Our Country... Our Future: Anse Etoile MNA Replies

I hope that President Michel will do me the courtesy  to note my comments, as the elected MNA for Anse Etoile,  as I have noted the remarks he made after his visit to the district.

Mr. Michel said that all elected MNAs should be sensitive to the needs of the residents who elected them. I couldn’t agree more! However, if he is sincere, he should lead by example.

If this was the message he wanted to proclaim, or if he wanted to take a new approach when visiting districts, there was at least one thing he should do, that is, to invite the elected MNA for that district to accompany him. The elected MNA should even have been part of the organisation of a visit by the President to the district.

Mr. Michel chose to include the Parti Lepep MNA in his delegation last Saturday on La Digue, as he has done elsewhere, but he deliberately excludes any SNP MNA. When he chooses to do that, he shows that he is partisan in his duties as President. Thus he weakens his moral authority to give any lessons on how leaders should do their work.

Mr. Michel likes to say that he was not aware of a given situation. For instance, he was not aware of the suffering of the La Misère residents. I would like to bring to his attention that elected SNP MNAs are still left outside the various district structures. The DCC, which was meant to include MNAs,  is basically a dead body. If it meets at all, SNP MNAs are not invited. Please tell me, Mr. President, how are we to bring forward the needs of the district when we are excluded all the government structures? 

When I send questions to Ministers and 3 years later they have not yet been answered, does that not show clearly that the structures need renovating? When Mr. Michel says we have to be sensitive to the needs of the residents, and women complain of the non-existent lighting in their village, and government does nothing when the MNA raises the issue, what should the MNA do?

Mr. Michel should start listening a little bit more to what the SNP says. He should know that whenever he is to visit a district, a great effort is made in cleaning the area just to impress him. At St. Louis, they repainted the wall around the district administration office. At Anse Etoile, they cleaned all the gutters, and even had a special team to clean the Old People’s Home. Staff from Praslin hospital were sent to La Digue just to help clean the hospital for his visit. Mr. Michel should not be fooled. 

If he wants a true picture of the country he is leading, he should announce his visits an hour before he goes, and then he will know what people experience.

I would like to point certain very important points which Mr. Michel should have been included in his visit, which as MNA I happen to be aware of.

-  At Quincy lives Mr. Cupidon, whose elderly wife is in hospital with a fractured arm, and broken hips after being assaulted by police officers.

- Ma Constance the roadis in deplorable state and needs urgent repairs.

- At Pointe Conan, retaining walls are a danger to residents and the public and their owners, but are still not repaired nearly a year after they were damaged.

- At Hangard, a talk with residents would have helped him to understand why I keep asking for a regular bus service for the residents up there.

- At La Gogue dam, he could have seen how bad the water situation is, not only for Anse Etoile but for the whole nation.

- At ‘Kan Bibouk’ he could have seen the polluted stream due to defective sewerage system at the flats. ( I wonder whether Mr. Michel was even told that these residents still don’t have treated water).

The last point for which I have space here concerns the remarks Mr. Michel made on the state of the Old People’s Home. You should be aware, Mr. President, that the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees is your party’s main activist at Maldive, a senior nurse at  Fiennes Institute caring for the elderly. The cleanliness of the place was supposed to be assured by the District Administration. But guess what? The very person who failed the residents of that establishment, for which you expressed your dissatisfaction, is the one you have chosen to stand as your party’s candidate at the next election.

Better consideration for Praslin and La Digue students

SNP leader Wavel Ramkalawan has asked that the particular difficulties of Praslin and La Digue students be taken into account in considering the level of student allowances. Students from the smaller islands face additional expenses in pursuing their education on Mahé he pointed out and should not be assessed in the same way as those from Mahe.

Education minister Macsuzy Mondon, said that allowances for post-secondary students would be revised in the 2011 budget. The students from the two islands receive R500 over the ordinary allowance.

Other members made the point that some students were not getting any allowance although their parents had applied. The minister said she did not see why that should be the case since all students get an allowance of R450 even if they did not qualify for assistance.

SNP member David Pierre expressed the belief that post-secondary students should get a 100% increase since prices had doubled since the devaluation in 2008.

