SEYCHELLES REALITY

This week we saw the Opposition leader the honorable Wavel Ramkalawan established a “Double Standard” when it comes to the way certain workers are treated in Seychelles. Firstly, he bombarded Ambassador Claude Morel on how his office treats the present Ambassadors of Seychelles and even went as far as agreeing that “despite Seychelles being in the 40% poverty rate… Seychelles has indeed upgraded its standard of living. Thus we need to make sure how we treat our public officials with prestigious positions”. Yet, when it was time for the Secretary of State Dr. Patrick Herminie to present his budget in which he showed the exact tolerance for his staff, especially the CEO’s our honorable LOTO asked Dr. Herminie if he would consider cutting the salary of the CEO’s in order to inject more money into the programs of the Agency. Honorable LOTO even went as far as trying to ridicule the intelligent doctor, by stating, “We know that the beautiful answers you are giving is because you are...

Dear Readers, How our country can pay lip service to those who sweat to make ends meet is rather amazing. Opposition MNAs walked with the Nurses in their Victoria Protest March when they were asking for a raise of 60% in their salary. This demand was then not repeated by the same MNAs in the National Assembly when they delivered their long speeches in reply to the proposed budget. National Assembly Members spoke about Nurses and other Hospital workers but they seemed unable or were unwilling to say that the Nurses are asking for a 60% increase. This lack or real interest for Nurses is part of the healing process we understand. Back door arrangements and concessions at the detriment of working Health professionals. This is what some are saying is OK… but is it really? MNA Jean Francois Ferrari is prepared to forgo his National Assembly immunity to show former President James Michel he meant every word he said. This is the most welcomed statement made this year by any MNA. But this s...

There are rumors that Patrick Pillay is requesting yet another plot of farm land from Government. The allegation is that Pillay is importing twenty cows from Kenya. Our source in the National Assembly has informed us that Pillay wants to fly in the cows from Kenya and is adamant that the beasts will be placed under quarantine on his farm. This arrangement is not one that is in the best interest of the country, because the possibility of disease being imported in the country is high. This will bring his total of cows to twenty-one considering he already has “Pti Cowboy”. Pillay This is not the first time that Pillay is requesting agricultural land from Government. In 1995, Pillay was allocated two plots at Montagne Posee; C3849 and C3850 - on a long lease. Pillay then sought permission and built a three bedroom house on the property with sea view and very good Mountain View. After the construction of the house Pillay established his farm naming it “Farm Breeze”. Patrick Pillay d...

If the budget of a Government department or of an entity is under a certain amount there is no requirement to come to the Assembly. However, Mrs. Marie-Ange Hoareau was forced to come to the National Assembly last year to answer questions in justification of the 2017 budget allocation for CAA - but this year CAA have not been asked to come, yet their budget for 2018 is hugely increased in comparison with 2017.  It contains a large retainer fee for Anthony Derjacques and salary for a new executive secretary. What do they need that for? How much is Derjacques getting? How much is the new chairperson getting? These are information that the public would like to know in the spirit of accountability, transparency and good governance. The chairperson is in three bodies; CAA, Ethics Commission and the ACCS!!! Was it not the President himself who said that one person cannot be on several boards? It must be noted that Derjacques is also the lawyer for LDS and SNP! Isn’t that corrupt...

Mr James A Michel Seychelles has been ranked second in Africa in “governance” – just behind Mauritius – on the Mo Ibrahim Index. The period of assessment and evaluation of the country’s performance is from 2012 to 2016. Seychelles scored highly in such crucial areas as governance, rule of law, human rights, sustainable economic opportunities and human development. Though, undoubtedly, there is room for progress in our performance and indicators, these are achievements that any country would be proud of.  But to whom do we owe this international accolade? To none other than James Michel. As the period under review (2012 – 2016) testifies to, all those achievements happened on his watch. They show genuine leadership qualities and capable stewardship.  The “independent” newspaper, TODAY in Seychelles, conveniently omits to mention this. Their LDS paymasters and supporters, and some others, will follow their lead. They will continue to vilify him, backstab him and “p...

