women in Seychelles and particularly to those who are in the front line of the effort to improve the lives of families in Seychelles.

The aims associated with International Women’s Day are central to the overall goal of national development and progress. When we talk about matters that affect the lives of women and seek to improve them, we are also tackling the issues that matter most to Seychelles as a whole. These include improving salary and working conditions for women, alleviating the social ills and problems that affect our country today, and enabling women to become leaders in all areas of national affairs. I believe that whatever we achieve in relation to these causes will go directly to improving the conditions for families and therefore for children and for our future.

Many of these issues that we talk about in relation to women go back to fundamental human rights. When we strive to achieve them, we are going back to reaffirming the principles of our Constitution, which enshrine the spirit of our nation. So, it must also be our determination that these issues remain at the core of our work all through the year and not only on International Women’s Day. For that reason, any statement that we make for the occasion should remain as resolutions or commitments for the rest on the year, until we renew them on the next International Women’s Day.

I would like to commend all those who are involved in the organisation of activities for International Women’s Day and those who will participate. It is an occasion when everyone can come together without regard to political, cultural or social differences. It will reflect a spirit of unity which we must promote so that we can come closer towards achieving the goal of one Seychelles in which every one of our citizens feels at home.

The World Bank Country Cordinator calls on Mr Ramkakawan

2011-03-04T14:12:00.000+04:00

The World Bank Country Cordinator for Seychelles, Mrs Marie-Helene Bricknell called on the SNP Leader, Mr Wavel Ramkalawan to discuss future projects the institution wants to get involved with, in the country.

Her meeting with the Leader of the Opposition, at Arpent today, was part of her mission in assessing the country's need. It should be noted that the World Bank values the country's Opposition as a vital partner in any projects the undertake in any countries.

Amongst the issues they discussed were the needs of the Seychelles' economy and capacity building for the public service in the areas of health, education and public administration.

The meeting was also attended by the Seychelles National Party, Secreatary-General Mr Roger Mancienne.

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner: Actions speak louder than words

2011-02-25T18:22:00.000+04:00

In 2004, when Mr. René stepped down and handed the presidency to Mr. Michel, the new president declared, 'Judge me by my actions.' The speechwriter had basically paraphrased the proverb which said, 'Actions speak louder than words.' Since then, we have had a lot of examples where the opposite has in fact proved to be true, and indeed words have been shown to be louder than actions.

Listening to a press communiqué from State House on the SBC last night made the point. Mr. Michel was condemning the Libyan authorities for the use of force against peaceful demonstrators. Beautiful words, but unfortunately what hypocrisy!

Let us look at his record against peaceful demonstrators in this country.

On October 3rd 2006, a peaceful crowd had assembled outside the National Assembly to sign a petition against the amendment to the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Act. The crowd was comprised of about 40 people, half of whom were women and no-one was armed. They signed the petition and chanted 'We want our radio.'

What did we see next? About 100 SSU officers armed with batons, tear-gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition charged on that crowd, and without pity or warning, started assaulting us. Many were taken to hospital. I was among those who ended up there with head injuries. Jean-François Ferrari had 27 sutures on the head for his injuries.

It was Mr. Michel, the man today condemning Libya who gave the orders. To prove that he was in favour of what happened, upon his arrival from a visit to the Pope, he declared to the SBC that he congratulated the SSU for a job well done. Following that, all the officers involved in the assault were promoted. The man in charge of the operation, Mr. Roucou, was proudly promoted to Chief Superintendent.

The subsequent inquiry, which Mr. Michel was forced to establish because among the victims was a diplomat from the British High Commission, ruled that the police overreacted, used excessive force and that the whole operation was heavy-handed. Years later, the government accepted liability before the Supreme Court and agreed to pay damages to the victims for this gross violation of human rights.

Last year Mr. Michel proved to us again that he was no different to Muammar Gaddafi in the sense that he is ready to use whatever force against peaceful demonstrators standing up for their rights.

Some 300 residents of La Misère, affected by drinking raw sewerage from the construction site of Sheikh Khalifa's palace, mounted two protests to press for the compensation due to them. These protests stopped work on the construction at La Misere, and could have led to a final settlement. However, Mr. Michel gave in to the pressure coming from Sheikh Khalifa himself, who demanded that his palace be completed.

What did our Gaddafi do? First of all he had spies infiltrate the organising committee of the residents leading the protests. To stop another demonstration, he gave orders for anti-riot police armed with tear-gas, batons, rubber-bullets and live ammunition to take positions where the residents were to assemble. They were given the order to disperse any crowd using whatever force was necessary.

These two episodes are good examples of how we should judge Mr. Michel, using the standards he has established himself. His behaviour shows the contradictions between words and actions. The two are miles apart.

Gaddafi has been brutally repressing the people of Libya for years, during which time he has been a friend for Mr. Michel, even paying off arrears in membership at the African Union so that Mr. Michel could attend a meeting in Libya.

