In an article in Seychelles Nation dated Aug 14 2010, an observer as the author preferred to call him/herself, asks wether or not we are trying to make legal history this regarding to the compensation claim towards Ascon in connection with the water pollution incident at La Misere where a source of drinking water was contaminated by excrements from the poorly secured and managed construction site belonging to the now rather hated Sheik Khalifa of the UAE.
The observant observer drew parallels to various pollution incidents that have taken place in recent history where he clearly, but indirectly states that the claim of the affected residents is way too much and recommends them to accept pretty much whatever they are offered by being ‘reasonable’, this amongst other reasons to not further affect the already damaged relation to the UAE. In other words the author wants the embarrassing case to disappear ASAP so that the PL’s popularity can be worked on again prior to the coming election which so far nobody officially knows when is to be held apart from that it is due within 2011.
The La Misère pollution incident was the drop that made the bucket flow over and has proved to be a major headache for James Michel and his proven bad administration. So bad is his administration that they have not only allowed a rich foreign leader of a foreign state to purchase a major piece of land for the price of a chewing gum, but also allowed the same person to operate in our territory as if it was his own, this by giving full tax and duty exemption on imported products, exemptions on work permits for his labourers and last, but not least permission to build a navy base on reclaimed land that was originally intended for domestic purposes like housing, industry etc. Now that the bucket has flowed over, the PL government is so desperate to avoid further spillage that an anonymous ‘observer’ has been given the privilege to post ‘his/her’ views in our national newspaper. Not as a letter to the PL friendly and appointed editor, but an article like any other piece of news. The observer asks if we are about to make legal history, but the same observer has failed to observe that his article has just made political history in Seychelles.
Never before in the history of our country have protests like those at La Misère in the past weeks achieved so much and the voice of the people been heard all the way to the deepest corridors of State House. The last time anything similar happened, there was bloodshed, ref the October 3rd incident where batins and rubber bullets were used against the public who wanted their voices heard. This time there was also full military and police alert, but no bloodshed although the protesters were more in number and were fighting for more than something as simple as a radio station. They were however also protesting to have their voices heard.
The protests have been a clear victory for the people demonstrating, but also for the entire Seychellois people as a whole. The residents of La Misere have shaked the stable foundations of the SPUP/SPPF/PL that are now full of cracks and so much that the leaders have had trouble explaining themselves to the public, ref Joel Morgan’s sweating and uncontrolled gesticulations in froint of an angry crowd last week. Had the sweat from his forehead been non saline it could have surely replaced the polluted water source that over six months after the incident is still classified as polluted and not safe to drink.
The president on his side, has after almost 6 months finally taken the case seriously and started making heads roll starting with the chief of PUC who last week was relieved from all his duties with immediate effect. While the nation waits to see who’s head will roll next, diplomacy at the highest level is working frantically to save the ‘good relation’ with the UAE, a relation that has been well pampered by James Michel and made his personal baby, not one that has been desired by the people. Sworn supporters of the PL say that we need UAE to fly passengers to Seychelles, this coming from supporters of a party that has been approving the reduction of flights by our own airline and instead sent one of its planes to freight military personell and sheep to/from the Falklands in the South Atlantic.
The La Misere incident has become such a burden for the president that he now is surely trying his best to get the entire case settled in court, preferably one in Seychelles where the judges are all eating out his hands and following every command like well trained dogs to their master. There is however one catch as whichever way the case ends, the president will end up with eggs in his face:
- If the court decides that the people are entitled to their demanded compensation, Ascon will have to cough up(although that is likely to happen) and Michel will have to go see his master Khalifa with his hat in his hand.
- If the people lose, James Michel and the PL will lose votes and popularity in addition to having to lilve with the embarrassment. Oh yes, and Khalifa will be known as KaKalifa during his visits to his newly acquainted playground at La Misere where he may endulge in forbidden passions not endulgable in his home country merely 5 hours flight away.
So either way James Michel is what is commonly known as ‘screwed’ or in milder terms, stuck between desert rock and a hard place, a very hard place. The coming months prior to the election may prove to be the most interesting ones prior to any election since our independence in 1976. This one may well prove to be a new election where we regain our independence, only this time a different type of independence: independence from the SPUP/SPPF/PL. This of course if the new opposition plays their cards right as the existing opposition is merely another unit of the PL, namely the SNPL.
Patrick X
Aug 15, 2010
Jun 2, 2010
Fueling racism in Seychelles
There has recently been a lot of debate on the subject of racism in Seychelles where there have been a lot of fingers pointed at the Mouvman Seselwa Rasin, led by Chrsitopher Gill. The Mouvman Seselwa Rasin, literally translated "Seychelles Roots Movement" have been critical to the government's policies regarding giving certain foreigners, both powerful and not so powerful, special rights compared to Seychellois. Foreigners have in recent years been able to literally purchase Seychellois citizenship or obtain it through dodgy and rather secretive ways well hidden from the public.
The one that has gotten most focus is undoubtedly Sheik Khalifa of the UAE who in addition to having been given a plot of land(well, he actually had to pay the net sum of about USD 0.2 for it) at the location of the previous US tracking station at La Misère, a mountain community 10 minutes drive from the capital Victoria. Khalifa has not only been given valuable land, but also a bunch of priveleges along with it. Amongst these are tax free import of the construction materials for the 7 story palace he is building, free import of a 2000 man workforce that has by-passed immigration and free import of expensive SUVs. All those have caused the small republic to lose millions of dollars in duty that could have helped a great deal to its shattered economy. If all that wasn't enough, the straw that broke the camel's back were the pollution scandals at the construction site where first diesel polluted a drinking water source followed by human excrements that leaked from the toilets at the site. The pollution case has been taken to court, but dragging of feet have so far had no impact on the polluter and the compensation sum is still being argued about. So far the only one who has felt any form of reaction from the Seychelles authorities is the contractor doing the work, this after recieving a relatively minor fine under the Pollution Act, undoubtedly a fine dealt out for symbolic reasons.
Sheik Khalifa is one of many foreigners in Seychelles who have been given special rights and immunity against the law that is supposed to apply for all Seychellois. Other well known new Seychellois are Dr Vatinasamy Ramadoss, an Indian physician who arrived in Seychelles owning the clothes he was wearing and a pair of flip flops. Ramadoss was quickly adopted by the former president France Albert Rene who put him under his wings and paved the way making Ramadoss one of the country's richest. Other familiar new Seychellois, named 'Fabrike'(translated: fabricated) by the Seychellois Roots Movement are the Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir, known for his connections with the mafia and ends up in the media for that very reason wherever he goes. Another 'fabricated' Seychellois is the rather sensitive Marc Jeyasingh, another Indian who is alledged to have helped white-wash money on behalf of certain government officials.
The Seychellois born, called 'Rasin'(translated: roots) have in other words had more than enough reasons for feeling neglected by their own government with regards to priveleges given to foreigners when they themselves feel reduced to second rate citizens in their own country. This grabbed the attention of Christopher Gill, a Seychellois born lawyer and previous MNA who spent a good deal of his life in the USA controlled island of Guam in the Pacific before returning home with international experience and US citizenship. Christopher Gill has, together with his brother Leonard Francis Gill, been the driving force behind STAR Seychelles, a blog page where actualities are brought up, mostly critic of the SPPF/PL government. The blog page has been active for several years, but only recently took off completely in popularity and number of visits not to mention participants in the sometimes rather hot political debates.
Increased criticism of the SPPF/PL government has naturally led to a counterreaction from the party and their supporters where Christopher Gill has been accused of promoting racism through the Seychellois Roots Movement who denies any involvement in racism, but promotes a strong support for the Seychellois and the taking back of the land given away to foreigners(and nationals) in dodgy and illegal deals made with the corrupt government. I our modern day where Globalism has become a trend and to an extent a necessity, it is easy to see that a movement that is promoting and protecting its people is seen to be racist. Recently signs have been put up along the La Misere road near the site of Khalifa's palace where there have been written slogans like "Arabs go home", "We won't drink shitty Arab water again" and similar. Naturally the PL will use the racism screen against the Seychellois Roots Movement in the coming election campaign, saying that they are racists, but before doing so the PL should turn the history books back 3-1/2 decades to the same spot the slogans hang today outside where the US tracking station once was. Only then they read 'Yankees go home'. Only then they were hung up there upon orders from the father of the PL, France Albert Rene.
If there is an increase in racial hate in Seychelles it is certainly not the fault of Christopher Gill or the "Mouvman Seselwa Rasin', but the sole fault of the PL government who have literally surpressed the Seychellois and sold of Seychelles to any Tom Dick and Harry with bog enough wallets to pay off politicians and purchase Seychellois citizenship, some even with diplomatic immunity.
Today’s Nation contains an article where the Seychellois are asked to take great care in preserving water and not wasting it by for instance not watering their lawns, showering briefly and even not letting the tap run when brushing teeth. The same article however, fails to mention huge building projects that are consuming large amounts of water to take care not to spill. The same article does not mention a word about swimming pools etc. The PL government is literally asking the people to wash themselves downstream in the same river that the more fortunate have already washed themselves in.
And we wonder why the man on the street is enraged and posts up posters saying we refuse to wash in your dirty water? And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing the last 30+ years all thanks to the SPUP, SPPF and now the PL. Of course it's convenient to blame the Mouvman Seselwa Rasin for it. God forbid if they, the PL, saw their own faults.
Patrick X
The one that has gotten most focus is undoubtedly Sheik Khalifa of the UAE who in addition to having been given a plot of land(well, he actually had to pay the net sum of about USD 0.2 for it) at the location of the previous US tracking station at La Misère, a mountain community 10 minutes drive from the capital Victoria. Khalifa has not only been given valuable land, but also a bunch of priveleges along with it. Amongst these are tax free import of the construction materials for the 7 story palace he is building, free import of a 2000 man workforce that has by-passed immigration and free import of expensive SUVs. All those have caused the small republic to lose millions of dollars in duty that could have helped a great deal to its shattered economy. If all that wasn't enough, the straw that broke the camel's back were the pollution scandals at the construction site where first diesel polluted a drinking water source followed by human excrements that leaked from the toilets at the site. The pollution case has been taken to court, but dragging of feet have so far had no impact on the polluter and the compensation sum is still being argued about. So far the only one who has felt any form of reaction from the Seychelles authorities is the contractor doing the work, this after recieving a relatively minor fine under the Pollution Act, undoubtedly a fine dealt out for symbolic reasons.