Apart from the amount of allowances, no mechanism was in place to provide secondary and post-secondary students with the opportunity to work during holidays. Minister Mondon confirmed as much in her answer to a question by SNP member Gervais Henrie. The ministry was not doing anything along those lines, she said, but parents were free to find a part-time job for their children. In post-secondary institutions, all programmes were accompanied with ‘work attachment’, but financial reward was at the discretion of the organization. 

Ramkalawan obtains important amendments to Postal Sector law

SNP Leader Wavel Ramkalawan has obtained two amendments to a new law setting up an agency for public postal services. The Postal Sector Bill 2010 was passed unanimously by the National Assembly on Tuesday after the amendments.

The SNP has in general supported the proposal for the public postal service to be turned over to an autonomous agency. The Public Postal Operator, as the new entity is being called, will function under a Postal Regulator, which will be a board of 3 persons appointed by the President. It will have exclusive right to mail handling by post and managing facilities such as post offices and post boxes.  But the law also recognises  private courier and ancilliary services in this sector.

The SNP leader sought an amendment to a provision which required the Seychelles Licensing Authority to obtain the consent of the Minister of Finance before approving a licence. In the present context where more autonomy was expected, it was not right for the Minister approval to be required, the SNP Leader said.

On another provision, Mr. Ramkalawan asked that opening of parcels or letters by the regulator under a search warrant be carried out in the presence of the person to whom the item is addressed.

The amendments were accepted by Parti Lepep members, one of the rare occasions when they have  agreed to amendments proposed by the SNP.

Winners collect prizes in SNP lottery

Winners in the Seychelles National Party lottery were presented with their prizes last Saturday, in a ceremony at the Maison du Football, Roche Caiman. 

 Addressing the prize winners and SNP representatives who had gathered for the occasion, Party Leader Wavel Ramkalawan said the lottery had been a success because of the hard work and commitment of the team which had organised it and the support of the many people who participated by buying tickets.  The SNP leader took  the occasion to thank everyone who had taken part.

Sharifa Ho-Kan of Port Glaud was the winner of the Star Prize, a Hyundai  i10 saloon. Other prizes included air tickets to popular destinations, cash and home appliances.

The SBC had been invited to cover the prize-giving ceremony as is the case for similar events, but it decided, without any explanations, not to show up.

Our Country... Our Future: Professional police for an effective state.

It is the profound desire of the people of Seychelles to have an effective and professional police force. We all want to feel secure in our homes and on the streets at all times. Ordinary people cannot afford private security, so they expect the police force they finance to be responsive and to give them a service they can count on.

We all recognise that there are very good officers. In my own dealings with the police, I have met many who are reassuring by their calmness and willingness to assist. When they succeed in dealing with a problem, they have our admiration. When lost items are recovered, when cases are solved, or when the innocent are protected and justice wins, we feel encouraged. These are the officers who have earned the respect of the people they serve. We have to keep encouraging them so that the transformation of the police force continues, to the extent that anyone wanting to join will not see it as an authoritarian body, but rather as a people-centred organisation.

However, we all feel discouraged when police officers get it wrong. When officers feel they can take the law in their own hands and get away with it, the force loses its objectives, and the people lose trust in those who are supposed to protect them. It is a case where a couple of bad apples can spoil the whole bag.

We have always spoken of an independent, professional and effective force, free from all political influence. I believe these are the objectives we should set for the police and all other disciplinary forces. We are still far from attaining them, thus while we praise when good work is done, we also have to bring out the failures in order for all of us to see the way forward.

Some officers have recently been told their services are no longer required. They have not been given any particular reason as to why their employment is being stopped. Given the history of such unjustified terminations in the past, one can only see in them political motives. After all, this is what was found when officers in the past brought their cases to court and won. The question therefore is whether we are seeing another round of political interference in the force?

If there was an issue with the work of these officers, the only approach should have been to call them in and assess their work. They at least deserve a warning and an explanation of what they have done wrong. But when someone reports for duty and is told he has to hand in his resignation or face being sacked, this is definitely not the right approach. Our country will now see another group of police officers go to court and seek redress.

Worrying incidents involving the police lately continue. One involves an accident on Praslin in which a police vehicle being driven at high speed by a police officer hit a 4yr old boy. The boy is still fighting for his life in the ICU, and the police officer has been transferred. The circumstances of the accident reveal that serious disciplinary action should have been taken already. On the scene the officer is even reported to have threatened people with his pistol. Is this not a case of a police officer abusing his position?