"Judge me by my actions". Well, actions have spoken.

Australian High commissioner calls on Mr Ramkalawan

2011-02-23T13:59:00.000+04:00

The SNP Leader, Wavel Ramkalawan met with the newly accredited high commissioner of Australia to Seychelles, Sandra Vegting, today.

The visit was Ms Vegting's first to Arpent Vert. Mr Ramkalawan described their talks with as very “cordial and useful”.

The economic reforms and budget planning were their main topics of discussion. The new taxation system deigned by a group of Australian consultants was also discussed.

Ms Vegting also expressed Australia's support for Seychelles in the fields of Education, environment protection as well as climate change.

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner: Organising elections in Seychelles.

2011-02-18T08:00:00.005+04:00

The Constitution of our country provides for the organisation of elections in the Seychelles. Its provisions stipulate the qualifications to be a candidate or voter, the term of tenure of office, and the period during which an election has to be held if the term is fully served by the incumbent. The Constitution goes further to give the President the power to dissolve the National Assembly or personally resign, thus to call for early elections.

Many countries have the same system as ours. Until recently, the UK was one such example where the Prime Minister could call snap elections. We remember how Mrs. Thatcher did so, and won after the Falklands War. The UK system has now changed, and instead they have adopted the US system whereby the date of the election is fixed. Every American knows that on the 19th November every 4 years, Presidential elections are held, and on Martin Luther King Day in January, the elected president is sworn in.

There is much to be said in favour of the American system, and the newly adopted UK system. The most important aspect is political stability. There is no speculation as to when the elections will be held and all the parties are given the same amount of time for preparation. No one has a trump card, businesses can plan ahead, and the population is not held hostage by any group of politicians.

When you compare that to what we have experienced in our short history since the return to multi-party democracy, I can only describe it as 17 years of speculation, uncertainty and doubt. In 1993 and 1998, both Presidential and National Assembly elections were held together. But then Mr. René decided to call for early Presidential elections in 2001. This meant the two were no longer held together.

Later the ruling party decided to dissolve the National Assembly. Then we had Mr. René step down and hand over to Mr Michel, who in turn, barely one year later dissolved Parliament in order to get what he described as a ‘serious Assembly.’ The result was the Seychellois voted for an Assembly with the same representation, to the great disappointment of Mr. Michel.

Today the same doubts abound. We all know that there will be presidential election by the month of May. However, three months before the event, no one knows the dates. Just imagine if a football team about to play a most important final is simply told to prepare itself, but the date of the game will be announced later! The Electoral Commissioner proudly announced that his committee would decide on the date since last week, but so far nothing has come out from his office.

The truth is he is also in doubt, and he is taking precautions just in case the President decides to dissolve the National Assembly, just as he did in 2006, after he had made his speech on the State of the Nation. So he doesn’t know whether he will be organising two elections or one. This surely says a lot about the very state of this nation.

I believe that our country needs to have greater stability in the way elections are organised. For one, I believe the time an election can be held should not lie in the hands of politicians. The date for Presidential elections should be a fixed date at the end of the term, and the transition process provided for. And if the president decides to step down, then his Vice-President should step in. The President cannot play with the country as if it is his personal little toy.

It is also high time that our country realises that it cannot leave one of the most important components of our democracy in the hands of one man: an electoral commissioner. We need a Constitutional amendment to provide for an Independent Electoral Commission. Greater transparency is required. It will only give greater confidence to our people in electoral procedures that will lead to free and fair elections.

And so, the people face the most important decision in their democracy with doubts that are completely unnecessary. This election is also about eliminating such doubts in the future, for a system with greater transparency and participation. This is part of the choice before the people of Seychelles in 2011. Let us rise to greater heights. I know we can.

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner: Votes Must Not Be For Sale.

2011-02-11T15:16:00.007+04:00

Money is a powerful weapon. But it is immoral to use money in some cases. One of them is to buy votes for an election.

I have no doubt that we will see a lot of this tactic. It has been used in previous elections and it will be used again. But Seychellois now know that when they sell their vote, it is bought with their own money. If it is like in the past, the bill will come later as it did after the 2007 elections when the IMF had to be called in.

We can already see the distribution of goods and contracts taking place. The money for this comes from the Seychellois people, in one way or another. Take the proposed renovation of the Social Security Building. In the past, this kind of contract was given just before an election to refund a friendly contractor for a contribution it has made to the SPPF campaign.

When Government money is used to give some things to some people, the money has been taken directly from the people. Every citizen has a right to services or facilities that is available from Government funds, whether it is building materials, loans or welfare assistance. These things are not gifts from a candidate or a political party. They are from the wealth that we have created for the nation through all our work. So, people can accept these things with a free conscience. They should never see this as an obligation to one candidate or a party.