Dear Readers, Your Pretty K is rather upset these last couple of weeks. So much happening and our Leaders were gallivanting on Bird & Denis Islands and seemed unbothered and just playing lip service. Lawlessness is now not a problem, but it has become a National Disaster. It is now of plague proportion. Two teachers are assaulted in two weeks, two tourists attacked with violence on Praslin and their case making news everywhere, theft and more theft happening, car breaking is now the norm and no one seems bothered as it seems to be all part of the healing process for Seychelles. This is what some are saying is OK… but is it really? Teachers are really fed up and feeling let down. Teachers showed to Seychelles they are worried for their safety and for the safety of the school children under their supervision. Sir Kevin Monthy and Sir Depak sad incidents have galvanised the teachers and they are speaking up. Congratulations to MNA Ferrari for being with the Teachers in Victoria ...

This newspaper is in total agreement with the view that the SPUP/SPPF/Parti Lepep has made many mistakes that have caused hardship to many people and costs this country a great deal. However, it must also be accepted that they did some things right. We will not go into the details – this conversation can be had at a later stage. Crimes committed against the people in the last forty years must be investigated in a fair manner by authorized agencies, outside of the control of politicians. Our country is now in a state of turmoil because the political leaders in the limelight have very little to no tolerance at all; several of them wants revenge. This is playing out in full view of the entire nation, from school children to great grandparents. It is doing more harm than good to our country. The National Assembly is doing a great job scrutinizing the 2018 Budget allocation, but the way that it is being done, which is a problem. Most, if not all the honorable members are not being ratio...

The Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly has finally revealed his dirty hands.  In a remark he states that the 2018 budget needs to be analyzed for its effects upon the cost of living! Nothing could be further from the truth and coming from the Leader of the Opposition shows it to be a two-faced lie.  As Leader of the Opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan has decided on co-habitation which is an illegal union for power in Seychelles.  This has meant that his role of holding the Executive under President Danny Faure accountable has been set aside. This letting down Seychellois attitude has been on display numerous times by Wavel Ramkalawan. Recently he publicly stated in a local newspaper that he is not in a power-sharing arrangement with President Faure.  What does co-habitation mean in the mind of Wavel Ramkalawan?  It is akin to saying I am not gay, my boyfriend is! Another blow to democracy was delivered when the District Council officials are to be...

Mr James A Michel The former President of Seychelles has now decided that “enough is enough” he said; for one whole year he has endured insults and accusations from the LDS majority in the National Assembly. “Designed to smear my character and destroy my image”, Michel added. It is obvious that both Ramkalawan and Ferrari have it in for the former president; their grudges and venomous attitude stems from the fact that Michel amended the law after the 2012 National Assembly Elections that provided both Wavel and Ferrari with early retirement pension. The changes in the law meant that they could no longer access the early pension; Wavel was getting SR45, 000 and JFF SR20, 000. Jean Francois had to go work in a shop at Premier Building as a sales assistant and Wavel intensified his activities in the construction industry, with much help coming from his friend at IDC. They have never forgotten or forgiven Michel. They are now out to get him ‘by hook or by crook’ (by any means whatsoev...

Anyone who has read the lengthy interview with Wavel Ramkalawan in “Today in Seychelles” dated 30th October, 2017, must surely have understood one thing. There is presently a wave of suspicion surrounding the political activities of Wavel Ramkalawan. He is the man who in the past championed the cause of the opposition through his own party (SNP), and is now a leading figure in the (LDS) coalition. Criticisms are today not coming from his political rivals or opponents, but from his own supporters.  Hardcore sympathizers simply no longer trust him and are wondering where exactly he is taking them and kind of game he is up to. Such expressions of mistrust have appeared even on “Facebook”, where angry supporters have lashed out at him and some of his MNAs over the present political status quo which they consider to be very different to what they were promised during the campaign for the National Assembly Elections in 2016. In the big interview last week with Wavel Ramkalawan, the...