Sheik Khalifa is one of many foreigners in Seychelles who have been given special rights and immunity against the law that is supposed to apply for all Seychellois. Other well known new Seychellois are Dr Vatinasamy Ramadoss, an Indian physician who arrived in Seychelles owning the clothes he was wearing and a pair of flip flops. Ramadoss was quickly adopted by the former president France Albert Rene who put him under his wings and paved the way making Ramadoss one of the country's richest. Other familiar new Seychellois, named 'Fabrike'(translated: fabricated) by the Seychellois Roots Movement are the Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir, known for his connections with the mafia and ends up in the media for that very reason wherever he goes. Another 'fabricated' Seychellois is the rather sensitive Marc Jeyasingh, another Indian who is alledged to have helped white-wash money on behalf of certain government officials.
The Seychellois born, called 'Rasin'(translated: roots) have in other words had more than enough reasons for feeling neglected by their own government with regards to priveleges given to foreigners when they themselves feel reduced to second rate citizens in their own country. This grabbed the attention of Christopher Gill, a Seychellois born lawyer and previous MNA who spent a good deal of his life in the USA controlled island of Guam in the Pacific before returning home with international experience and US citizenship. Christopher Gill has, together with his brother Leonard Francis Gill, been the driving force behind STAR Seychelles, a blog page where actualities are brought up, mostly critic of the SPPF/PL government. The blog page has been active for several years, but only recently took off completely in popularity and number of visits not to mention participants in the sometimes rather hot political debates.
Increased criticism of the SPPF/PL government has naturally led to a counterreaction from the party and their supporters where Christopher Gill has been accused of promoting racism through the Seychellois Roots Movement who denies any involvement in racism, but promotes a strong support for the Seychellois and the taking back of the land given away to foreigners(and nationals) in dodgy and illegal deals made with the corrupt government. I our modern day where Globalism has become a trend and to an extent a necessity, it is easy to see that a movement that is promoting and protecting its people is seen to be racist. Recently signs have been put up along the La Misere road near the site of Khalifa's palace where there have been written slogans like "Arabs go home", "We won't drink shitty Arab water again" and similar. Naturally the PL will use the racism screen against the Seychellois Roots Movement in the coming election campaign, saying that they are racists, but before doing so the PL should turn the history books back 3-1/2 decades to the same spot the slogans hang today outside where the US tracking station once was. Only then they read 'Yankees go home'. Only then they were hung up there upon orders from the father of the PL, France Albert Rene.
If there is an increase in racial hate in Seychelles it is certainly not the fault of Christopher Gill or the "Mouvman Seselwa Rasin', but the sole fault of the PL government who have literally surpressed the Seychellois and sold of Seychelles to any Tom Dick and Harry with bog enough wallets to pay off politicians and purchase Seychellois citizenship, some even with diplomatic immunity.
Today’s Nation contains an article where the Seychellois are asked to take great care in preserving water and not wasting it by for instance not watering their lawns, showering briefly and even not letting the tap run when brushing teeth. The same article however, fails to mention huge building projects that are consuming large amounts of water to take care not to spill. The same article does not mention a word about swimming pools etc. The PL government is literally asking the people to wash themselves downstream in the same river that the more fortunate have already washed themselves in.
And we wonder why the man on the street is enraged and posts up posters saying we refuse to wash in your dirty water? And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing the last 30+ years all thanks to the SPUP, SPPF and now the PL. Of course it's convenient to blame the Mouvman Seselwa Rasin for it. God forbid if they, the PL, saw their own faults.
Patrick X
May 21, 2010
Has organized crime set it's grip on Seychelles?
Nation reported on May 18th, that a study to assess the true situation of prostitution in Seychelles will start soon. This will be done by a local consultant commissioned by the government. The study is indeed necessary, but as all such studies it is started a bit too late as the problem is obviously beyond its 'normal' level since it has become a regular conversation topic. We are also a mere year away from holding an election so it is natural for the government to show some 'action' and not only promises and empty words.
Prostitution has existed in Seychelles as long as the islands have been inhabited. we all remember our elders telling stories about prostitute A, B and C and we also remember younger versions of A, B & C hanging around Pirates Arms and leaving arm in arm with a tourist without that arousing any particular concern. These pros were all usually in their late 20s and above, had names that were associated with their trade and were a no-no for locals. These were full timers, i.e they relied on their trade to make a living.
We also had another type of prostitutes in Seychelles, a type that performed the trade as a bi-income and could be found in the various discos and bars like the open air disco at Coral Strand, Beau Vallon Bay, Mahé Beach, Katiolo or wherever our visiting tourists and expats were to be found. These lived on both pure hard cash and other gifts like refrigerators, cookers, clothing etc. Different types of pros, nevertheless pros. The age rang of the latter type could be anything from 18 and upwards, all living at home with not so conservative parents who allowed them out whenever they felt called. These girls did their 'business' not necessarily as a necessity, but more out of pure convenience and also a way to find a potential husband/partner in addition to a ticket to ride out of Seychelles in style. Some fell in love, others prospered to become respectable wives of satellite base employees or other expats.
Today our prostitutes are in the age range of as low as 14 and upwards and all have the latest cell-phone model and wear clothes that have a value of an average monthly income. Their 'turnover' is said to finance everything from the latest and hottest Nokia, clothing, trips to Dubai and not least to finance their expensive drug habit. I'd say that is quite a change to our traditional forms of prostitution and a clear descent into the abyss, not least another failure on the behalf of the government.
It is however clear that there is a link between prostitution and poverty. Although some will say that there is no poverty in Seychelles, it being 'the richest country in Africa', but despite little poverty, the relative decline in wealth amongst the average Seychellois could well be what has triggered the explosion in prostitution amongst the underaged female(and most probably also male) population. This link is very clear in most poor countries like for instance Thailand where the sex-trade is a major industry, although unofficial but to a certain extent controlled. Even Singapore, the 'most organized country in Asia', prostitution is a major source of income where a high concentration of expats with 30 day tourist visas come to work for licenced BMD Bars before leaving for home(Thailand, Philipines, Vietnam, India and other surrounding countries) for a quarantine period before returning to Singapore again for anotehr tour of duty. These girls are however working for the money and the money only.
There is also most often a clear link between drug abuse and prostitution where the main drive for entering the trade is easy money to finance addiction. This is what I believe drives a good percentage of our working girls. It is naturally easy to speculate if that is the case, but as we read 'kominke lapolis' in Nation on a daily basis, we find that a kot of our court cases are drug related and if a good percentage of our male convicts were busted for drug dealing, it is natural that a majority of our working girls are also working to finance their habit as selling oneself is fairly risk-free(prosecution wise) and easy money. Naturally there are other risks involved in the trade and fresh in mind is the body of a young woman found floating in the same area where prostitutes are to be found. Food for thought for those who are to carry out the study.
One thing is however clear and that is the fact that we have had a remarkable increase in prostitution and having that, we can also conclude with the fact that there is also an increase in curb-crawlers, i.e that there is an obvious market for prostitutes, else there would not have been an increase. Therefore the study may very well be found to be more complex than estimated. The conclusion may very well be that there has been an increase, but finding out ways how to eliminate, or at least reduce it, will be the real challenge.
I sincerely believe that the increase in prostitution is not only due to the need to prostitute oneself, but also the demand for prostitutes and that is where the government will undoubtedly find itself in a dilema. With an increase in expats, especially when a lot of those are unregistered(ref Khalifa's gang of 2000 illegals) in addition to other countless numbers who have both the purchase power and culture for hiring prostitutes, it is evident where a potential source of demand originates. It is neither a coincident that the place where prostitutes are 'marketing themselves' is directly en-route to/from IOT and other major ongoing construction project ghettos with a high expat concentration(ref Anse Etoile & Providence).
Patrolling the 'Flesh Market' at night may to a certain extent reduce the trade, but will merely force it to go underground or indoors to our discos and clubs, away from the streets, but nevertheless highly present. Making prostitution illegal will also force it undergound and mass arrests will congest our prisons even further not least exceed the capacity of our social welfare system, this expecially regarding our minors. we cannot start curfews amongst our expats either as this will violate certain human rights although this may be necessary as a preventive method.
I hope however that those conducting the planend study are competent enough to have open minds and evaluate the following in their survey:
- Relation between drug and alcohol addiction and prostitution in Seychelles
- Where is the demand for prostitutes, i.e are the clients mainly locals or expats?
- What is the age range of the clients? if the average client is young, then how can they afford to hire a pro?
- What background do our pros have and which age group do they represent?
The most important question however is probably:
- Who is behind our pros? Are they operating as sole traders or are they parts of a well organized groups controlled by a top gun? Bearing in mind that we have a bunch of new EDA citizens(I don't consider those as Seychellois) with mafia connections, the probability of an organized ring of prostitution is highly liable. In other words, this could be the beginning of an organized sex-trade that will brand our country and place it along with destinations known for it. If this is the case, then maybe the government does not want the truth to come out as it will blow right in their face as yet another failed policy gone horribly wrong.
I believe we have barely scratched the surface on this and I shudder to think at what kind of horrors we will find. Chances are however, knowing the PL and their transparency that is as clear as mud, the truth will be covered well hoping that it will go away by itself. Just like every other problem the country faces.
Patrick X
patrick_x@live.co.uk
Prostitution has existed in Seychelles as long as the islands have been inhabited. we all remember our elders telling stories about prostitute A, B and C and we also remember younger versions of A, B & C hanging around Pirates Arms and leaving arm in arm with a tourist without that arousing any particular concern. These pros were all usually in their late 20s and above, had names that were associated with their trade and were a no-no for locals. These were full timers, i.e they relied on their trade to make a living.
We also had another type of prostitutes in Seychelles, a type that performed the trade as a bi-income and could be found in the various discos and bars like the open air disco at Coral Strand, Beau Vallon Bay, Mahé Beach, Katiolo or wherever our visiting tourists and expats were to be found. These lived on both pure hard cash and other gifts like refrigerators, cookers, clothing etc. Different types of pros, nevertheless pros. The age rang of the latter type could be anything from 18 and upwards, all living at home with not so conservative parents who allowed them out whenever they felt called. These girls did their 'business' not necessarily as a necessity, but more out of pure convenience and also a way to find a potential husband/partner in addition to a ticket to ride out of Seychelles in style. Some fell in love, others prospered to become respectable wives of satellite base employees or other expats.
Today our prostitutes are in the age range of as low as 14 and upwards and all have the latest cell-phone model and wear clothes that have a value of an average monthly income. Their 'turnover' is said to finance everything from the latest and hottest Nokia, clothing, trips to Dubai and not least to finance their expensive drug habit. I'd say that is quite a change to our traditional forms of prostitution and a clear descent into the abyss, not least another failure on the behalf of the government.