Then there may be money or gifts distributed from private funds. These too, in the end, are paid for by the people themselves. Even if it is provided by rich Arab sheikhs, it has only been provided in return for what Seychelles offers. It is our land and the beauty of our islands and surrounding ocean that are the bargaining chips for this money. You may not have given these precious treasures away, but somebody else has given away things which belonged to you.

Seychellois must not let the outcome of the elections be decided by goods. If a voter is offered goods which he needs, there is nothing wrong in accepting. But it would be wrong to make such things the condition for a vote. Instead, Seychellois should ask what we have been through in the past five years.

Seychellois should see any kind of bargaining for their vote as an affront to their dignity. Your vote is sacred and has no price.

Money has always been a factor in every election that we have had. The ruling party derives an enormous advantage from their control of government finances and from private cash. But despite this, the SNP has reached almost 50% of the vote in previous elections. This is proof that money does not rule everything or everyone.

The vote is there for people to decide the future of their country. People have to remember the past. If they have suffered for five years, they should not forget all of it when some goods are offered. As our well-known Creole saying portrays it, such gifts are only a taste of honey to mask the vinegar of the past five years.

Young people especially must bear in mind that money for a day of fun will not be a substitute for a future. A piece of land in your home country to build your own home in the future is more important than a gift given to influence your vote.

Our people know what is right and what is wrong. I am very confident they will do what is right.

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner: Looking forward to elections.

2011-02-04T12:07:00.000+04:00

Elections are upon us again. I, for one, am looking forward to them. In the life of a politician, elections are the time frame in which we work. It is true that we must not look on elections as the only thing which determines what we do, but they mark the important steps by which we assess what we are doing.

The SNP has always insisted on the ballot as the cornerstone of our democracy. Looking at the events in the Arab world today, we are reminded again of the importance of timely and fair elections. Such things as are happening in Egypt could also happen in Seychelles. We must not think that they are out of the question. When people are frustrated and their system does not allow free choices, they will take to the streets.

These events also remind us of the value of a responsible opposition. In our history, we have seen that political parties do not always live up to their pledges. Mr. René and Mr. Michel had publicly and solemnly sworn to respect the will of the people, and they were part of the Government, when they staged the coup d’etat.

The events remind us also is that it is always the people who are the principal actors in politics. Sooner or later, it comes down to what the people want. They may suffer, even suffer in silence, for many years but eventually they will say enough is enough and make their voices heard.

Many people are worried about what will happen later in Egypt and the other countries facing popular uprisings. There is the danger that they will turn to more autocratic regimes which will deny freedom even more than the ones that exist today. But what we have to remember is that it is the regimes that exist today that have brought their countries to the present situation. It is they who had the responsibility to avoid all the chaos, by allowing freedom of expression, the right to participate, and by allowing the will of the people to be translated into practice.

In Seychelles, we must look to the will of the people. In the coming elections, they will have another opportunity to choose their leaders. People must know that they hold in their hands the key to what happens in the country later. It is no use complaining and grumbling if you do not then take the opportunity to set things right.

This of course calls for elections to be free and fair. Manipulated elections only give a false reflection of the people’s will. Only a couple years ago, Mubarak was elected with a large majority, but look what is happening today!

So, I hope the people of Seychelles will see the coming elections for what they mean in our democracy. It should not be an opportunity to get some money out of a political party that wants your vote. It is an opportunity to make democracy work, and to decide your future.

This is something that we can all be excited about. Let us look forward to the opportunity.

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner: Commissions and Committees

2011-01-28T15:32:00.001+04:00

These two words are complicated in nature. They form part of that group of English words with more than a set of double letters, which means that it is quite easy to make a mistake writing them. Making mistakes is unfortunately also the nature of many committees and commissions. It is said that if you do not want something to move quickly, you set up a committee.

I have started this way to address the issue of two such formations that have been announced this week. The Electoral Commissioner has set up an Advisory Committee, and the President has named members of the Media Commission. Both bodies are very important ones in the consolidation of democracy in our country.

The Electoral Commissioner pointed out, rightly, that it was not his responsibility to set up an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Mr. Michel and his government need to be taken to task here. It was in 2009, declared as the Year of the Constitution that the Review Committee was set up. SNP MNA Bernard Georges worked on a simplified version of the Constitution that was presented to the President, who gave him a long handshake on television. Since then, we have heard nothing of this document.

Subsequently, the final report was presented to President Michel. In it was the recommendation that necessary amendments be made to the Constitution to change the present set up of the Office of the Electoral Commissioner to an IEC.

To the Secretary General of the Commonwealth and the European Union, the President has given the commitment that the necessary Amendments would be sent to the Assembly. Unfortunately, between words and actions of Mr. Michel lies a great precipice. Nothing has been done.

An IEC would be a more effective body with teeth. Even though the Advisory Committee that has been set up should be commended, I still believe that we have to make that important step of setting up an IEC. We have to give more than one person the responsibility of maintaining an important aspect of our democracy.