The two liars came on SBC television this week and they appeared in newspapers to propagate their lies about the Anti-Victimisation Committee’s success. The truth of the matter is that they haven’t even been able to shift through half of the complaints that have been registered with the office of the committee. Many people have contacted this newspaper to say that Patrick Pillay with Clifford Andre and the rest on the committee are watering down and whitewashing their cases. This is so because there are many cases registered against top people in the LDS, to whom they want to provide protection. There are many people who are not satisfied with the way that the Anti-Victimisation Committee has handled their cases. The real story behind the pretty picture that Patrick Pillay and Clifford Andre are trying to paint is totally different. It is one where people are frustrated, annoyed and are feeling deceived by the two cowboys formerly from the SPPF. The Anti-Victimisation Committee i...

As a student of law this week is a very sad week for me and my colleagues in the legal circle because the concept of law and order has not trickled down to those at the bottom of our modern society; I mean the not so educated. We were liberated by Mr. Albert Rene who has made it possible for me and “chou-chou” to be together without raising eyebrows like it was in the sixties. Mr. Rene gave us our identity and he used his big stick well on us. All the talking for a whole year in the National Assembly has done nothing to bring in more civilization to our people; students are still beating up on teachers and teachers are still beating students. This is what we call taking the law into our hands. This is what some are saying is OK…. but is it really? No one is listening to anybody anymore. The SBC television aired a whole television programme on Monday night about the importance of the tourism industry to our economy. All the speakers said that we have to look after the goose so that ...

The undersigned organisations are gravely concerned about recent reports of events affecting the judiciary in the Seychelles. The developments in Seychelles have the potential to affect the actual and perceived independence of the court. Multiple international guidelines and best practice standards highlight the crucial importance of the independence of the judiciary. The Latimer House Principles recognised that “an independent, impartial, honest and competent judiciary is integral to upholding the rule of law, engendering public confidence and dispensing justice.”  This principle is reiterated in section 119 (2) of the Constitution of Seychelles which guarantees the independence of the judiciary and makes it subject only to the Constitution and laws of the country. In addition article 1 of the Seychelles Code of Judicial Conduct, states that an independent judiciary is indispensable to the proper administration of justice. An important prerequisite to ensuring independence is a ...

Today I start with the Big Interview by Wavel Ramkalawan where he states and I quote “support the current power sharing system because it is part of a healing process”. What is healing many are asking and insinuating that it could be his personal ego? Because he is now too far from reality. People are suffering more than ever before. The country has come to a sudden hazy stop and Ramkalawan call this a healing process. The Stevedore Workers stopped work and Ferrari left them to the Workers UNION. Nurses came on to the road to seek better conditions, Fishing boat owners came out too and this is healing for Ramkalawan; just because he is doing ok for himself. People are suffering and nothing has changed for the working men and women since the last elections. Life is harder than before and this is healing for Ramkalawan. This is what some are saying is OK. but is it really ? Many at the Simon Esparon funeral were angry when they saw CAA Members arrive. They are being blamed for the stat...

When Sir James Mancham returned home after 15 years of forced exile, he preached the message of National Reconciliation. He was right for the good of the country, although not everything said right is triggered by the right motive.  At the time, his critics coming straight from Arpent Vert asked the question of whether he was really searching for National Reconciliation  or rather personal reconciliation between himself and Albert Rene, the man who ousted him from power and the President of Seychelles  then. They were also right, because a few years later Mr. Mancham was able to reconcile himself with all his personal properties, which were wrongfully taken away from him after the Coup d’état and also those of his ancestors. Nothing is new under the sun, so says the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. We are living in a world of repetition and what happened yesterday will surely happen again in the future, albeit in another form. So in the context of Seychelles’ politics...