Seychelles Electoral Reform Is Failing

Last Wednesday, the Parti Lepep (PL) delegation to the Electoral Reform headed by Mr. Simon Gill along with, Mr. Ralph Agripine and their legal Advisor Mr. William Herminie, stood up in the meeting, collected their files and books and walked out of the meeting of national priority, without even advising the Chairman Mr. Hendrick Gappy of the reason they had decided to walk out.

Since when does a ruling party walk out of a reform initiative that they started themselves?

Where is the Good Faith they promised us all this time meeting after meeting? Are they fooling the international community and just buying more time as usual and playing yoyo with the future of Seychelles and their promise to us to deliver Democracy after 34 years of one party state communist mentality?

Call For “Fresh National Assembly Elections”

The apparent issue that is causing the PL party to stumble and walk out of the Election Commission Election Reform Round Table is the pre-condition that the ruling party proceed to National Assembly elections at the completion of the reform exercise.

This pre-condition was agreed with Minister Jean Paul Adam, in a overtime meeting between the political parties at the National Library Building late 2011, before Christmas. Mr. Simon Gill was present in the meeting and he said, what he says has the blessings and full support of Mr. Michel, leader of PL.

As a result of Mr. Simon Gill’s assertions and Minister Jean Paul Adam’s commitment, it was understood that the accord for “Fresh Elections” had the blessing of Mr. Michel.

Trying To Look Good Overseas

Most recently, Mr. Michel met with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, and Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street, and said to them both, that his “government is committed to democratic and electoral reforms in the Seychelles, and all is proceeding smoothly”.

Rational Behind “Fresh Elections”

The rational behind “Fresh National Assembly Elections” is this: “for Eighteen (18) Years the SPPF has abrogated the intent of the 3^rd Republic Constitution by systematically, obstructing  Democracy from taking root and maturing in the Seychelles.

Examples of this obstruction are practically limitless, from the full unabridged control of the SBC and denial of access to the television station by opponents until today;  the one party state Public Orders Act et al 1991, that allows the President to cancel a public meeting at will; the Newspaper Act et al 1991, that restricts the free press in Seychelles, and a plethora of other one party state laws still on the books and still put into practice day to day to keep power, and retain the status quo in typical dictatorial style and fashion.

Yes, Mr. Michel, DICTATORIAL style and fashion!

SFP Position On This Problem Vs. PL and Others

SFP says that this systematic abrogation is intentional intended to further the political cleansing program in place since 1977 by SPPF and now PL. In our view, nothing has changed and we are as much as a one party state as ever.

PL says that is was not intentional, they are learning what Democracy is everyday. If this is true, then they are not good students.

SNP, NDP has not pronounced themselves on the intent, primarily because they played along with the SPPF PL all these years. This is evident in a book manuscript Bernard Georges has put out called: “Democracy Delayed” and of course, the numerous little meetings between Ramkalawan and Simon Gill in the car park of National House between meetings. People of Seychelles, the time has come for us as a people to open our eyes.

Additionally, it is undisputed by all the political parties that foreigners have been meddling in the political outcome of Seychelles elections by simply financing parties in the past, and this practice has tainted every single election result since 1993. Hence, arguably not a single election since 1993, is true to democratic form nor do they respect democratic norms or international best practice.

It is also evident that international observers have always given the ruling party the benefit of the doubt and reported only on elections themselves, and not much observation has taken place in regards to democratic best practice leading up to elections since 1993.

The Opposition has not held the international observers hand to the fire either until now, with SFP communicating regularly with the Commonwealth to insure they take the Seychelles situation serious. SFP will not accept as Fait Accompli, that we are resigned to accept a half baked Democracy that is nothing more then window dressing for a Dictatorship.

It is note worthy that the Election Commissioner has never, sanctioned or suspended any party for receiving funds from any foreign entity in Seychelles yet the abuse is widespread by all parties, except for the SFP.

It is in light of these points that we have called for “Fresh Elections” for the National Assembly after the election reform that will rearrange rules for elections. This condition had been accepted by all political parties. Now, some how, the PL Communist party does not want “Fresh Elections”.

Fresh National Assembly Elections 

The “Fresh National Assembly Elections”, were called for by NDP, SNP, SFP and PDM said at the time, they “are not ready to go back into another election, after just completing an election”.

This position was before the Court of Appeals gave PDM a single seat in the National Assembly and PL Communists were given Two (2) additional seats, which, they did not accept to take out of embarrassment.

Hence, shedding more light on a bogus National Assembly in the eyes of the Public and the World, borne out of a successful BOYCOTT that started right here on S*T*A*R (Seychelles* Truth* Accountability*Reality).

After the PDM was granted a seat in the National Assembly, they changed their position and said, “we in PDM are ready for elections….. anytime”.

The next thing you will hear, is PDM Boycotting the current National Assembly, because PL are speaking more like an opposition these days then the apparent puppet Leader of Opposition himself.

SFP Also Wants Presidential Elections

As the leader of the Seychelles Freedom Party, I have called for “Fresh Presidential Elections” as well, simply because in one meeting the SFP Boycotted because of no commitment to access the Press by the Round Table, the SNP and NDP forgot to raise the issue on their own steam with their collective knowledge.

I personally cannot see how can we call for Fresh National Assembly Elections, and ignore the call for Fresh Presidential Elections, given the dubiousness of the existing system, after we have rectified and reformed it.

Besides, Mr. Michel is telling everyone around the World these days that he is committed to electoral and democratic reforms and he will do all that is necessary to see Seychelles take that big step forward.

The real big step forward for Michel is to deliver democracy not in just  form, but in practice, because we all know where we come from as a Nation, and the World is on to it, thanks to the effort of SFP, today.  Our strategy has been to engage international organizations, not to ignore them as NDP and SNP has professed. These organizations cannot solve our problems, that is up to us. But at least they will not be helping the PL along because the opposition disregards their relevance. In the past the SPPF PL have sang glory to the opposition ignoring the international community concerning the problems of Seychelles. It has left him free to delve in fabrication of our reality.

Democracy and Individual Progress Go Hand In Hand

If we want to see individual progress take root in Seychelles, Democracy must be delivered as promised by the SPPF PL and all other players.

If we fail to deliver Democracy to our People, we will continue to see the party stalwarts taking care of themselves, living the life of the rich and famous, like in Communist China, yet, our people will get poorer and poorer, each year, our social fabric will continue to come apart each day.

For example, MNA’s in Communist China wear $1,000.00 belts, and carry   $10,000.00 hand bags to their meetings, and make up the richest people in Communist China.

In Seychelles, it is not much different. In Communist China, they tell the peasants to go work in the fields to enrich the Communists. In Seychelles, the MNA’s tell us to go work at IOT, even though they could do a better job boiling and skinning tuna then most of us. Perhaps they should take a second or third job as they suggest we should. Last week, one MNA told us to take up Sr. 3,000.00 jobs. Now, the Seychelles Rupee has devalued by 40% since 2009. Who in there right mind will work for Sr. 3,000.00? That is not enough money to feed yourself and a family of Four(4) so you can work.

Hold The Communist To Their Promise

At this hour, every Seychellois needs to hold PL Communist to the task at hand: Democracy……deliver it, that means Fresh Elections….National Assembly and Presidential after the reforms are completed.

I hope this time around, our Three ( 3) presidents in the opposition will give it a rest….they too have not served Seychelles well by professing division right up to the day of voting and beyond, as if they were each God’s gift to Seychelles, which we all see today, it is clearly not the case .

Seselwa Unite!

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!