The other incident occurred over the weekend at Quincy Village, when two pensioners seriously injured through unjustified police actions.

A good police force is part of the foundations of an effective state. Without these men and women in uniform performing their duties properly and ensuring the rule of law, our country will not function properly.

A good police force starts by ensuring that discipline becomes the corner stone of the organisation. We can move forward. In order to achieve this, we have to take politics out of the force and let professionalism take over.

Neighbours seek protection from Baie Ste. Anne quarry

Residents close to the Baie Ste. Anne quarry on Praslin have begun to suffer from the consequences of its activities. Many would like the Government to step in and protect their homes and their health from the effects.

The Baie Ste. Anne residents are now going through the same situation that Pointe Larue residents suffered for years from the presence of the UCPS quarry there. Their complaints and public pressure eventually paid off as the company took steps to correct the situation. This shows that measures can be taken if the company feels the pressure.

For the moment, the authorities concerned are closing their ears to the problem. SNP leader Wavel Ramkalawan sent in a private notice question this week for the minister for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport, Joel Morgan. But the question was not accepted on the ground that the matter was not urgent. Yet for the residents it is very urgent.

Many homes are already suffering from cracks because of the blasting. But the more pressing worry is that the wind during the north-east monsoon, which begins in October, blow the dust directly towards the homes in the area. Many residents are already complaining of asthmatic conditions.

The operators of the quarry can correct the situation. It should not be a question of money since these businesses make huge profits. They can manage their activities and make the necessary investments to protect people who are now paying the price for the profits they make.

Our Country... Our Future: No place for fear

Some years back, the leader of a Commonwealth observer mission asked me why the ruling party was still winning elections even if the country was near bankruptcy and the people were suffering. I looked at the honourable gentleman in the eye and said: ‘Fear’.  He shook his head and said, ‘It has to be destroyed if democracy is to take root.’

Our people have been ruled by fear from the day of the coup when Mr. René took power by the gun. Fear has of course been accompanied by lies. We have been used to all manner of false propaganda that kept the system going. It is sad, but unfortunately too many people have fallen into that trap for too long.

Every state service has operated with some element of fear. Getting a house required a show of support for the ruling party. One had to be very careful in what one said, who you associated with, and of course showing up at the ruling party’s activities.

A business licence required the same behaviour. A lot of people have suffered over the years and have been denied a licence simply because there were doubts about their political affiliation. The same applied to a job in the civil service. The security clearance process was basically a political clearance process.

When you look at all the circumstances and understand what people had to go through, then you see how fear set itself as the norm in the lives of our people. And the politicians were so ruthless that they preyed on even the elderly citizens. They were told that if they voted for the opposition, they would lose their social security. How inhuman and sad when politicians can stoop to that level.

Today, as we approach the presidential election, fear is being tried again. The usual propaganda of losing everything if the SNP wins is being played out. Our citizens are being told they will lose their jobs, their homes, their land, their business and even the welfare assistance that they may be receiving. This is coming from a ruling party that has lost direction and is staring at defeat. It is the action of a drowning man clutching at every straw.

The good news is that our people have gone through this phase. They have seen and heard it all before. Our people are now stronger and much more determined than ever. Fear tactics will not work anymore. People will stand for what they believe in and change what they feel needs changing. In our case it is a government.

The truth is finally penetrating to the very hearts of our people. They know their rights and therefore are aware that no government can stop them from benefiting from state services or from taking their jobs away. Fear will no longer affect their thinking and their resolve for a better Seychelles.

Under an SNP government, no individual will lose his job, house, licence or property. Politics will no longer direct our lives. We will no longer be a nation that has politics as the main ingredient of daily life. The rights of every individual will be respected by the state, and politicians will once again be the servants of the people and not their masters.

The people of Seychelles are indeed ready for a new tomorrow. They will do so in all confidence. I am proud of being part of the change. If you are not already on board, jump in, and together let us build a better country.

Message of SNP Leader WAVEL RAMKALAWAN On Teachers day 2010

On the occasion of Teachers’ Day 2010, I would like to address my good wishes to all teachers in Seychelles for a fruitful day of reflection, activities and celebration.