I have no doubts that the members of the Advisory Committee, most of whom have exhibited fairness and professionalism in their careers and in the supervision of elections, will do a good job. This remains my wish. I hope they start by ensuring that the Voters Register is a credible document and that they forestall the efforts to manipulate it. At the end of the day, the only demands on such a body are accuracy, fairness, independence and impartiality.

The members of the Media Commission were announced on Thursday. Some names have received very positive reactions because those people have always acted independently and as fairly as possible in their jobs. Unfortunately others have not, and this has put a big question mark on the work of this body.

When known activists from any political party, or people with close ties to politics are placed on sensitive committees, the conclusion is negative. This is the case with the Media Commission. There are too many SPPF activists on there.

I have the big question as to who chose the member named by the National Assembly? The law does not say that the ‘person shall be named by the Speaker.’ When this is the intention, the law says so. There was no consultation with the National Assembly Media Committee, which by the way met earlier this week, and neither was our Chief Whip or myself consulted. The Speaker therefore, must have chosen the Deputy Clerk himself. Most interesting I must say when we know the intricacies of the National Assembly Secretariat!

I have promised the Vice-President that the next time I hear the ruling party mention the word ‘mindset’ I will scream. If there is one place where the mindset needs to be changed, it is right up there at State House and at Maison du Peuple. These are the blocked arteries that are stopping progress on the major problems of our society.

At the May elections, the people of Seychelles will have the choice to set their country on a course of national reconciliation, unity, professionalism, hard work, prosperity, peace and brotherhood. This is my dream for this country. Let us travel down this lane together towards a better future, clearing every obstacle on the way.

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner: Accounting for Executive Abuse

2011-01-21T18:23:00.002+04:00

On Wednesday this week, President Michel and Vice-President Faure visited La Digue for a political meeting with their party’s activists. That meeting was held at L’Union Estate, and most of those attending were dressed in red, a clear indication of the nature of the gathering. The speeches delivered by the leaders also pointed to the fact that it was a party mobilisation activity.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that except for one reason. Those two leaders went to La Digue each in a coastguard patrol boat, escorted by a third. The activity was held at L’Union Estate which is a government property usually not rented out to the public, but reserved for national activities.

The question therefore is: Who paid for an activity organised by Parti Lepep? How much did it cost to bring those leaders across? How much of your money and went into one presidential candidate’s campaign?

The same question can be asked of President Michel abusing other state resources such as the SBC to promote himself. Who, or which authority in the country has the mandate to take our leaders to task when such obvious abuses are done?

I believe this is a question that we need to address as a nation in order to ensure that state resources do not become the realm of one man or one party. State resources, as the term implies, have to be used for the benefit of the whole nation and never to promote an individual or a political organisation.

When I visit Praslin or La Digue, I do not have access to state transport to take me there. If it is to be made available to one candidate, it follows that all should receive the same. The important point however is to make the distinction between what can be considered an activity in line with Mr. Michel’s role as President as compared to when he is carrying out a purely party political activity. These two have to be differentiated and dealt with accordingly.

The main reason why I object to mixing the two is simply that when state resources are abused in such ways, it is a form of corruption. The definition covers any activity where money is not used properly, but rather for someone’s advantage. We have all been encouraged to stand firm against that evil. In fact the message on the Ethics Commission’s desk calendar for January calls on everyone to add his voice against corruption. Yet those who are supposed to lead the way give us examples that point the other way.

The trip to La Digue must have easily cost the tax-payer over R50,000. Yet the same government, through a new set of Public Service Orders, has just outlined abuses that will not be tolerated. The wasting of state resources is considered a grave offence. Are these leaders really serious?

Let us take for example a simple worker who can be taken to task for making a couple of private calls during working hours. Is it fair to punish that simple worker when his ultimate bosses are abusing in the thousands of rupees in just one trip? Surely there is something that is wrong somewhere. This reminds me of a popular saying here in Seychelles used to describe corruption. ‘If you steal millions and you are a boss, you get promoted; if you steal peanuts and you are an ordinary worker, you go to jail!’

Our country needs to build up the necessary mechanisms that will ensure that even when someone is the President, he still has to respect rules and regulations. There needs to be an independent body to which such blatant abuses can be reported and corrected. The National Assembly should play that role, but unfortunately, under the present system, this is out of the question. The other body that can now exercise such oversight is the Ethics Commission. The question is: Will it do so?

During the coming months we will see more of such abuses. It is sad that when the present government talks of a change of ‘mindset’, they fail to realise that the biggest change that needs to happen is right up there at State House. Start with the head itself, and you will see the marvels that happen with the body.

Our country has limited resources and our people need to be able to enjoy these meagre resources to improve their standard of living. I hope President Michel will respect the office he holds under the Constitution and will refrain from abusing state resources during this campaign.

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner: A Defining Moment

2011-01-14T17:52:00.002+04:00

A Seychelles where Everyone is a Winner!