It is however clear that there is a link between prostitution and poverty. Although some will say that there is no poverty in Seychelles, it being 'the richest country in Africa', but despite little poverty, the relative decline in wealth amongst the average Seychellois could well be what has triggered the explosion in prostitution amongst the underaged female(and most probably also male) population. This link is very clear in most poor countries like for instance Thailand where the sex-trade is a major industry, although unofficial but to a certain extent controlled. Even Singapore, the 'most organized country in Asia', prostitution is a major source of income where a high concentration of expats with 30 day tourist visas come to work for licenced BMD Bars before leaving for home(Thailand, Philipines, Vietnam, India and other surrounding countries) for a quarantine period before returning to Singapore again for anotehr tour of duty. These girls are however working for the money and the money only.
There is also most often a clear link between drug abuse and prostitution where the main drive for entering the trade is easy money to finance addiction. This is what I believe drives a good percentage of our working girls. It is naturally easy to speculate if that is the case, but as we read 'kominke lapolis' in Nation on a daily basis, we find that a kot of our court cases are drug related and if a good percentage of our male convicts were busted for drug dealing, it is natural that a majority of our working girls are also working to finance their habit as selling oneself is fairly risk-free(prosecution wise) and easy money. Naturally there are other risks involved in the trade and fresh in mind is the body of a young woman found floating in the same area where prostitutes are to be found. Food for thought for those who are to carry out the study.
One thing is however clear and that is the fact that we have had a remarkable increase in prostitution and having that, we can also conclude with the fact that there is also an increase in curb-crawlers, i.e that there is an obvious market for prostitutes, else there would not have been an increase. Therefore the study may very well be found to be more complex than estimated. The conclusion may very well be that there has been an increase, but finding out ways how to eliminate, or at least reduce it, will be the real challenge.
I sincerely believe that the increase in prostitution is not only due to the need to prostitute oneself, but also the demand for prostitutes and that is where the government will undoubtedly find itself in a dilema. With an increase in expats, especially when a lot of those are unregistered(ref Khalifa's gang of 2000 illegals) in addition to other countless numbers who have both the purchase power and culture for hiring prostitutes, it is evident where a potential source of demand originates. It is neither a coincident that the place where prostitutes are 'marketing themselves' is directly en-route to/from IOT and other major ongoing construction project ghettos with a high expat concentration(ref Anse Etoile & Providence).
Patrolling the 'Flesh Market' at night may to a certain extent reduce the trade, but will merely force it to go underground or indoors to our discos and clubs, away from the streets, but nevertheless highly present. Making prostitution illegal will also force it undergound and mass arrests will congest our prisons even further not least exceed the capacity of our social welfare system, this expecially regarding our minors. we cannot start curfews amongst our expats either as this will violate certain human rights although this may be necessary as a preventive method.
I hope however that those conducting the planend study are competent enough to have open minds and evaluate the following in their survey:
- Relation between drug and alcohol addiction and prostitution in Seychelles
- Where is the demand for prostitutes, i.e are the clients mainly locals or expats?
- What is the age range of the clients? if the average client is young, then how can they afford to hire a pro?
- What background do our pros have and which age group do they represent?
The most important question however is probably:
- Who is behind our pros? Are they operating as sole traders or are they parts of a well organized groups controlled by a top gun? Bearing in mind that we have a bunch of new EDA citizens(I don't consider those as Seychellois) with mafia connections, the probability of an organized ring of prostitution is highly liable. In other words, this could be the beginning of an organized sex-trade that will brand our country and place it along with destinations known for it. If this is the case, then maybe the government does not want the truth to come out as it will blow right in their face as yet another failed policy gone horribly wrong.
I believe we have barely scratched the surface on this and I shudder to think at what kind of horrors we will find. Chances are however, knowing the PL and their transparency that is as clear as mud, the truth will be covered well hoping that it will go away by itself. Just like every other problem the country faces.
Patrick X
patrick_x@live.co.uk
Mar 30, 2010
Gambling on the wrong horse?
Gambling and investing are separated by a very thin line. Some say investment is a form of gambling where you can afford to lose whilst gambling is an investment you can't afford lose and if there is something the SPPF/PL have been good at it's gambling although they prefer to define it as 'investing' and don't stop there, but go even further calling it 'investing in Seychelles'.
I myself am not a gambler as I'm too poor or rather too stingy to think about my hard earned pennies ending up in someone else's pocket as my own remains empty and I can't say that I have any visions of becoming rich although the thought does tickle my mind once in a while. In desperation however, or some cases due to greed, many go to drastic stages to earn a quick buck or two, but in most cases fail because they cannot distinguish the difference between gambling and investing. I don't have a degree in business as my field of expertise lies elsewhere, but after all, how hard is business and how hard is it to understand the difference between gambling and investing?
Investing is pretty simple as it literally means spending money to make money. The average Seychellois I'd say knows this very well and proved great entrepreneurship during the Forex restriction period that lasted until the financial JAM that James Alix Michel guided us through after being led there himself by his predecessor France Albert Rene. As forex restrictions led to the word 'napa' echoing in the emptyness of just about every stor in the country, may Seychellois stashed whatever they could find of goods by purchasing for re-sale at a later date making a great pofit as prices increased at such a rate that even re-sale a mere month later would give a minumum 30% profit. Another example were those guys with little leather pouches around their waists, caps and sunglasses trawling up and down at Beau Vallon Beach or sitting at Pirates Arms selling a sure investment: Black Market Forex! And last but not least, all those making monthly trips to Dubai and Singapore returing with all kinds of cheap Chinese junk for resale at a horrendous price, nevertheless at a price that gave back a nice profit.
Naturally there are risky investments and safe investments and the riskier the investment is, the closer one gets to gambling. For instance, buying 4 buckets of paint hoping to resell them is a safe investment as you'll most likely get back your money or use the paint yourself if the colour has gone out of fashion or you ca sell it at a price you can afford to lose if the worse comes to the worse. In that case, the investment resembles more of a gamble.
Now, a bad investment is itself more of a gamble than an investment and as said before, the government of Seychelles is an expert on bad investments. Now why is that so? Some would say that it is because the minister of finance is educated in Cuba on communistic principles, but I can't say I agree, but I do agree that it is due to pure ignorance and lack of knowledge. This is either caused by lack of intelligence or the fact that Danny Faure spent his days in La Habana chasing señoritas rather tahn attending class. Who knows? Nevertheless he is minister of finance and is therefore responsible for just that: finance!
Let's take the investment made on Eden Island for instance, another perfect example of a gamble rather than an investment. When investing, one must guard oneself by doing a risk analysis and taking measures on how to secure that the money spent will come back in surplus. The government's intention with building Eden Island and the houses/apartments there was a desperate attempt to make quick forex as all the owners are foreigners who were given residency and in some cases citizenship with diplomatic immunity. Money in, at least a sum paid and hopefully every time these new citizens visited Seychelles they'd leave a lot of forex. Unfortunately, these apartments were not all sold and those sold were not visited as frequent as predicted so apart from the lump sum paid, pretty much was no forex was coming in.
Another example are foreign owned hotels like the one at St Anne, Lemuria on Praslin and others with foreign owners like the ones being built by our new allies, the Arab Sheiks. The thought of the great economists in the SPPF/PL was that those hotels would drag enormous amounts of forex to Seychelles, but again it proves that they didn't as the PL failed to secure the country a major part of that forex. In fact the PL Central Bank itself said not so long ago that only about 30% of these hotels' revenue went through the CBS meaning that for every 100 USD spent in Seychelles, 70 USD goes straight to foreign bank accounts controlled by the owners and directed there by their own accountants, mostly paid electronically by credit card. The government, before selling land to foreign investors, should have made conditions that all revenue should pass the CBS before leaving the country. That way these hotels' taxable income would have given more earnings to Seychelles and those ventures would have been good investments and those sales of land for SR1 would have paid themselves many times already.
The perfect example of bad investments however, or should I say gambling, was the selling of the land at the ex-tracking station for SR1 to Sheik Khalifa for his private residence. The thought again was that the Sheik's investment in the country would bring jobs and not least plenty forex as such a building site itself would create quite a number of jobs. What happened instead was that every worker there was imported, every bit of construction material, equipment etc was flown in(and still is) by the Sheik himself and he even got tax exemption for his imports due to the diplomatic immunity he was given for his private estate. Now if that isn't a bad investment it certainly can be defined as gambling. Not only is it gambling, but it is gambling on the wrong horse or should I say gambling on the wrong camel? Camels do produce milk, but so far this one has only produced a few drops, but it has on the other hand produced quite a pile of dung.
So with this I strongly urge the PL governement to take the most utter precaution next time they decide to 'invest'. If in doubt about wether or not an investment is a liability or not, all Danny Faure needs to do is to consult the average Seychellois Dubai-shopper who could teach him more about economy at the airport lounge in 20 mins than he learned during his years in Cuba.
Patrick X
I myself am not a gambler as I'm too poor or rather too stingy to think about my hard earned pennies ending up in someone else's pocket as my own remains empty and I can't say that I have any visions of becoming rich although the thought does tickle my mind once in a while. In desperation however, or some cases due to greed, many go to drastic stages to earn a quick buck or two, but in most cases fail because they cannot distinguish the difference between gambling and investing. I don't have a degree in business as my field of expertise lies elsewhere, but after all, how hard is business and how hard is it to understand the difference between gambling and investing?
Investing is pretty simple as it literally means spending money to make money. The average Seychellois I'd say knows this very well and proved great entrepreneurship during the Forex restriction period that lasted until the financial JAM that James Alix Michel guided us through after being led there himself by his predecessor France Albert Rene. As forex restrictions led to the word 'napa' echoing in the emptyness of just about every stor in the country, may Seychellois stashed whatever they could find of goods by purchasing for re-sale at a later date making a great pofit as prices increased at such a rate that even re-sale a mere month later would give a minumum 30% profit. Another example were those guys with little leather pouches around their waists, caps and sunglasses trawling up and down at Beau Vallon Beach or sitting at Pirates Arms selling a sure investment: Black Market Forex! And last but not least, all those making monthly trips to Dubai and Singapore returing with all kinds of cheap Chinese junk for resale at a horrendous price, nevertheless at a price that gave back a nice profit.
Naturally there are risky investments and safe investments and the riskier the investment is, the closer one gets to gambling. For instance, buying 4 buckets of paint hoping to resell them is a safe investment as you'll most likely get back your money or use the paint yourself if the colour has gone out of fashion or you ca sell it at a price you can afford to lose if the worse comes to the worse. In that case, the investment resembles more of a gamble.
Now, a bad investment is itself more of a gamble than an investment and as said before, the government of Seychelles is an expert on bad investments. Now why is that so? Some would say that it is because the minister of finance is educated in Cuba on communistic principles, but I can't say I agree, but I do agree that it is due to pure ignorance and lack of knowledge. This is either caused by lack of intelligence or the fact that Danny Faure spent his days in La Habana chasing señoritas rather tahn attending class. Who knows? Nevertheless he is minister of finance and is therefore responsible for just that: finance!
