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
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8 comments:
dont go telling the US this. given their hypervigilance when it comes to terrorism, they'll probably start waterboarding the poor indian workers :o)
LOL, maybe they'll make Providence their new Guantanamo using the Sheik's palace as watch tower.
But on a serious note, I believe the US may be of help here, i.e to force through changes. Then again, they won't do it for free.
Patrick X
looks like you have everyone wondering about your 'nom de plume' on the other blog.
Tell about it! Next thing they'll I'm Satan herself. :-)
or judas
Well, considering the speculations about my true ID, I feel sorry for the poor bastard who gets to take the heat for my writings, especially if credit has been taken for it. :-D
Patrick X
: )! The problem with Seychellois generally is that they take the politicians to be God. I take very little pity when i see X,Y,Z after having sucked up to Rene, Michel, Mancham, Ramkalawan, Gill get a good kick in their backsides (if not worse), and then they start realising that after all those politicians were in it for themselves!
Patrick X, good blog nonetheless, even if interaction on it is rather slim, but you must understand that Seychellois are partisan, criticising their god can easily get you branded as satan, Judas (obviously the person who made that statement is not aware of the role played by Judas in the Jesus story)!
On your posts, i believe thay only the malbar laboutik ek konstriksyon who will bear he brunt of any xenophobic movement...Seselwa being kapon as they are will not dare attack the rich and powerful soi disant Seselwa Fabrike, if one looks at the list of people who have sold land to Siva the Seselwa Fabrike, one will be shocked to see the many names of prominent Opposition Supporters (i believe M Louise Potter read out the names in the Nat Assembly) and earlier this year it was revealed that Bernard Georges (SNP MAN) was the one responsible for drawing up the sale document of the first land brought in Seychelles by Sheik Khalifa. My point is money rules in Seychelles, more so with the politicians!
"Fodre mon bez fou, pour bez mon lazournen dimans, al ganny grenn debout dan en laliny pour al vot pour en bann bandi ek voler"...that is what one close University graduate friend told me recently!
Vox
Yes indeed Vox, we are rather partisan and you are absolutely right that criticizing anyone's 'God' is synonymous with recieving the Juda-brand where it hurts most.
You are however right that it is the malbar-shop owners who will be the ones to suffer to a certain extent as the Seychellois seem to see the filthy rich as untouchable and unreachable. This is/was my biggest concern with regards to a Rasinist movement which easily will lead to a Racist movement, not necessarily by its leaders, but by triger happy followers enraged by their own failures and/or misfortune looking for a soul or three to blame it all on.
I was just reading the last electronic edition of Regar(Vol 19, no. 11) and must say that the paper is absolutely bringing up actual cases, but lacks that knock-out effect and not least 'sugar on top' that will make it taste even better for the readers. Now it's all about Sheik Khalifa this, Khalifa that, but not a word about all the Russians that are enjoying similar deals from the government. It's all about Arabs, arabs and more arabs. Regar alkso brings up the subject about sick malbar workers, again related to arab activities. Damn I'm glad I'm not an Arab living or working in Seychelles. I wouldn't sleep at night.
But you are right, the filthy rich are criticized, but remain protected. Mind you, this also includes the filthy rich drug dealers and other scum living on our islands. Seems like we look up to them in a way.
Patrick X
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