The presidential election in May this year will mark another milestone in the history of Seychelles. In many ways, it will be a victory for the fight we have led for a very long time. Our democracy has come of age. Although not perfect, at 20 years of age, it has reached maturity.

Among the first time voters will be those born after the return to multi-party politics in 1992. The circle will have finally closed. From this year’s presidential election, every year a new batch of 18 year-olds who have not lived a single day under the one-party dictatorship will be eligible to participate in choosing the country’s leaders.

This brings a sense of encouragement and anticipation to those of us who endured the oppression of the dictatorship. Those young voters need to know that it was not an easy fight. In fact, it is still ongoing and everyday we are overcoming fresh hurdles that are placed by the powers that be. But in the worst period, many people lost their lives, were imprisoned, tortured and exiled in the struggle for democracy. We have come a long way, and I believe the people of Seychelles are ready for another leap towards a better future.

After all these years, our people are looking forward to this democratic process with greater maturity. I know for sure that the tricks of past elections will fail this time round. Why? The voter no longer looks at himself/herself as an object with a price, but rather as a dignified citizen with the right to choose. The politician who believes he can buy a vote with a fridge, a cooker, some corrugated iron sheets or an empty promise should rethink his strategy.

I am encouraged because over the years our people have understood the meaning of empty promises, insults and serious propositions. At the last presidential election in 2006, the SNP talked about the reforms our country needed to undergo to eliminate the black market, revive our economy, and strengthen national development. Our opponents laughed at us, and instead got our people to believe that everything was just fine. They won. We lost.

But what happened then? Less than two years later, they starting talking about the IMF, a reform programme, a convertible currency, and so on. Our whole programme was suddenly hijacked and adopted as theirs. The only difference was that they had allowed the country to sink too low, and therefore, instead of being able to negotiate from a position of some strength, they could only give in to all the proposed measures that meant hardship for workers, poverty to the general population, and a bleak future to our youth.

The people know what happened. They have seen both sides of the coin. When the SNP speaks now, they know that we are not pulling a story from Enid Blyton or from another fairy-tale book. The people know that the SNP addresses real issues and that we are concerned about our country and its people.

Indeed we have to think of our country and its future. An election will give the people the choice. In peace, we will all be given a ballot paper. Each one of us will have to decide. At the end of the day when every vote is counted, the result will be the will of the people.

The SNP stands for all these noble principles. We believe in our people. We agree that our people deserve the best future. We believe that the prosperity of our land must be shared fairly. In short, with the SNP, every Seychellois wins.

May 2011 be a turning point in our history.

Message of SNP Leader Wavel Ramkalawan for New Year 2011: WELCOME THE NEW YEAR WITH HOPE

2010-12-30T15:11:00.001+04:00

The New Year is a fresh start for all of us. It is a time of hope, when we look forward to advancing our goals in life. As the saying goes, each day is the start of the rest of our lives, and this must be especially true of the New Year. Let us truly look on it as the start of the future.

But before we set off on this new journey, I join with the people of Seychelles in looking back at the past year, to be thankful for what we have been able to achieve. For those who have enjoyed success in their endeavours, it is right that they should look back with satisfaction and pride. For those who have had a hard year, who have suffered loss and pain, let us take courage from what we have been through in the hope that it will give us new hope for a better year ahead.

I express my sincere wishes to all the people of Seychelles that the year will bring health and strength for each one and the energy and courage to work for what we want to achieve. I hope that everyone will have the opportunities they seek for prosperity and happiness. I know we will all face new trials that will test us. But the start of the year is the right moment to determine that we will face what life brings and do our best to build happiness around us.

But I also want to express my wishes for our country itself. I hope we will see the year through in peace and stability, that we will achieve respect for all no matter what our differences, and that a spirit of unity will be amongst us. I hope that freedom and justice will prevail so that we can say that Seychelles is indeed our motherland, in which we know that we all have a place to share.

I express my best wishes for everyone in Seychelles to celebrate the New Year with their loved ones and families. Let us commend our lives and our preoccupations to God so that He will bless us and guide us through the year ahead.

Christmas Message From SNP Leader Wavel Ramkalawan: A Time for Thanksgiving, Compassion and Reflection

2010-12-24T15:14:00.001+04:00

Christmas is a time for celebration and for giving thanks for the good things with which we've been blessed during the year. I wish everyone in Seychelles a joyous Christmas with the hope that all will be able to share in celebration with the ones they love. Christmas is a time for family, and my wish is that everyone will be with their families to share gifts, wishes and a special meal. My special wishes to children and older people who need to have their families around them for this time.

Even if we have not been able to give or receive gifts bought from a shop, we can be grateful for life, health, freedom and peace, so many things which are easy to take for granted but which, as we know, many people in the world do not enjoy. As we celebrate, let us be determined to join together in making Seychelles a country where we can always enjoy these things. It is up to us, people of Seychelles, to make our country one which we can be proud of and in which we can be happy to live. We will achieve this only if we believe in working not only for ourselves but for the good of our country.