Let's take the investment made on Eden Island for instance, another perfect example of a gamble rather than an investment. When investing, one must guard oneself by doing a risk analysis and taking measures on how to secure that the money spent will come back in surplus. The government's intention with building Eden Island and the houses/apartments there was a desperate attempt to make quick forex as all the owners are foreigners who were given residency and in some cases citizenship with diplomatic immunity. Money in, at least a sum paid and hopefully every time these new citizens visited Seychelles they'd leave a lot of forex. Unfortunately, these apartments were not all sold and those sold were not visited as frequent as predicted so apart from the lump sum paid, pretty much was no forex was coming in.
Another example are foreign owned hotels like the one at St Anne, Lemuria on Praslin and others with foreign owners like the ones being built by our new allies, the Arab Sheiks. The thought of the great economists in the SPPF/PL was that those hotels would drag enormous amounts of forex to Seychelles, but again it proves that they didn't as the PL failed to secure the country a major part of that forex. In fact the PL Central Bank itself said not so long ago that only about 30% of these hotels' revenue went through the CBS meaning that for every 100 USD spent in Seychelles, 70 USD goes straight to foreign bank accounts controlled by the owners and directed there by their own accountants, mostly paid electronically by credit card. The government, before selling land to foreign investors, should have made conditions that all revenue should pass the CBS before leaving the country. That way these hotels' taxable income would have given more earnings to Seychelles and those ventures would have been good investments and those sales of land for SR1 would have paid themselves many times already.
The perfect example of bad investments however, or should I say gambling, was the selling of the land at the ex-tracking station for SR1 to Sheik Khalifa for his private residence. The thought again was that the Sheik's investment in the country would bring jobs and not least plenty forex as such a building site itself would create quite a number of jobs. What happened instead was that every worker there was imported, every bit of construction material, equipment etc was flown in(and still is) by the Sheik himself and he even got tax exemption for his imports due to the diplomatic immunity he was given for his private estate. Now if that isn't a bad investment it certainly can be defined as gambling. Not only is it gambling, but it is gambling on the wrong horse or should I say gambling on the wrong camel? Camels do produce milk, but so far this one has only produced a few drops, but it has on the other hand produced quite a pile of dung.
So with this I strongly urge the PL governement to take the most utter precaution next time they decide to 'invest'. If in doubt about wether or not an investment is a liability or not, all Danny Faure needs to do is to consult the average Seychellois Dubai-shopper who could teach him more about economy at the airport lounge in 20 mins than he learned during his years in Cuba.
Patrick X
Mar 1, 2010
Illegal workers - A liability for Seychelles and its allies?
Today's Nation reports that there are in total over 2000 workers at the La Misere construction site which recently has been the cause of no less than three environmental scandals which the contracting company now has been a total of SR750.000 for, a correct and fair punishment for the breaching of local environmental regulations.
Far more serious however are the allegations that the workers, including their contractor, are operating illegally in Seychelles on behalf of the the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi. Accoring to allegations, the workers arrive in loads(nobody knows how, but most likely by air) and do not pass through immigration, hence they are without any papers of any kind. To strengthen this allegation further, the workers are now being placed at a new living quarters in Providence where Nation states
'..the area will be properly fenced to ensure the workers’ movements are closely monitored.A technical committee of various concerned agencies and departments led by the planning authority has been set up and will, among its responsibilities, monitor the workers’ activities.'
By stating that the workers' activities will be closely monitored gives one associations with illegal refugees that are under surveillance. In addition to that, no less than 4 ministers were present at the info meeting held on Saturday to calm the angry public, namely Vincent Meriton, Jacqulein Dugasse, Marrei-Pierre Llloyd and Joel Morgan. It is indeed rare that so many ministers met the public at one time and it is evident that this sad case has become a burden to Prezident James Michel's administration.
Worse will it be for him and for Seychelles as a whole if those illeglas are indeed illegals and are not protected under a diplomatic loophole as the Sheik's construction site has been said to be diplomatic ground. If indeed those workers are undocumented illegals, there is reason to believe that their presence in Seychelles are not only a liability to the country itself, but also to our allies who are stationed here in the fight against piracy. Providence is after all only a short distance away from the Pointe Larue International Airport where US Navy unmanned aircrafts are stationed and operate in the fight against Somali pirates and may for all we know also be operating in other secret US missions in the Indian Ocean area.
With most of these workers coming from India via an Arab country there is I believe a high probablity that infiltration by Al Qaeda in order to get close to the US/NATO forces installations in Seychelles is probable. Explosives are easily available at the construction site and having so many expats in Seychelles one or three roaming alone somewhere are not likely to cause too much suspicion.
We can therefore clearly state that the prezident's administration has by allowing such activity(ref illegal workers) put Seychelles and its reputaion at risk, this in the sense that we have become a potential terrorist harbour. Not that I believe that Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has any links to Al Qaeda whatsoever, but I do find it probable that Al Qaeda may use Seychelles' soft(or rather lacking) immigration control to attack US/NATO sites stationed in our country be those ships, unmanned aircraft or simply fuel tanks supplying those or worse of all personell.
It would be a scandal without dimensions if that should happen and the long term effects would do great harm to our country as tourism would be affected greatly and with Kenya's riots fresh in memory, even a Cuban-educated economist should realize what it would do to Seychelles.
I sincerely hope that Prezident James Michel throws all the cards on the table in this matter and that it is cleaned up once and for all. The liability of immigrants that enter our country without questions should also urge the immigration department to tighten their procedures too. ANd for all we know, maybe it is time revise our national safety plan. If such exists that is.
Patrick X
Far more serious however are the allegations that the workers, including their contractor, are operating illegally in Seychelles on behalf of the the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi. Accoring to allegations, the workers arrive in loads(nobody knows how, but most likely by air) and do not pass through immigration, hence they are without any papers of any kind. To strengthen this allegation further, the workers are now being placed at a new living quarters in Providence where Nation states
'..the area will be properly fenced to ensure the workers’ movements are closely monitored.A technical committee of various concerned agencies and departments led by the planning authority has been set up and will, among its responsibilities, monitor the workers’ activities.'
By stating that the workers' activities will be closely monitored gives one associations with illegal refugees that are under surveillance. In addition to that, no less than 4 ministers were present at the info meeting held on Saturday to calm the angry public, namely Vincent Meriton, Jacqulein Dugasse, Marrei-Pierre Llloyd and Joel Morgan. It is indeed rare that so many ministers met the public at one time and it is evident that this sad case has become a burden to Prezident James Michel's administration.
Worse will it be for him and for Seychelles as a whole if those illeglas are indeed illegals and are not protected under a diplomatic loophole as the Sheik's construction site has been said to be diplomatic ground. If indeed those workers are undocumented illegals, there is reason to believe that their presence in Seychelles are not only a liability to the country itself, but also to our allies who are stationed here in the fight against piracy. Providence is after all only a short distance away from the Pointe Larue International Airport where US Navy unmanned aircrafts are stationed and operate in the fight against Somali pirates and may for all we know also be operating in other secret US missions in the Indian Ocean area.
With most of these workers coming from India via an Arab country there is I believe a high probablity that infiltration by Al Qaeda in order to get close to the US/NATO forces installations in Seychelles is probable. Explosives are easily available at the construction site and having so many expats in Seychelles one or three roaming alone somewhere are not likely to cause too much suspicion.
We can therefore clearly state that the prezident's administration has by allowing such activity(ref illegal workers) put Seychelles and its reputaion at risk, this in the sense that we have become a potential terrorist harbour. Not that I believe that Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has any links to Al Qaeda whatsoever, but I do find it probable that Al Qaeda may use Seychelles' soft(or rather lacking) immigration control to attack US/NATO sites stationed in our country be those ships, unmanned aircraft or simply fuel tanks supplying those or worse of all personell.
It would be a scandal without dimensions if that should happen and the long term effects would do great harm to our country as tourism would be affected greatly and with Kenya's riots fresh in memory, even a Cuban-educated economist should realize what it would do to Seychelles.
I sincerely hope that Prezident James Michel throws all the cards on the table in this matter and that it is cleaned up once and for all. The liability of immigrants that enter our country without questions should also urge the immigration department to tighten their procedures too. ANd for all we know, maybe it is time revise our national safety plan. If such exists that is.
Patrick X
Feb 21, 2010
Rasinism - The first step back towards racism?
Lately there has been a lot of talk about 'Rasinism' and the superiority 'Seselwa Rasin' should have with regards to employment, salaries and other legal rights compared to the so-called 'Seselwa Fabrike', i.e foreigners with either citizenship obtained through marriage, duration of residency or simply through the EDA, i.e passports purchased directly or indirectly through for example investment in property like those at Eden Island. The inventor of the term 'Rasinism', a term deriving from the word 'Rasin' meaning root, says it is pure patriotism, but to others it seems to have more in common to pure racism or is surely one step in the very direction that we Seychellois have moved away from the last 3-4 decades.
I myself being closer to my late 30s than the mid 30s see a big difference in the mentality of the Seychellois with regards to racism which was fairly common before when one could often hear white people refering to 'sa bann mazanbik'(literally: those niggers) or other directly racist comments when for instance a lighter skinned person married a darker individual and one could hear comments where the question was raised as why the lighter individual could not find one of his/her own kind. In the early days of the US satellite base at La Misère another form of racism occured, but that was more due to envy of the 'Yankees' who literally carried away the girls to the tune of the Andrew Sisters' hit Rum & Coca Cola. Today, after the Yankees have gone home the Arabs, one particular bearing the name of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has become the new Yankee everybody is asking to go home, especially after a sewage leakage occured at his construction site polluting a river that supplies drinking water.
The fact that all drinking water in Seychelles is cleansed before reaching household taps seems to be irrelevant in this case. It is also not the fact that fecal excrements entering the river that seems to be the problem, but rather the fact that it is the excrements coming from 'Malbar'(Indians) that has been made the main issue. The construction company responsible for the site is said to be operating without a licence and the site itself which is to be a foreign embassy is also protected by international laws of diplomatic character which again makes the case even more sensitive. The point is however that the issue has become more of a 'Rasin vs Fabrike' issue rather than a case about the violation of environmental laws and laws regarding employment in Seychelles.
It seems that there is a rage today amongst Seychellois where there is an anger upon all foreigners working in Seychelles be they rich Arabs or poor Indian construction workers. In a time of hardship it is often seen that many look for scape goats to blame the economical situation on, especially power hungry politicians who want the support of the people. We Seychellois, at least the younger generation, have taken a step away from the racism many of our parents practised, especially the white elders whom many have been buried with the racist mentality they were raised with, the same one their parents and grandparents were brought up to practice and had done so since the Slavery period.