Teachers Day is there to remind us of how much we single out this profession among so many others to honour. If we ask ourselves why we don’t specially mark a day for many other professions which may be even more prestigious such as Lawyers’ Day, or Doctors’ Day or Astronauts’ Day, the answer will be simple. It is because these professions don’t mean so much to each and every one of us. Other professions we may need now and then or they may contribute indirectly to our lives. But nothing can replace the teacher in our lives. Teachers are second only to our parents in the way they shape our minds and our character for the future. Sometimes, their influence may be even more definite than that of our parents. So it is appropriate for us to give this day our special attention.

Seychelles has always demanded a lot of its teachers, but our demands are increasing all the time. The job of a teacher is, with each passing year, more difficult, requiring more hard work, dedication and caring, with every plan that we make for the future of our nation, we need to count on our teachers to deliver. Unfortunately, his important profession is not always rewarded as it should be. Teachers continue be poorly paid in comparison to many other professions and types of work, and the conditions they work are not so comfortable. This is perhaps the case in much of the world, but we must make it our concern here in Seychelles. So, it is our duty to continue to seek better conditions for teachers, so that we recognize the value of the work that they do.

Teaching is no longer a question of knowledge or information. It is no longer about content. Today, it must be about imparting the wish to learn, the ability to think, and the preparation of our young to take control of their own lives. Our world today is more complex, with numerous factors and influences, many of them destructive, which bear upon the lives of our young people. We are therefore asking more of our teachers than we ever have.

If we ask more of them, we need to be ready to help them more. As parents, as members of other professions, as members of the public, we should be ready to support our teachers to the full. We cannot entrust the future of our children to the teachers and wash our hands of the job of education. They say it takes a whole village to educate a child. In our case, our whole country is that village.

I take the occasion to pledge my support to teachers in the noble task we have entrusted them with. I wish you courage for the year ahead, and a happy Teachers Day.

Petition calls for free and independent media

A group of SNP officials, led by the Party Leader Wavel Ramkalawan accompanied by several activists went to State House gate this afternoon to deliver a petition to President James Michel, who is also the Minister of Information.

The petition urged the information ministry to once and for all, seriously look at all questions pertaining to media ethics, professionalism and independence in Seychelles.

The SNP says an independent national media would enable the institution to play its role as a watchdog of the public interest.

The 550-named petition was signed during the SNP’s Convention on Sunday. The party also adopted a resolution, tabled by the SNP member of the National Assembly, Hon. Gervais Henrie, calling for more political pressure to ensure an independent national media.

The SNP has criticized the government’s delaying tactics of implementing the 2007 Judge Reilly Report and the recent Court of Appeal’s verdict, which has both criticized the government’s interference with the media’s independence.

SNP is of the view that the government is using its control and influence of the national media as a mean to maintain power.

SNP “Ready To Lead”

The annual convention of the Seychelles National Party was a rallying call for members to work for victory in the Presidential election due next year.

The SNP is ‘Ready to Lead’, Party Leader Wavel Ramkalawan declared to participants gathered in the International Conference  Centre, Victoria, on Sunday. The SNP has proven that it had the right ideas on what was necessary to move the country forward, the Party Leader said to an enthusiastic audience, and it has championed the principles that the ruling party is following today.  It has shown that it is capable of leading the country to achieve a higher standard of governance and prosperity for its citizens, he declared. 

Mr. Ramkalawan expressed his confidence that the SNP has the support of the majority of the people of Seychelles today, and would win the election if it they were free and fair. The convention was a resolute call for the party to do everything possible to remove the obstacles to greater democracy and equitable conditions for elections.

Party Leader Ramkalawan said that Seychellois people had been taught to be fearful of change, but that it had realized there was nothing to fear. SNP did not believe in forcing politics into people’s lives. “No one has to fear for his liberty, his rights, his job or his security under an SNP Government”, the SNP leader said.
The approaching elections loomed large in the business of the Convention, from the Secretary-General’s report to the resolutions at the end of the event. Officers and members stressed the need for everyone to view it as a defining moment in the history of Seychelles and for all to work for the goal of making SNP the next Government of Seychelles.

The convention was the occasion to deal with administrative requirements which included approval of the country’s accounts for 2009. In an open forum, members took the opportunity to bring forward points that they wanted the party to take up. These points were framed into resolutions on a number of points on which the party executive was called to act.