At the same time, I ask everyone to join with me in expressing solidarity and compassion with those who have faced a difficult year and whose celebrations may be shadowed by problems. These may be people who are destitute, who have difficulty making ends meet, who have to cope with ill-health or with personal and social problems. Many people may not see much reason to celebrate. I pay tribute to the generosity of many of you who have heeded the call of Christ to help neighbours in need. Let us continue to remember them as we join together in prayer on Christmas Day.

Christmas will also be a time of reflection for us, on the year that is gone by. We can take the opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved and where we may have fallen short of our goals or expectations. We remain thankful for what we have been able to do, in our occupations, in our relationships or in the service of our community and country while we renew our determination to continue working for the goals we have set ourselves. I express special wishes to those who will be working on Christmas Day, especially those in the police, security forces, health, emergency and essential services.

A joyous, peaceful and blessed Christmas to all.

SNP stands for Lower Taxes

2010-12-20T09:33:00.001+04:00

Lower Taxes is a key policy of the SNP. Party Leader Wavel Ramkalawan has announced the party’s stance on taxes and made the main proposals in this policy during his reply to the Budget address last week.

The SNP wants to redress the trend for more and more taxes adopted by the SPPF/Parti Lepep, and brought to full force under the IMF-directed economic programme. Seychellois workers and families today are burdened by a range of taxes that bear hard on their purchasing power and standard of living. Reducing the tax burden is a key goal of social justice and economic revival.

The SNP has also taken a stance against the principle of a flat tax rate for all, which means that lower income families bear a heavier burden in proportion to their income.

The proposals which have been outlined by the SNP are:

• Removing personal income tax for persons earning the minimum salary. The SNP is in favour of a tax-free threshold of up to R5000 of salary per month, which will give lowest income families an immediate improvement in their disposable income.

• Establishing a graduated scale for tax rates, where salaries will be taxed at 0%, to 20%. The 20% rate will apply for income over R25, 000 per month. The tax rate will decrease for the great majority of workers and remain the same for people in the medium to high bracket.

• Making the first 20 hours of overtime per month tax-free.

• Removing tax on the first R10, 000 of gratuity or length of service payments

• Giving tax refunds for essential medical and educational expenses through the system of tax returns

To offset the tax reductions, the SNP has proposed a tax on foreign owned property which will contribute R80 million. These tax proposals will be part of the SNP manifesto for the Presidential election due in 2011.

Our Country... Our Future: We can do without insults in the Assembly

2010-12-17T09:30:00.002+04:00

The National Assembly has just concluded another budget debate. I am very saddened at the level of debate that the ruling party members prefer to maintain year in, year out. Instead of addressing real issues that our country is facing, this year again they allowed themselves to be stuck in insults, personal attacks, lies and pure arrogance.

I will proudly say that the SNP team did this country justice by addressing the real issues of social ills, cost of living, the water problem and other relevant economic issues. They need to be commended because what they did went in the national interest. The SNP talked about issues which, if our country has the courage to tackle, will surely help it move forward.

On many occasions I have addressed the issue of the level of debate in the House. Whenever I do so, it is for no reason except to see how such an important institution in our democracy can play its full role in the country’s development. As one of the three main branches of government, it is our responsibility as representatives of the people, to bring forward their views, question government, and above all play the oversight role. In this task, there is no place for insults and arrogance.

As one member pointed out, in a budget debate, ideas are presented, discussed and looked at from different angles. Political parties will have their own views on different issues. At times they may converge, whereas at other times they will differ. But there is nothing wrong in agreeing to disagree. Unfortunately, too often, our friends on the other side fail to understand that parliament was set up in order to rid society of wars and deaths. You sometimes wonder whether they would not wish for a duel, with the winner carrying off the head of the opponent.

When we consider raising standards, we are also aspiring to greater political maturity and transparency. When ideas can be properly debated, our people will follow the arguments and feel part of the debate. When facts are well presented in a debate, the people feel empowered because they know what is happening, and they are placed in a better position to decide the direction they want to see their country move in. When debates are about ideas and strategies, the country comes out the winner. Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go before this can happen.

This leads me once more to talk about the independent referee. As long as the referee is not independent and impartial, but has vested interest in what is happening, it will be difficult to raise standards. When the referee is also the coach and sometimes a player, because he knows the game strategy, we will not rise to greater heights. Our democracy needs to make that change immediately, and then we will see the difference that this will bring with it.

It is acceptable that in a parliament, there at times when you will have heated debates, especially when the topic is an important one. The budget is one of those occasions. Our deep passion for whatever issue cannot allow anyone to go off track into the realm of personal insults. This is where members must be guided by the independent referee and made to remain on track. An exciting football match ends with players shaking hands, exchanging jerseys and congratulating the officials. Why can this not happen in parliament as well?