Today, discrimination in Seychelles is more of a political thing rather than a racial thing and all colours stand together in each their respective political camp as both couples and families are split down the middle due to political belief. There is now however a new type of discrimination knocking at our doorstep: Rasinism. Rasinism has become a popular term and as said above it is defended as a patriotic term, but to the opinion of many, myself included, it is closer related to racism rather than patriotism. A blogger on another site for instance posted a message where he/she proudly bragged that an Indian had recieved a painful beating. The poor soul lost an eye in the attack in addition to a large sum of money. The blog was as disgusting as it can get when a human finds it funny that another gets a beating where he loses his eyesight on one eye and makes reference to the JJ Spirit and urges youth to attack Arabs next time. The article made by the People, http://www.thepeople.sc/index190210.html, shows a man on a hospital bed and to me anyone who can laugh at such a sight is either sick or full of an inner hatred.
The type of behaviour described above is just the type of effect 'Rasinism' can lead to. Those old enough to remember, or those who know history, shoulf be familiar with what happened in Germany in the 30s where the Jews were persecuted by angry German Rasins who also then called it patriotism. The Serbs practised their own Rasinism before and during the Balkan War as did Robert Mugabe's supporters when they attacked and took over white owned farms who were the backbone of Zimbabwean economy. Are we also on our way to drag Rasinism to the same extreme? After all, every journey starts with one step and I can already see that Rasinism is a step back towards racism which we as Seychellois are reputated to have distanced ourselves from.
Rasinism/Racism must not under any circumstances be tolerated and we as a people must use every means we have in order to overwin it and teach ourselves and our children otherwise else we may just as well become the Zimbabwe of the Indian ocean and our paradise turned to hell.
Patrick X
I myself being closer to my late 30s than the mid 30s see a big difference in the mentality of the Seychellois with regards to racism which was fairly common before when one could often hear white people refering to 'sa bann mazanbik'(literally: those niggers) or other directly racist comments when for instance a lighter skinned person married a darker individual and one could hear comments where the question was raised as why the lighter individual could not find one of his/her own kind. In the early days of the US satellite base at La Misère another form of racism occured, but that was more due to envy of the 'Yankees' who literally carried away the girls to the tune of the Andrew Sisters' hit Rum & Coca Cola. Today, after the Yankees have gone home the Arabs, one particular bearing the name of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has become the new Yankee everybody is asking to go home, especially after a sewage leakage occured at his construction site polluting a river that supplies drinking water.
The fact that all drinking water in Seychelles is cleansed before reaching household taps seems to be irrelevant in this case. It is also not the fact that fecal excrements entering the river that seems to be the problem, but rather the fact that it is the excrements coming from 'Malbar'(Indians) that has been made the main issue. The construction company responsible for the site is said to be operating without a licence and the site itself which is to be a foreign embassy is also protected by international laws of diplomatic character which again makes the case even more sensitive. The point is however that the issue has become more of a 'Rasin vs Fabrike' issue rather than a case about the violation of environmental laws and laws regarding employment in Seychelles.
It seems that there is a rage today amongst Seychellois where there is an anger upon all foreigners working in Seychelles be they rich Arabs or poor Indian construction workers. In a time of hardship it is often seen that many look for scape goats to blame the economical situation on, especially power hungry politicians who want the support of the people. We Seychellois, at least the younger generation, have taken a step away from the racism many of our parents practised, especially the white elders whom many have been buried with the racist mentality they were raised with, the same one their parents and grandparents were brought up to practice and had done so since the Slavery period.
Today, discrimination in Seychelles is more of a political thing rather than a racial thing and all colours stand together in each their respective political camp as both couples and families are split down the middle due to political belief. There is now however a new type of discrimination knocking at our doorstep: Rasinism. Rasinism has become a popular term and as said above it is defended as a patriotic term, but to the opinion of many, myself included, it is closer related to racism rather than patriotism. A blogger on another site for instance posted a message where he/she proudly bragged that an Indian had recieved a painful beating. The poor soul lost an eye in the attack in addition to a large sum of money. The blog was as disgusting as it can get when a human finds it funny that another gets a beating where he loses his eyesight on one eye and makes reference to the JJ Spirit and urges youth to attack Arabs next time. The article made by the People, http://www.thepeople.sc/index190210.html, shows a man on a hospital bed and to me anyone who can laugh at such a sight is either sick or full of an inner hatred.
The type of behaviour described above is just the type of effect 'Rasinism' can lead to. Those old enough to remember, or those who know history, shoulf be familiar with what happened in Germany in the 30s where the Jews were persecuted by angry German Rasins who also then called it patriotism. The Serbs practised their own Rasinism before and during the Balkan War as did Robert Mugabe's supporters when they attacked and took over white owned farms who were the backbone of Zimbabwean economy. Are we also on our way to drag Rasinism to the same extreme? After all, every journey starts with one step and I can already see that Rasinism is a step back towards racism which we as Seychellois are reputated to have distanced ourselves from.
Rasinism/Racism must not under any circumstances be tolerated and we as a people must use every means we have in order to overwin it and teach ourselves and our children otherwise else we may just as well become the Zimbabwe of the Indian ocean and our paradise turned to hell.
Patrick X
Jan 23, 2010
What type are you?
In Christopher Gill's recent article on STAR Seychelles, www.starseychelles.blogspot.com, he states that it is time Seychelles belongs to Seychellois and a number of different Sechellois types are listed and categorized as being good or bad. The two main types of Seselwa Gill describes in his article are:
Seselwa Rasin: Seychellois who were Seychelles citizens on June 29th 1976
Seselwa Fabrike: Seychelles citizens who were fabricated by the SPPF's selling of passports for cash(France Albert Rene called it 'investing in Seychelles' through the EDA).
Gill states clearly, and I must say that he does have some good points, that the Seselwa Fabrike are in many ways first class citizens as they can often enjoy immunity, no need for security clearance and/or have other priveleges that the Seselwa Rasin do not. I can clearly see Gill's, and others', rage when one could see the likes of Ramadoss who arrived in Seychelles wearing rags and sandals but soon got a place under the wing of the former prezident France Albert Rene and with those priveleges is now amongst the country's richest men. People like Radovan Krejcir, another Seselwa Fabrike, could enjoy the good life in Seychelles and despite being caught with firearms in his private home, no pursue was ever made. The latter however ended up being too much of an embarrassment to the government(who in the end had to get rid of Krejcir after he shut his funding tap). The article does indeed have many good points both about the mentioned and others, amongst them Arabs building huge mansions at La Misère, Siva wanting to build his own little country at Coetivy, a state within our own state, and not least the numerous other Seselwa Fabrike we've been abused by in the course of history after Rene introduced his own convenient laws and allowed such practice since June 1977.
Seselwa Derasine
Gill speaks of 'Sesel Pou Seselwa', Seychelles for Seychellois a fairly nationalistic statement in the eyes of another type of Seychellois like myself: Seselwa Derasine. There must be about 30.000 Seselwa Derasine in the world and we all have one thing in common, namely the fact that we are all born Seychellois or could once be defined as Seselwa Rasin, i.e Root Seychellois, but later in life got de-rooted by moving abroad. Our roots are with us, but no longer in Seychellois soil. The opposition has since their loss in the first election after the re-introduction of the multi-party system, been argueing to give Seselwa Derasine the right to vote from abroad, this in hope of gaining votes to their advantage. Wether or not it would help I strongly doubt and personally I am totally against voting from abroad unless it applies returning students or Seychellois working on contracts on behalf of the government or of firms from home. Else I believe the costs of organizing such would be too much to bear on an already strained economy.
Seselwa Replante
Annother type of Seychellois Gill forgot to mention about in his article is the same type of Seychellois that he himself is. Seselwa Replante is a Seselwa Derasine who has returned home looking for his/her roots and therefore once again in Seychelles soil. I wouldn't quite classify a returning student as Seselwa Replante, but a person like Gill who spent many years of his childhood abroad, in his case USA and the Islands of Guam, is indeed a Seselwa Replante. The advantage of Gill is that he knows what it is like to be a foreigner in a country and despite being an American he was still a mere foreigner there although the USA is a good palce for most foreigners. Seselwa Derasine are often encouraged to become Replante and as recently as last year the opposition was encouraging the Derasines to return home to build up the country. Even today, the governemnt is aiming to replace expats with Seselwa. Rasin, Derasine and even Replante.
In addition to those defined by Gill, and now myself, there are numerous types of Seselwa that need to be characterized. Amonsgt those are:
Seselwa Enporte
These are Seychelles citizens who have become so through marriage with Seychellois and includes brides from India to Seychelles born shop owner sons, Cubans and other nationals who returned to Seychelles with Seychellois students who developed a taste for hot Latin blood, IOT brides from Thailand who have married Seselwa Rasin twice their age and stayed and last, but not least simply Western nationals married to Seselwa Rasin, Derasine and Replante that have settled in Seychelles. I believe even Nation has a journalist that is Seselwa Enporte, a former East European national. Correct me if I'm wrong. If I myself was to return home my wife would be an Enporte.
Seselwa Plante
Our Minster of Finance, Danny Faure, is a good definition of a Seselwa Plante. He is born abroad, in Uganda, bur grew up more or less in Seychelles, hence was planted here while his roots were still young and has since grown in Seychelles soils. He is not the only example as many Seychellois came home as toddlers after being born and spending their forst years abroad only to be brought back home and planted in our soil. As far as I'm concerned a Seselwa plante is just as much as any Seychellois as long as his or her soul is in Seychelles serving the country and society like any Seychellois.
Nationalism can be a good thing, but characterizing nationals into different grades and treating them differently is as dangerous and incorrect as racism. I fully agree with Gill that the present government has done a lot of bad deeds regarding giving foreign nationals advantages that even our most loyal nationals can dream of, but one has to be very careful when characterizing non-Seychellois born citizens.
I disagree with the fact that one becomes 'Seychellois' after obtaining a Seychelles passport as being Seychellois is a bit more than holding a brown book saying you are one. Being Seychellois can be characterized as being loyal and faithful to the country and doing one's best to achieve the best for it. Being Seychellois will by some be defined as having the Creole Spirit, i.e being a lazy, womanizing drunk in the weekdays and a loyal churchgoer on Sundays whilst by others the definition may be as simple as being born of Seychellois parents.
Not easy at all, but it is however vital that we under no circumstances grade our citizens based on their 'Seselwa Class' becasue then we have done the exact same thing that Christopher Gill is accusing the government of doing.
Patrick X - a Seselwa Derasine
Seselwa Rasin: Seychellois who were Seychelles citizens on June 29th 1976
Seselwa Fabrike: Seychelles citizens who were fabricated by the SPPF's selling of passports for cash(France Albert Rene called it 'investing in Seychelles' through the EDA).