One of the resolutions passed was to endorse a petition calling for an independent and impartial SBC which members signed, to be delivered to State House. Others included protecting artisanal fishing for  Seychellois, improving the salary and conditions of home carers, ensuring equal pay for all stevedores, and pressing for an independent electoral commission.

The Convention approved a special motion to extend the mandate of the Executive Committee in place for one year instead of holding elections. In presenting this motion, executive committee member Bernard Georges explained that the present executive committee had begun preparing next year’s elections campaign and needed to carry on with the task.

The Convention elected two officers to fill vacant posts. Maryse Eichler was elected as the Party Treasurer to replace Alain St. Ange and Bryan Julie was elected as the new Deputy Treasurer.

The Convention paid a special tribute to the events of October 3, 2006, when party leaders and members were beaten up by police outside the National Assembly, an occasion which symbolized the party’s struggle for freedom of expression in Seychelles.

 Sunday’s event included the draw for a lottery which the SNP had organized. Sharifa Ho-Kan of Port Glaud came away with the star prize of a new Hyundai I10 car.

Our Country... Our Future: Three Steps Forward This Week!

Three events this week have shown the value of the work done by the SNP. All three have moved the country forward one more step. Our relevance in this task has been not only definite, but crucial. This is why we firmly believe that at the next elections the people of Seychelles will give us the mandate to lead this country forward.

The first event was the unanimous approval of a motion I had brought to the National Assembly asking that a medical survey be carried out among the residents living around the PUC electricity station at Baie Ste Anne, Praslin, to establish the high prevalence of asthma and other illnesses caused by the soot coming from the station.

This is a situation that has existed since the setting up of the station some 25 years ago. The stories that people related to me about their health conditions were shocking. Adults would testify that they only contracted asthma when they were over 40 years old. Most households had a nebuliser to take care of asthma attacks. And yet the residents who inhale that dangerous soot 24/7 are still being made to pay their electricity bills. In other words they are paying for the pollution that is slowly killing them.

The approval of that motion showed clearly that the SNP was doing its work as the people’s representatives in the Assembly. We have laid the problem before the government and the hope now is to see the Executive take prompt action and relieve the people of this serious health situation.

I also hope that Government, through the PUC will accept the proposition I made that all the affected residents be exempt from paying electricity bills as a form of compensation for their suffering.

The second event was the release of Mr. Terry Sandapin after spending 11 months in police custody on a bogus charge of trafficking in dangerous drugs. Those who knew Terry were convinced that he was innocent from the day he was arrested. I am very happy for him and his family that this has finally been proven through the judgement of the Supreme Court.

This event clearly shows that our stance for a more professional police force is vital for the country. While the fight against illegal drugs must be a constant and persistent one, the rights of citizens must be respected. The law must capture criminals and protect innocent people, not the other way round. No innocent person must be set up, arrested and convicted. The police have to do their job of fighting crime, but not one of inventing crime.

The third event was the ruling by the Constitutional Court in favour of Mr. Alwyn Talma. Government rejected his application to build a tourism establishment on his property at Anse Lazio, Praslin while he was advised to sell the land to foreign investors. This made it clear that he was the problem and not the site.

We have defended the right of Mr. Talma to be able to pursue his development, against the arbitrary decision of Government authorities, backed by both President Michel and (former) Vice-President Belmont.

The SNP, mainly through Hon. Préa had brought the case before the Assembly on a number of occasions, and yet Government stuck to its decision. The ruling party MNA for that district even mocked at the thought of Mr. Talma being granted planning permission.

Constitutional Court made it clear that his rights had been affected and that all the decisions of Government had been illegal. This is right because the law should be applied to everyone without prejudice or favour, contrary to what happened in the case of the construction of Sheikh Khalifa’s palace.

The examples above show that the fight for better Government is being won step by step. We can move forward as a country by respecting the rights of our citizens and applying the same law for everyone. It is the difference that the SNP will make in Government, and our country will be better for it.

Appeal for cleaner energy for Praslin and La Digue

SNP Leader Wavel Ramkalawan made a passionate plea for members of the National Assembly to vote in favour of a motion calling for redress for Praslinois living with the noise and toxic fumes of the power station on the island. He also sketched out his vision for a cleaner and more environmentally sustainable energy source for both Praslin and La Digue. Members of Parti Lepep, grudgingly and reluctantly, voted in favour.