Our country should always take priority over whatever personal problems we have with anyone. The National Assembly is the place to resolve national issues and not personal ones. I hope that next year we may start the National Assembly with a more civilised debate over ideas. I wish that the 2011 presidential election will not be an excuse for a further degradation of the level of debate. Politicians have to support their candidate and party, but surely we can do this by respecting our people and conducting ourselves in a way that will help edify everyone, instead of letting the institution down.

2011 BUDGET : Opposition Leader calls for social justice

2010-12-10T09:36:00.000+04:00

The 2011 Budget will be the focus of attention in the next few days. Debate on it started in the National Assembly this morning with the address of Opposition Leader Wavel Ramkalawan.

The SNP does not accept the grand claims made by Vice-President Danny Faure that the Budget has “something for every Seychellois”.

In overall terms, the 2010 Budget allocations for ministries and departments are only slightly more, an increase of R44 million, than the actual expenditure this year. This will barely keep up with increased costs and new demands, and will not permit ministries to meet the pressing needs which have accumulated.

The large ministries such as education and health, although they receive the largest share of allocations, will not be able to improve situations which are difficult such as lack of maintenance and materials. For many Government organisations and for the population in general, this Budget still bears the marks of austerity which characterises the IMF-led rescue package.

While James Michel and Danny Faure claim success for the economic reforms, the fruits still have to reach the people. If there is one difference, it is that Government is rich. The effect of economic reforms that people have felt so far is taxes and more taxes. For 2011, Government is envisaging R1 billion more than it anticipated for the 2009 Budget, an increase of 29% in two years.

The money is not going out to the population. The main goal of Government is to build up reserves to meet the targets of the IMF-supported programme.

In his reply, Opposition Leader Ramkalawan has described Seychelles as a country in which the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. He has called for a re-alignment of the tax system in favour of the lower income earners. He has proposed eliminating income for persons earning the minimum wage and a gradual scale of taxation from 5% to 20% instead of the flat rate of 15% paid by everyone. Mr. Ramkalawan has said that improving earnings for low to middle income earners is a matter of social justice. Higher earnings for a large section of our population will also be good for business since it will boost spending, he said. He has likewise called for a comprehensive revision of the salary structure for the public service.

The Opposition Leader has called for more resolute action and more resources to address social ills which the country is facing today. Crime, drug use and social problems are undermining the foundations of our society and need concerted action, he said. These are problems that we cannot leave unattended.

Our Country... Our Future: We must be serious about our social ills

2010-12-03T09:54:00.002+04:00

To start, I wish to congratulate the panel and all participants who took part in the live programme on the SBC on the occasion of World Aids Day. The educational value of the programme was excellent and the concerns expressed were genuine. Everyone involved cared about the subject and everyone had the desire to see a change in order to bring about a new approach within society in tackling the related social issues associated with HIV/AIDS.

I am concerned and worried about the trends that have taken root in our small country. Without more planning and resolute action, the future of our younger generations and the social fabric of our communities are in serious danger. We are confronted with many ills, and unless we act now, they will explode in our faces and the consequences will be too much for us as a small nation.

The graph showing the prevalence of Hepatitis C gives a clear picture of our predicament. The age of those affected reflect persons who are at their strongest, and therefore pillars of the working population. As one health worker told us, we have to multiply the figure by 10 in order to have a clearer picture of the real problem. Isn’t that frightening?

All the local social indicators are negative. Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise, the number of intravenous drug users have gone up, alcohol related diseases keep escalating, and younger women are seen on our streets as sex workers. Teachers are finding it difficult to cope with their own students, let alone those who invade school premises to sort out their children’s problems.

Our society is going in the wrong direction and we should all be concerned.

The other side of all these problems is the economic troubles we might have to face as a country. The eventual cost to deal with all the illnesses caused by those social ills will be the greatest burden on our economy. The biggest concern however remains the quality of life we all aspire to as a society. The attitude of ‘this is not my problem’ has to stop, because it is indeed everyone’s problem.

Some may be living behind high walls, fully protected. However, eventually the problem will climb the wall and meet you wherever you are. With crime on the increase as well, everyone will be touched. Therefore NOW is the time for action.

We all agree that the main source of all these problems is drugs. From there, one thing leads to another. The approach so far has been too much a question of the police running after young people who are smoking a joint, and success has been defined as the number of people arrested. This approach is wrong and we need to start looking at other ways of doing things.

We have to be clear on what prison can and cannot do. Someone who is an addict does not need prison. He needs treatment. A mandatory prison sentence for helpless drug users does not resolve the issue. On the other hand, drug trafficking must be fought resolutely and efforts against drug use must be comprehensive.

Some people may say that giving clean needles to drug addicts is wrong and will promote the abuse of drugs. This is just one aspect of the whole treatment process that need to be comprehensive and all-encompassing. Let us therefore also look at programmes for counseling, detoxication, employment, rebuilding hope, medical treatment, and above all saving the life of a fellow human being.