Gill states clearly, and I must say that he does have some good points, that the Seselwa Fabrike are in many ways first class citizens as they can often enjoy immunity, no need for security clearance and/or have other priveleges that the Seselwa Rasin do not. I can clearly see Gill's, and others', rage when one could see the likes of Ramadoss who arrived in Seychelles wearing rags and sandals but soon got a place under the wing of the former prezident France Albert Rene and with those priveleges is now amongst the country's richest men. People like Radovan Krejcir, another Seselwa Fabrike, could enjoy the good life in Seychelles and despite being caught with firearms in his private home, no pursue was ever made. The latter however ended up being too much of an embarrassment to the government(who in the end had to get rid of Krejcir after he shut his funding tap). The article does indeed have many good points both about the mentioned and others, amongst them Arabs building huge mansions at La Misère, Siva wanting to build his own little country at Coetivy, a state within our own state, and not least the numerous other Seselwa Fabrike we've been abused by in the course of history after Rene introduced his own convenient laws and allowed such practice since June 1977.
Seselwa Derasine
Gill speaks of 'Sesel Pou Seselwa', Seychelles for Seychellois a fairly nationalistic statement in the eyes of another type of Seychellois like myself: Seselwa Derasine. There must be about 30.000 Seselwa Derasine in the world and we all have one thing in common, namely the fact that we are all born Seychellois or could once be defined as Seselwa Rasin, i.e Root Seychellois, but later in life got de-rooted by moving abroad. Our roots are with us, but no longer in Seychellois soil. The opposition has since their loss in the first election after the re-introduction of the multi-party system, been argueing to give Seselwa Derasine the right to vote from abroad, this in hope of gaining votes to their advantage. Wether or not it would help I strongly doubt and personally I am totally against voting from abroad unless it applies returning students or Seychellois working on contracts on behalf of the government or of firms from home. Else I believe the costs of organizing such would be too much to bear on an already strained economy.
Seselwa Replante
Annother type of Seychellois Gill forgot to mention about in his article is the same type of Seychellois that he himself is. Seselwa Replante is a Seselwa Derasine who has returned home looking for his/her roots and therefore once again in Seychelles soil. I wouldn't quite classify a returning student as Seselwa Replante, but a person like Gill who spent many years of his childhood abroad, in his case USA and the Islands of Guam, is indeed a Seselwa Replante. The advantage of Gill is that he knows what it is like to be a foreigner in a country and despite being an American he was still a mere foreigner there although the USA is a good palce for most foreigners. Seselwa Derasine are often encouraged to become Replante and as recently as last year the opposition was encouraging the Derasines to return home to build up the country. Even today, the governemnt is aiming to replace expats with Seselwa. Rasin, Derasine and even Replante.
In addition to those defined by Gill, and now myself, there are numerous types of Seselwa that need to be characterized. Amonsgt those are:
Seselwa Enporte
These are Seychelles citizens who have become so through marriage with Seychellois and includes brides from India to Seychelles born shop owner sons, Cubans and other nationals who returned to Seychelles with Seychellois students who developed a taste for hot Latin blood, IOT brides from Thailand who have married Seselwa Rasin twice their age and stayed and last, but not least simply Western nationals married to Seselwa Rasin, Derasine and Replante that have settled in Seychelles. I believe even Nation has a journalist that is Seselwa Enporte, a former East European national. Correct me if I'm wrong. If I myself was to return home my wife would be an Enporte.
Seselwa Plante
Our Minster of Finance, Danny Faure, is a good definition of a Seselwa Plante. He is born abroad, in Uganda, bur grew up more or less in Seychelles, hence was planted here while his roots were still young and has since grown in Seychelles soils. He is not the only example as many Seychellois came home as toddlers after being born and spending their forst years abroad only to be brought back home and planted in our soil. As far as I'm concerned a Seselwa plante is just as much as any Seychellois as long as his or her soul is in Seychelles serving the country and society like any Seychellois.
Nationalism can be a good thing, but characterizing nationals into different grades and treating them differently is as dangerous and incorrect as racism. I fully agree with Gill that the present government has done a lot of bad deeds regarding giving foreign nationals advantages that even our most loyal nationals can dream of, but one has to be very careful when characterizing non-Seychellois born citizens.
I disagree with the fact that one becomes 'Seychellois' after obtaining a Seychelles passport as being Seychellois is a bit more than holding a brown book saying you are one. Being Seychellois can be characterized as being loyal and faithful to the country and doing one's best to achieve the best for it. Being Seychellois will by some be defined as having the Creole Spirit, i.e being a lazy, womanizing drunk in the weekdays and a loyal churchgoer on Sundays whilst by others the definition may be as simple as being born of Seychellois parents.
Not easy at all, but it is however vital that we under no circumstances grade our citizens based on their 'Seselwa Class' becasue then we have done the exact same thing that Christopher Gill is accusing the government of doing.
Patrick X - a Seselwa Derasine
Jan 19, 2010
SNP - Ready for the future?
In a recent article in Regar dated January 15th 2010, Wavel Ramkalawan claims that SNP is ready for the future. In the article he writes that SNP has to be ready to make the future best for everyone and that the SNP has to be agents for real change.
According to Ramkalawan, SNP has always shown that Seychelles is constantly under its microscope and that is the reason why they have been able to present 'solid proposals for the development of the country'. He also says that 'What is good for Seychelles is good for the SNP'. I can sincerely believe that SNP has had Seychelles under its microscope as the party has absolutely no general overview of the country and teh ongoings as it has focused entirely on a microscopic part of it.
What part of Seychelles they have had under the microscope however there is no mention of, but a critic like myself would say that the SNP has been focusing one thing: keeping Ramkalawan as leader of the opposition. I can also as a critic say that the SNP has truly lived by the words 'what is good for Seychelles is good for SNP, as since the last election the SNP has done absolutely nothing whatsoever to promote themselves, hence unpromote the PL, and therefore get a true shot at gaining power in the coming election. They have in other woprds truly accepted that PL is good enough for Seychelles, hence good enough for the SNP.
The article claims that the SNP has withing the forst 15 days of 2010 already proved that they are relvant and effective as a political party by issuing a phampet saying that PUC's increase of prices was wrong. The SNP even went further to suggest bringing the subject up in a constitutional court case to challenge the decision. We continuously hear that the ministery of finance is useless at, yes, finance, but now I am also beginnign to think that the SNP lacks knowledge and competency in finance. One of the SNP's main fights in the past has been privatisation, free competition and not least less state control. Now that the PUC is being managed by a private firm and is no longer subsidized as bedfore, the SNP finds it wrong that is is to be run as a business instead of a non-profit organization. What do they want? I fully understand the frustration of the people who now have to pay more for PUC's services, but it is after a side effect of what we asked for is it not?
One good thing I was pelased to read about in the article is that Ramkalawan states clearly that the SNP does not only work to win elections. I couldn't agree more as he finally has admitted that he is not interested in winning any election, merely stay as a bystander and accept whatever is 'good for Seychelles', meaning whatever the majority votes for, i.e the PL. I'd think that a party who wants the best for the country would be able to deliver the best if they were in power. Obviously that does not apply for the SNP who is not interested in winning the coming elections.
Ramkalawan states that the SBC does not take the SNP seriously and cuts them short each time they do something. I must say tat to be able to deserve live time on SBC one must actually do and achieve something. Last year for instance James Michel and the PL held consultative meetings in the various districts. Those meetings gave the SNP a gleaming opportunity to participate amongst the people and challenge the PL delegation hosting them, an opportunity to speak and be heard. SNP's leader did not attend a single one of those meetings and paved the way for Michel to space for himself in the political spotlight.
The LOP says that the SNP is ready to face the challenges in assembly where they will not be given the same chance to present their views as the PL will and hence end up on SBC. To that I can agree with Ramkalawan that the SBC is controlled by the PL and will favour PL's views as any partial media organ will show loyalty and favourism to its party. The same applies for Nation as it does to Regar and Seychelles Weekly. One would think wether or not this kind of unfair system would encourage and motivate a party leader to leads its flock so that they can get in power and end the unfairness they so complain about. Question is: would the SNP do any different if they were in power?
Ramkalawan says in the article's final chapter that (quote)
'The SNP is ready to keep fighting hard for the people of Seychelles, using its meagre resources to do its utmost. We are determined to see change in our land. We will never give up the struggle to give our people a normal life. We will be by their side all through the year. In other words, I am saying to everyone that the SNP is ready for the future. We will turn those challenges into real opportunities for our people. May everyone rise and join us in this commitment to bring the.....'
Bring the what? The article ends with a 'the' and I ask myself how on earth one can take Regar let alone Ramkalawan seriously if they cannot even be bothered to perform a quality assurance check of their own writings in their own newspaper? As to being devoted to giving the Seychellois a normal life I truly believe Ramkalawan will do his uttermost to give them just a normal life while he has anything but a normal life in plan for himself.
But saying that the SNP is ready for the future is I'm afraid perhaps the biggest exaggeration so far this year. Since their defeat in the last election SNP has not been ready let alone prepared foe anything and are certainly not prepared for the future. It is a mere year left before the coming election's campaigning starts for full and nothing has been done on the part of the SNP. PL has held consultative meetings, created the Jj Spirit amongst other propaganda tools. What has SNP done to counter-balance the PL's campaigning? The answer is I'm afraid not fit for public viewing.
And they claim to be ready for the future? They havn't been ready in the recent past, are still not ready for the present and are most certainly not even prepared for the future.
Patrick X
According to Ramkalawan, SNP has always shown that Seychelles is constantly under its microscope and that is the reason why they have been able to present 'solid proposals for the development of the country'. He also says that 'What is good for Seychelles is good for the SNP'. I can sincerely believe that SNP has had Seychelles under its microscope as the party has absolutely no general overview of the country and teh ongoings as it has focused entirely on a microscopic part of it.
What part of Seychelles they have had under the microscope however there is no mention of, but a critic like myself would say that the SNP has been focusing one thing: keeping Ramkalawan as leader of the opposition. I can also as a critic say that the SNP has truly lived by the words 'what is good for Seychelles is good for SNP, as since the last election the SNP has done absolutely nothing whatsoever to promote themselves, hence unpromote the PL, and therefore get a true shot at gaining power in the coming election. They have in other woprds truly accepted that PL is good enough for Seychelles, hence good enough for the SNP.