The motion brought by the SNP leader called more specifically for a survey to be carried out to establish if residents in the immediate area of the power station had developed asthma or any other adverse health conditions as a result of inhaling toxic fumes from the diesel generators. Mr. Ramkalawan further requested that if any of the facts should be confirmed, immediate remedial action should be taken to prevent further consequences.

“It is interesting that this morning, Minister Morgan who is responsible for energy and environment, came before us to tell us that he had found money to compensate the residents of La Misere for the suffering and pain of the past six months. What about those people who have been suffering for years”, he asked, “can they expect a solution soon?”

Mr Ramkalawan cited scientific information that clearly showed the dangers of inhaling soot and toxic fumes on a regular basis. He said that his numerous visits to the area has shown cases of severe asthma and other respiratory problems. “Every house now has a nebulizer, not just for children, but also for those who have developed asthma during their adult years,” he added.

The SNP leader laid out his vision for Praslin and La Digue to be made free of carbon emissions generated by power stations. Large hotels and new developments should be required to invest in the production of clean energy. Private homes should be encouraged to do so as well through fiscal measures, he said. Mr. Ramkalawan supported the plan for an electricity cable from Mahé to the two islands, with a wind and solar facility for stepping up the current on the Mamelles rocks, located midway.

Parti Lepep members reacted angrily to the motion, accusing the SNP of trying to make political mileage. They however said they would vote in favour not for any other reason but for solidarity with their Baie Ste Anne representative, who they argued had tried hard to get the issue resolved over the years.

Our Country... Our Future: Three Steps Forward This Week!

Three events this week have shown the value of the work done by the SNP. All three have moved the country forward one more step. Our relevance in this task has been not only definite, but crucial. This is why we firmly believe that at the next elections the people of Seychelles will give us the mandate to lead this country forward.

The first event was the unanimous approval of a motion I had brought to the National Assembly asking that a medical survey be carried out amongst the residents living around the PUC electricity station at Baie Ste Anne, Praslin, to establish the high prevalence of asthma and other illnesses caused by soot from the station.

This is a situation that has existed since the setting up of the station some 25 years ago. The stories that people related to me about their health conditions were shocking. Adults testify that they only contracted asthma when they were over 40 years old. Most households had a nebuliser to take care of asthma attacks. And yet the residents who inhale that dangerous soot 24/7 are still being made to pay their electricity bills. In other words they are paying for the pollution that is slowly killing them.

The approval of that motion showed clearly that the SNP was doing its work as the people’s representatives in the Assembly. We have laid the problem before the government and the hope now is to see the Executive take prompt action and relieve the people of this serious health situation.

I also hope that Government, through the PUC will accept the proposition I made that all the affected residents be exempt from paying electricity bills as a form of compensation for their suffering.

The second event was the release of Mr. Terry Sandapin after spending 11 months in police custody on a bogus charge of trafficking in dangerous drugs. Those who knew Terry were convinced that he was innocent from the day he was arrested. I am very happy for him and his family that this has finally been proven through the judgement of the Supreme Court.

This event clearly shows that our stance for a more professional police force is vital for the country. While the fight against illegal drugs must be a constant and persistent one, the rights of citizens must be respected. The law must capture criminals and protect innocent people, not the other way round. No innocent person must be set up, arrested and convicted. The police have to do their job of fighting crime, but not one of inventing crime.

The third event was the ruling by the Constitutional Court in favour of Mr. Alwyn Talma. Government rejected his application to build a tourism establishment on  his property at Anse Lazio, Praslin while he was advised to sell the land to foreign investors. This made it clear that he was the problem and not the site.

We have defended the right of Mr. Talma to be able to pursue his development, against the arbitrary decision of Government authorities, backed by both President Michel and (former) Vice-President Belmont.

The SNP, mainly through Hon. Préa had brought the case before the Assembly on a number of occasions, and yet Government stuck to its decision. The ruling party MNA for that district even mocked at the thought of Mr. Talma being granted planning permission.

The Constitutional Court made it clear that his rights had been affected and that the decisions of Government had been illegal. This is right because the law should be applied to everyone without prejudice or favour, contrary to what happened in the case of the construction of Sheikh Khalifa’s palace.

The examples above show that the fight for better Government is being won step by step. We can move forward as a country by respecting the rights of our citizens and applying the same law for everyone. It is the difference that the SNP will make in Government, and our our country will be better for it.