Monday, September 5, 2011

STB Becomes A Political Press Office!!


Seychelles election time: new party, new game?
Seychelles election time: new party, new game?
Image via siba.net

By Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN | Sep 02, 2011
(eTN) - With the general election just a few weeks away now, Seychelles politics are set to change as a new political party, the Popular Democratic Party, is entering the main arena of an election fight for the first time.
Long-time opposition leader, Wavel Ramkalawan, following his significant defeat in the May presidential elections, virtually threw in the towel soon afterwards, and in an act of defiance, seems to have propelled his own party, the SNP, into the abyss, too.
First refusing to take part in the declaration of election results, he then went on to stop attending parliamentary proceedings and compelling his party’s assembly members to follow his example, culminating in his declaration that the SNP, as if a piece of personal property, would not participate in the next round of parliamentary elections at all.
This resulted in taking the one major opposition to the ruling party, LEPEP, out of the equation, this did not go down well with many of his followers who now doubt not only his wisdom but his rationale and motive.
Having observed the Presidential elections in May, this correspondent made a number of contacts on the archipelago, from both ruling party and the opposition, and even then the glaring absence of Wavel at the election results announcement was noted with disgust among some of his party members. One of them commented in an unsolicited email to this correspondent: "We lost the presidential elections fair and square. No one believes the allegations made then about vote buying. Our candidate was tired, our campaign was tired, and the President showed he is his own man now and no longer from the old guard.
"But the worst part was boycotting parliament and trying to make points in public. This failed and led to one of our own members voting with government to dissolve parliament. Now we have a new electoral commission, and while a lot more has to be done, we the SNP, should be part of the process. Declaring that the SNP will not participate - was that Wavel’s decision or was it made by all party members? I do not remember that our supporters were asked. So now we have had to drop SNP and form the PDP.
"Maybe it was over ego maybe not, but whatever achievements Wavel could look at are now destroyed; SNP has been destroyed. The new party will offer many familiar faces to the voters, moderates from the opposition, and we hope that the traditional voters for SNP will give their votes to us now. At least we must try to stop LEPEP from gaining a two-thirds majority, but Wavel’s decision has made this difficult for us. There is so little time now to get organized."
It is understood that the new party will field candidates in all constituencies, and while no one right now can gauge the level of support for the new opposition team, it is widely expected that opposition voters, in the absence of Wavel and his SNP, will switch loyalty to the new group.
Ruling party members have expressed optimism that the problems of the opposition would resonate through the electorate and that LEPEP would gain once again a 2/3 majority in the assembly, although there were words of caution from those who felt that Wavel’s firebrand policy of "no, no, no" was critical to government’s success in the past, since President Michel first came to power.
Said a source closely linked to the ruling party: "We are ready for elections. Wavel’s SNP was not. Many of his former members deserted him now. Our candidates will face some very familiar names, now standing under a new party. We are sure to win by a big margin but only when results are declared, will we know where we stand. Only then can we know the impact of Wavel’s departure from politics. What we hope for is to have members in the assembly working for the future of all Seychellois, for the good of the country, and not just for their party interests."
Tourism sources in the meantime dismissed any suggestions that the forthcoming elections would have any impact on tourism arrivals or the safety of tourists on the archipelago. "Our people are mature, there will be no rowdy scenes at election rallies, and campaigning will be peaceful and orderly. Elections will be over three days, and you saw yourself in May how organized things were and how smooth everything went. [This correspondent was on the Seychelles to monitor and observe the election process and reported widely about his impressions at the time.] Tourists will arrive just like then, and except for posters, not even realize there are elections. Opposition and government parties both know that we are all Seychellois, all responsible for the future of our country and its well being, to create jobs and maintain jobs. Tourism is the biggest business in Seychelles and both sides know it, will respect it, and keep the peace during campaigning and elections."
 From E:Turbo Tourism Portal

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

If someone from David Pierre's camp did talk to Thome, then it exposes the links between Parti Lepep and Pierre's party. We can expect a lot of collaboration.

Anonymous said...

As Mr Bean would say: Be afraid, be very afraid. :-D

Anonymous said...

Well STB doing politics with this is simply mad.

STB should be promoting the destination.

Anonymous said...

If STB goes down to politics, then so be it.

Anonymous said...

Pathetic indeed. Then we ask why we have 50% occupancy with the President Minister of Tourism.

Anonymous said...

I notice that Louis D'Offay is complaining about rising crimes against tourists. He says this will stop tourists from visiting. Another failure for Alain St Ange.

Anonymous said...

What Mr. DÔffay says is right.Pp has failed on all front.It failed to fight again drug abuses and drug dealers the main cuases of crimes,failed to create jobs for those thousands of unemployed Seychellois,failed to modernize our police forces,failed to put in place effective rehabs,and the list just goes on and on.In a word Pp is a total failure and nothing shows that it would ever be sucessful nor has the remedy to solve problems which it has itself created.

Jeanne DÂrc

Anonymous said...

Where's Woolfgag Thome to show us those familiar faces standing for David Pierre's new party ? The barrel has been well and truly scraped to find 25.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Louis D'offay is 100% correct and a true hero of the Seychelles Tourism Industry.

Mr. D'offay has fought tirelessly for years, to get the government to stop meddling in Tourism and allow the TRADE to do what is in the best interest of Tourism growth and excellence.

I personally will support Mr. D'offay 100% in any effort he undertakes, because I know he does this with the interest of the TRADE at heart.

The increase in crime on Tourist comes after the SHTA Sub committee I chaired actually worked to reduce crime throughout Seychelles. It can be done with a little cooperation and effort from all parties.

In Praslin we had been operating for over 5 years. But the brick walls I hit, with government on this issue because it is Christopher Gill doing the work and not a SPPF PL or an Irish like Scully are nothing short of fantastic borne out of pure ignorance.It is a shame that we have to import ignorance to Seychelles, and pay it a salary to ruin good work Seychellois can do.

Consequently, crime is rising again.This time, the wave is aggressive and it is threatening La Digue, Praslin, Mahe all in one.

Now the matter rest with the Minister of Tourism James Michel and Joel Morgan the Minister of Home Affairs and the STB.

They are the ones that must will solve this problem for us all.

I am sure they will do an excellent job and they will meet with South Mahe, Central Mahe, North Mahe, Praslin, La Digue every month to address crime matters as they arise.

Seselwa Unite!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

Christopher Gill