The article claims that the SNP has withing the forst 15 days of 2010 already proved that they are relvant and effective as a political party by issuing a phampet saying that PUC's increase of prices was wrong. The SNP even went further to suggest bringing the subject up in a constitutional court case to challenge the decision. We continuously hear that the ministery of finance is useless at, yes, finance, but now I am also beginnign to think that the SNP lacks knowledge and competency in finance. One of the SNP's main fights in the past has been privatisation, free competition and not least less state control. Now that the PUC is being managed by a private firm and is no longer subsidized as bedfore, the SNP finds it wrong that is is to be run as a business instead of a non-profit organization. What do they want? I fully understand the frustration of the people who now have to pay more for PUC's services, but it is after a side effect of what we asked for is it not?
One good thing I was pelased to read about in the article is that Ramkalawan states clearly that the SNP does not only work to win elections. I couldn't agree more as he finally has admitted that he is not interested in winning any election, merely stay as a bystander and accept whatever is 'good for Seychelles', meaning whatever the majority votes for, i.e the PL. I'd think that a party who wants the best for the country would be able to deliver the best if they were in power. Obviously that does not apply for the SNP who is not interested in winning the coming elections.
Ramkalawan states that the SBC does not take the SNP seriously and cuts them short each time they do something. I must say tat to be able to deserve live time on SBC one must actually do and achieve something. Last year for instance James Michel and the PL held consultative meetings in the various districts. Those meetings gave the SNP a gleaming opportunity to participate amongst the people and challenge the PL delegation hosting them, an opportunity to speak and be heard. SNP's leader did not attend a single one of those meetings and paved the way for Michel to space for himself in the political spotlight.
The LOP says that the SNP is ready to face the challenges in assembly where they will not be given the same chance to present their views as the PL will and hence end up on SBC. To that I can agree with Ramkalawan that the SBC is controlled by the PL and will favour PL's views as any partial media organ will show loyalty and favourism to its party. The same applies for Nation as it does to Regar and Seychelles Weekly. One would think wether or not this kind of unfair system would encourage and motivate a party leader to leads its flock so that they can get in power and end the unfairness they so complain about. Question is: would the SNP do any different if they were in power?
Ramkalawan says in the article's final chapter that (quote)
'The SNP is ready to keep fighting hard for the people of Seychelles, using its meagre resources to do its utmost. We are determined to see change in our land. We will never give up the struggle to give our people a normal life. We will be by their side all through the year. In other words, I am saying to everyone that the SNP is ready for the future. We will turn those challenges into real opportunities for our people. May everyone rise and join us in this commitment to bring the.....'
Bring the what? The article ends with a 'the' and I ask myself how on earth one can take Regar let alone Ramkalawan seriously if they cannot even be bothered to perform a quality assurance check of their own writings in their own newspaper? As to being devoted to giving the Seychellois a normal life I truly believe Ramkalawan will do his uttermost to give them just a normal life while he has anything but a normal life in plan for himself.
But saying that the SNP is ready for the future is I'm afraid perhaps the biggest exaggeration so far this year. Since their defeat in the last election SNP has not been ready let alone prepared foe anything and are certainly not prepared for the future. It is a mere year left before the coming election's campaigning starts for full and nothing has been done on the part of the SNP. PL has held consultative meetings, created the Jj Spirit amongst other propaganda tools. What has SNP done to counter-balance the PL's campaigning? The answer is I'm afraid not fit for public viewing.
And they claim to be ready for the future? They havn't been ready in the recent past, are still not ready for the present and are most certainly not even prepared for the future.
Patrick X
Jan 15, 2010
Seychelles, unique by a thousand bribes
A recent report by the Auditor General where investigations were done on the SPDF accounts revealed unorthodox practices that point in the direction of gross corruption within our armed forces, our foremost protector that these days are battling Somali Pirates at sea and protecting ourt outer islands. The same force seems to have quite a bit of its own pirate activity going on within its own ranks. Lack of documentation accounting for how and why SPDF funds have been used to buy buildings materials and electrical supplies without any building activity within the force has raised certain suspicions. An officer has also been recieving salary despite leaving the force and no longer being on the payroll list. Other cases were discovered, cases that could not be accounted for in addition to suspicions regarding conflicts of interest. Our army, SPDF, has in other words also joined the trend of corruption within the public sector.
Not so long ago, the Krejcir saga proved that corruption was evident within our Department of Immigration where an authentic false passport was issued to the Czech fugitive who already had a legally obtained Seychellois passport. With new identity, Jules Egbert Savy, all on a passport issued by Immigration through an officer who later got suspended, Krejcir left Seychelles and flew to South Africa via Madagascar, but was arrested upon arrival there where he seeked asylum and has stayed there since. The loss of Krejcir as a citizen with priveleged rights was convenient for the then SPPF government who no longer had use for his services(read: money), but an embarrasment caused by a scandal within immigration was quickly hushed down when the alledged corrupt officer was suspended from his job after many years of service, but no legal charges were made against him nor anyone else in immigration. The officer himself claims that he was used as a scape goat as the orders of making the 'authentic false' passport for J.E. Savy came from higher up in the ranks.
Our police force is another department of public service that has been cursed by corruption. The previous Chief Of Police, Waye Hive, resigned suddenly like lightning on a clear day and has kept a low profile ever since. Rumours say that one of the reasons why he resigned was that he was forced to do so by someone 'higher up' after failing to deal with criminals in his own family, more precisely his brother who is a known and reputated druglord in Seychelles. Several officers have also been reported to have been suspended from their positions, but none of the cases have been followed up by the media since the announcement.
Reports by a blogger claim that corruption has even reached our Health & Welfare system where the morgue in Victoria has become a good source of income for its workers each time a deceased is kept refrigerated whilst for example waiting for relatives living abroad to arrive for the burial. Refrigeration is free the first few days, but a price of SR 1000 is charged every suceeding day. Upon leave the workers are known to 'offer' a discount where the family(or the funeral agent) pays for a number of days whilst the books say the deceased was refrigerated for only one or two days. Refrigeration for up to a week or more is not uncommon for the dead with relatives travelling from far so such cases give a nice little earner for the workers, infact a good month's salary each time.
The list of corrupted offices, departments and ministeries goes on never seeming to take an end, but few are willing to talk about it let alone deal with it. With that, questions can be raised as to how corrupt we are as a nation at whole. If indeed corruption has reached our health and welfare system, would it be unfair to say that this corruption exists because we, the users and clients of these services, participate actively in keeping the wheel turning? A saying says 'no smoke without a fire', I say 'no fire without wood' and as long as wood is kept on being thrown on the fire it will keep on burning.
James Michel and his government has through the IMF been forced to take actions against corruption nad has to a certain extent shaken the tree and rotten apples have fallen down. Michel's problem now is not gatting an apple in the head, but rather straight in the face so shaking too hard can prove to be taboo, but shake too little and the IMF may end up shaking him instead. A difficult choice between two evils indeed and if falling rotten apples in the face is bad enough, falling snakes from the same tree could indeed do more harm to him. All happening in the Garden of Eden, unique by a thousand bribes.
Patrick X
E-mail: patrick_x@live.co.uk
Not so long ago, the Krejcir saga proved that corruption was evident within our Department of Immigration where an authentic false passport was issued to the Czech fugitive who already had a legally obtained Seychellois passport. With new identity, Jules Egbert Savy, all on a passport issued by Immigration through an officer who later got suspended, Krejcir left Seychelles and flew to South Africa via Madagascar, but was arrested upon arrival there where he seeked asylum and has stayed there since. The loss of Krejcir as a citizen with priveleged rights was convenient for the then SPPF government who no longer had use for his services(read: money), but an embarrasment caused by a scandal within immigration was quickly hushed down when the alledged corrupt officer was suspended from his job after many years of service, but no legal charges were made against him nor anyone else in immigration. The officer himself claims that he was used as a scape goat as the orders of making the 'authentic false' passport for J.E. Savy came from higher up in the ranks.
Our police force is another department of public service that has been cursed by corruption. The previous Chief Of Police, Waye Hive, resigned suddenly like lightning on a clear day and has kept a low profile ever since. Rumours say that one of the reasons why he resigned was that he was forced to do so by someone 'higher up' after failing to deal with criminals in his own family, more precisely his brother who is a known and reputated druglord in Seychelles. Several officers have also been reported to have been suspended from their positions, but none of the cases have been followed up by the media since the announcement.
Reports by a blogger claim that corruption has even reached our Health & Welfare system where the morgue in Victoria has become a good source of income for its workers each time a deceased is kept refrigerated whilst for example waiting for relatives living abroad to arrive for the burial. Refrigeration is free the first few days, but a price of SR 1000 is charged every suceeding day. Upon leave the workers are known to 'offer' a discount where the family(or the funeral agent) pays for a number of days whilst the books say the deceased was refrigerated for only one or two days. Refrigeration for up to a week or more is not uncommon for the dead with relatives travelling from far so such cases give a nice little earner for the workers, infact a good month's salary each time.
The list of corrupted offices, departments and ministeries goes on never seeming to take an end, but few are willing to talk about it let alone deal with it. With that, questions can be raised as to how corrupt we are as a nation at whole. If indeed corruption has reached our health and welfare system, would it be unfair to say that this corruption exists because we, the users and clients of these services, participate actively in keeping the wheel turning? A saying says 'no smoke without a fire', I say 'no fire without wood' and as long as wood is kept on being thrown on the fire it will keep on burning.
James Michel and his government has through the IMF been forced to take actions against corruption nad has to a certain extent shaken the tree and rotten apples have fallen down. Michel's problem now is not gatting an apple in the head, but rather straight in the face so shaking too hard can prove to be taboo, but shake too little and the IMF may end up shaking him instead. A difficult choice between two evils indeed and if falling rotten apples in the face is bad enough, falling snakes from the same tree could indeed do more harm to him. All happening in the Garden of Eden, unique by a thousand bribes.
Patrick X
E-mail: patrick_x@live.co.uk
Jan 7, 2010
The thin line between coalition and collision
There is a lot of speculation and some say will to form a coalition government in Seychelles. There is talk about a United Opposition forming an alliance with the sole purpose of removing the PL from power in 2011. Some also speculate in a new party being formed as well as the termination of the SNP as we know it today. Regardless of the differences between speculation, will and reality I believe that we will soon face an interesting political development in the months to come and up to the 2011 prezidential election.
The opposition has had a hard time winning elections since the re-introduction of the multi-party system and reaching their goal of taking power over from the SPPF/PL although gettting as much as 46% of the votes in the last election. Why is that so and why has there not been a coalition government? Well, the main reason is that Seychelles has basically never had more than two parties big enough to be able to form an alliance that has enough majority to overthrow the party with most votes. In recent elections our voters have had the choice between two parties, namely SPPF(PL) and SNP as the third alternative DP refrained from participating. As we know the last election gave the SPPF/PL majority leaving the opposition as powerless bystanders.