I sincerely hope that more money is put in these programmes that will help tackle the concerns we are faced with. Too often millions are given to certain agencies which fail to bring solutions to problems, whereas those who really need the facilities are given crumbs. This needs to be changed if we really want to see an improvement.

As I mentioned earlier, all the agencies need to come together. Let it not be another talk-show, but an action-oriented programme that will indeed help this country move forward.

I am worried and concerned. I want to be part of the solution. We should all stand up and be part of the solution. Let us together save our country and future generations.

The time to do that is now.

SNP Women’s Organisation Elects New Leaders

2010-11-29T10:06:00.000+04:00

The SNP Women’s Organisation held its Annual Convention yesterday, Sunday November 29, 2010 at the International Conference Centre, Victoria, under the theme: ‘Fanm Seselwa, Ralye Pour Lavenir’.

Regina Alcindor, a long standing official of the SNP and formerly the MNA for Glacis, was elected Chairperson and replaces Priscilla Julie in that role. Jourdanne Ernesta was elected Vice-Chairperson, Jacqueline Noel, Secretary, and Desheila Bastienne was re-elected Treasurer. The rest of the organisation’s executive committee is made up of regional representatives who have been elected by members from their region.

On behalf of the new committee and the organisation, Mrs. Alcindor said women needed to be more prominent in political work and in assuming roles of responsibility. “The concerns of women reflect the concerns of the family and community,” Mrs Alcindor said, “The SNP is responding to the urgent needs of the country when it addresses the concerns of women.”

Mrs Alcindor noted that the SNP had achieved a landmark in choosing a woman, Annette Georges, to be the vice-presidential nominee for two presidential elections. This had established that the SNP was committed to gender balance. Mrs. Alcindor noted the obstacles that women faced in taking a front role in politics, mainly because of fear of victimisation. She said she would work to make the SNP a party for women.

SNP leader Wavel Ramkalawan addressed the members of the organisation, thanking them for their contribution in the work of the party and said he was counting on them to make a very valuable contribution to politics.

Mr. Ramkalawan said the SNP mission today was to stand for the poor and the weak. “Seychelles is becoming more and more a society where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The SNP will work to redress the balance.” he said.

Our Country... Our Future: A Case For ex-RFA Sailors

2010-11-26T10:09:00.001+04:00

Next week, Seychelles will be welcoming Princess Anne of Great Britain. The official visit will certainly be an occasion to highlight our ties with the UK, which are long-standing and have always been cordial.

Despite the historical fact of colonialism, which extended to our islands, Seychelles does not have any grievance with Great Britain. Unlike most other countries of the empire, our islands only came into existence as a colony, without any native population. And colonial rule was benign rather than oppressive. The claim has sometimes been made that Seychellois suffered under colonial rule, but there is no need to falsify history in this context.

What the visit of the Princess should highlight on the other hand is the role that Seychellois people have played in the British institutions, in particular in the defence forces. In comparison to its small size, Seychellois served in great numbers in the armed forces of Great Britain in the context of the two world wars, in other theatres and during the cold war. Only two weeks ago, we commemorated the sacrifice of Seychellois lives in the ceremony at Mont Fleuri.

The association worked both ways of course, because many young men and women (much fewer) went for service in the armed forces as a career opening. It was a way to see more of the world and find work opportunities that did not exist at home. But the work was not always well-paid, and today I want to take up the cause of one group, the men (unfortunately no women) who served in the Royal Forces Auxilliary (RFA) vessels, usually referred to as ‘tankers’.

This is not a new cause. I raised in the National Assembly recently in a motion calling for Government to pursue their case. This was supported by both sides of the House, so it is not a partisan cause.

There are about 115 ex-RFA sailors living in Seychelles today. They served in vessels which delivered supplies to the British Navy, in connection with the Suez crisis, the Korean War an in the Cold War peiod. These men were poorly paid compared to their British counterparts and they left without any gratuity or compensation. In fact, their service has never been recognised as that of other members of the armed forces has been. And although they did not carry arms or take part in fighting, they were an essential part of operations and their lives were often in danger.

The case has been raised for these personnel to be awarded some form of service recognition, by way of a pension or gratuity. Some former servicemen have been pursuing their cause through efforts of their own. Recently, the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepted that there may be a case to be made for them.

I am raising this issue on the occasion of the visit of Princess Anne because it is a part of the relationship between our two countries, which certainly will be referred to during the visit. But I also think it is the right time for the Seychelles authorities to take up the matter through the proper channels. Many such issues have been settled in the past, and I believe it is a question of doing justice to those who served.

I hope the visit will also be an occasion to recognise and honour those who served to cement that special relationship between Great Britain and Seychelles – a relationship which endured not so much because of the work of politicians but of ordinary men and women like the ex-RFA sailors.