So what's the remedy to 'kick the PL ou' as many put it? Kicking the PL out is in theory simple, but requires a bit of devotion and determination from all other parties who want to give James Michel and his party the boot. First of all, the voters must be given multiple options, not merely a dual option. A dual option often gives the choice of two evils, especially in teh case of Seychelles where the voters are fairly split. You are either pro SPPF/PL or con and if you are con then whoever the other option is will get your vote despite the option being just as bad, i.e a lot of Seychellois vote in pure despite of the happenings of June 5th 1977. Back in '76 people were either for Mancham or for Rene, today they are either for Rene or against Rene as he is still seen to be the one in charge and the PL exploits that to its extent.
What will a worthy multiple choice do in an election? First of all, people will no longer have the choice of the evil that they know and the evil they do not know and instead have an additional choice which canfirst of all be a magnet to votes that are in doubt in addition to a sign of hope and change. A new alternative to PL and SNP can represent a positive change in Seychelles especially for those who feel they have been struggling the last 15 or so years. A third altenative will naturally have the potential to steal votes from both PL and SNP, hence reducing the PL's majority from let's say 54% to maybe 48% or lower which is an achievement enough to topple the PL dominance in Seychelles politics. All a third party needs in order to remove the PL is to gain slightly more than 4% of the votes, this based on the last election's figures. 4%, that's all! Then what?
If the PL are reduced to 49% popularity that means that the other participating parties have a majority of votes and can form a coalition and finally 'kick the PL out' according to plan. A coalition will leave the PL as minority and a new coalition government can be formed. However, having majority is one thing, but having majority as part of a coalition can easily lead to collision. The mutual objectives of non PL-ism may well be to get rid of the PL, but running a country, even one as small as Seychelles, can prove to be harder than expected, let alone forming such a government.
It would be natural for the biggest part of the coalition to get the prezidentila post, but conflicts in interest, conflicts of opinion and not least the strong Seychellois character regarding the ongoings of the past can easily lead to fighting behind the wheel and a certain route to collision. I would therefore strongly recommend that before an eventual United Opposition gets together to 'kick out PL', other mutual goals and most important of all disagreements are settled, agreed upon and a crystal clear set of rules of cooperation are written before any attempt is made to form a coalition.
Another thing that is important to bear in mind is the fact that a coalition government in Seychelles does not necessarily have to consist of for instance SNP+DP. It can just as well consist of PL+SNP or PL+DP. By having an open mind, we should realize that even politicians sometimes have to make the choice between two evils, not just the voters.
Patrick X
E-mail: patrick_x@live.co.uk
The opposition has had a hard time winning elections since the re-introduction of the multi-party system and reaching their goal of taking power over from the SPPF/PL although gettting as much as 46% of the votes in the last election. Why is that so and why has there not been a coalition government? Well, the main reason is that Seychelles has basically never had more than two parties big enough to be able to form an alliance that has enough majority to overthrow the party with most votes. In recent elections our voters have had the choice between two parties, namely SPPF(PL) and SNP as the third alternative DP refrained from participating. As we know the last election gave the SPPF/PL majority leaving the opposition as powerless bystanders.
So what's the remedy to 'kick the PL ou' as many put it? Kicking the PL out is in theory simple, but requires a bit of devotion and determination from all other parties who want to give James Michel and his party the boot. First of all, the voters must be given multiple options, not merely a dual option. A dual option often gives the choice of two evils, especially in teh case of Seychelles where the voters are fairly split. You are either pro SPPF/PL or con and if you are con then whoever the other option is will get your vote despite the option being just as bad, i.e a lot of Seychellois vote in pure despite of the happenings of June 5th 1977. Back in '76 people were either for Mancham or for Rene, today they are either for Rene or against Rene as he is still seen to be the one in charge and the PL exploits that to its extent.
What will a worthy multiple choice do in an election? First of all, people will no longer have the choice of the evil that they know and the evil they do not know and instead have an additional choice which canfirst of all be a magnet to votes that are in doubt in addition to a sign of hope and change. A new alternative to PL and SNP can represent a positive change in Seychelles especially for those who feel they have been struggling the last 15 or so years. A third altenative will naturally have the potential to steal votes from both PL and SNP, hence reducing the PL's majority from let's say 54% to maybe 48% or lower which is an achievement enough to topple the PL dominance in Seychelles politics. All a third party needs in order to remove the PL is to gain slightly more than 4% of the votes, this based on the last election's figures. 4%, that's all! Then what?
If the PL are reduced to 49% popularity that means that the other participating parties have a majority of votes and can form a coalition and finally 'kick the PL out' according to plan. A coalition will leave the PL as minority and a new coalition government can be formed. However, having majority is one thing, but having majority as part of a coalition can easily lead to collision. The mutual objectives of non PL-ism may well be to get rid of the PL, but running a country, even one as small as Seychelles, can prove to be harder than expected, let alone forming such a government.
It would be natural for the biggest part of the coalition to get the prezidentila post, but conflicts in interest, conflicts of opinion and not least the strong Seychellois character regarding the ongoings of the past can easily lead to fighting behind the wheel and a certain route to collision. I would therefore strongly recommend that before an eventual United Opposition gets together to 'kick out PL', other mutual goals and most important of all disagreements are settled, agreed upon and a crystal clear set of rules of cooperation are written before any attempt is made to form a coalition.
Another thing that is important to bear in mind is the fact that a coalition government in Seychelles does not necessarily have to consist of for instance SNP+DP. It can just as well consist of PL+SNP or PL+DP. By having an open mind, we should realize that even politicians sometimes have to make the choice between two evils, not just the voters.
Patrick X
E-mail: patrick_x@live.co.uk
Dec 29, 2009
Our politicians - Serving of the people or serving themselves?
In Seychelles we are said to be unique by a thousand miles and we are indeed so in may ways. This includes our politicians and not least politics which despite being camouflaged by a form of democracy is in a class of its own today, yesterday and most probably tomorrow.
When James Mancham became the first elected prezident of Seychelles in 1976, legend said that he was frequently seen at Priates Arms wearing shorts during daytime. Mancham was said to be a playboy, making him pretty much what we Seychellois see upon as quite normal, as well as a being prezident. In other words, he got the best of both worlds. His time at the top was short when France Albert Rene siezed the country by coup d'état in 1977 and Mancham had to prolong his stay abroad for over a decade before returning home again to settle.
Rene was seen upon by many as being a great saviour of the people who freed them from colonial slavery as many put it, an Indian Ocean Fidel Castro who promised to work for the people, but soon ended up working solely for himself by building up an enormous fortune which most likely consists of funds transferred from our own Central Bank in addition to bribes and gifts from partners like Mario Ricci and others of the same calibre. Reme was in other words another politician that started by serving the people, but soon ended up serving himself.
After the multi-party system was re-introduced(some say introduced) just over a decade later, many exilees(both voluntarily and non-voluntarily) saw the opportunity to return home for a career in politics. The same applied for others who were opponants of Rene's regime and had been held down since the coup as political parties and gatherings other than Rene's were illegal nad could lead to a nightly dip in the ocean behind St Anne Island.
Mancham saw his chance to return and regain the land he he had to leave behind and did so in addition to re-entering politics in an attempt to regain his seat as prezident. His nephew Christopher Gill, son of his now late brother Micky Mancham, returned from USA and entered politics and made his way to assembly and earned his stamp as a troublemaker within his previous party DP where he got the boot before bedding the enemy SPPF, but later leaving to venture on his own. Gill was legendary being pretty much an outsider upon return and by achieving so much in so little time. Ramkalawan sat his foot in the political salad too and came close to winning the prezidential election, but lost steam after losses and later publically said that he was glad he didn't win any elections. Several others entered politics as simple men and women only to grow a fortune beyond recognition based on a politicians salary. Ramkalawan was what many define as a revultionary then, but alas today he is in the eyes of many a simple puppet for the PL who is said to have him on a leash and heavy political tranquilizers.
The list of politicians and other public servants who entered the scene to serve the people but ended up serving themselves is long and seems to merely grow as the years go by. This makes me wonder if there actually is any politician in Seychelles who's ambition is to serve the people and the country first without a thought of serving themselves first. I sincerely believe that most of these men and women enter politics to make a difference, but are soon corrupted by it and either cannot or simply must stick their hand in the honey pot in order to survive at the top.
Do we at all have any politicians who are there to serve the people or are they all merely serving themselves?
Patrick X
When James Mancham became the first elected prezident of Seychelles in 1976, legend said that he was frequently seen at Priates Arms wearing shorts during daytime. Mancham was said to be a playboy, making him pretty much what we Seychellois see upon as quite normal, as well as a being prezident. In other words, he got the best of both worlds. His time at the top was short when France Albert Rene siezed the country by coup d'état in 1977 and Mancham had to prolong his stay abroad for over a decade before returning home again to settle.
Rene was seen upon by many as being a great saviour of the people who freed them from colonial slavery as many put it, an Indian Ocean Fidel Castro who promised to work for the people, but soon ended up working solely for himself by building up an enormous fortune which most likely consists of funds transferred from our own Central Bank in addition to bribes and gifts from partners like Mario Ricci and others of the same calibre. Reme was in other words another politician that started by serving the people, but soon ended up serving himself.
After the multi-party system was re-introduced(some say introduced) just over a decade later, many exilees(both voluntarily and non-voluntarily) saw the opportunity to return home for a career in politics. The same applied for others who were opponants of Rene's regime and had been held down since the coup as political parties and gatherings other than Rene's were illegal nad could lead to a nightly dip in the ocean behind St Anne Island.
Mancham saw his chance to return and regain the land he he had to leave behind and did so in addition to re-entering politics in an attempt to regain his seat as prezident. His nephew Christopher Gill, son of his now late brother Micky Mancham, returned from USA and entered politics and made his way to assembly and earned his stamp as a troublemaker within his previous party DP where he got the boot before bedding the enemy SPPF, but later leaving to venture on his own. Gill was legendary being pretty much an outsider upon return and by achieving so much in so little time. Ramkalawan sat his foot in the political salad too and came close to winning the prezidential election, but lost steam after losses and later publically said that he was glad he didn't win any elections. Several others entered politics as simple men and women only to grow a fortune beyond recognition based on a politicians salary. Ramkalawan was what many define as a revultionary then, but alas today he is in the eyes of many a simple puppet for the PL who is said to have him on a leash and heavy political tranquilizers.
The list of politicians and other public servants who entered the scene to serve the people but ended up serving themselves is long and seems to merely grow as the years go by. This makes me wonder if there actually is any politician in Seychelles who's ambition is to serve the people and the country first without a thought of serving themselves first. I sincerely believe that most of these men and women enter politics to make a difference, but are soon corrupted by it and either cannot or simply must stick their hand in the honey pot in order to survive at the top.
Do we at all have any politicians who are there to serve the people or are they all merely serving themselves?
Patrick X
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