As
English folklore has it, when there were pending issues facing young England to
be discussed, King Arthur, a valiant knight of courage and goodwill, would
summons a Round Table of leaders to address the issues one by one in the
interest of the motherland. From round table, truth surfaced, and made England
great and her institutions survive until today, though, they have no
constitution.
No King
Arthur at Seychelles Political Round Table Present
In
Seychelles, we have called for a Round Table of political party leaders to
discuss long overdue reforms that should have taken place back in 1993. SFP has
attended these round table meetings, SNP is there, DP, PL-PDM is present. But
only the PL does not have it’s leadership attending these meetings.
Mr.
Michel is noticeably absent, as is Mr. Faure, and Mr. Simon Gill calls the
shots, when he is not in hot water, and risk losing a job over what he says, or
what he may not say. It is no way to move forward, it is hardly a way forward
in the exercise of nation building.
If
the Round Table is to be seen as being a serious undertaking, the leader of PL
, Mr. Michel, should be big enough to attend these meetings as initially agreed
in housekeeping meetings last year with Minister Jean Paul Adam.
In
my view, it is a shame that Mr. Michel up to know, has not attended these
meetings, it is a lost opportunity to present himself to the people, as a true
statesman. By ignoring pending national issues, that are now being pressed by
the Commonwealth, and tending to crisis in Madagascar, as if his own house is
in order, Mr. Michel is a bit like the footballer, who shows up to the pitch
without a jockey or shoes for the match.
One
would think that if Mr. Rene was big enough to face Mr. Mancham in 1993, Mr.
Michel would be big enough to attend the Round Table discussions to
address issues of national importance.
No SBC
Another
commitment in the housekeeping meetings leading up to the Round Table
discussion on political reform last year, was the agreement that the SBC will
film and televise these events in order that the Public can participate in this
important, overdue, democratic exercise. They have failed to live up to this promise.
The
Electoral Commission has written to the SBC, at the request of the SFP, they
have not responded positively though every single man, woman, child in
Seychelles knows all too well that the SBC is still not independent, and it is
still a broadcasting apparatus of the SPPFPL, similar to old one party state
days. This is in absolute contravention of every single Commonwealth Observer
Report ever written on the election process in Seychelles, since 1993, every
single report.
Boycott If
Necessary
It
is imperative, that before any party participate in these round Table
discussions, any further, that a reasonable conclusion be reached with the
Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, the Election Commission and all political
parties. Opposition parties, that serious must be prepared to BOYCOTT these
proceedings if a consensus is not reached on this issue.
End June 5th
and End June 18th as Fake Holiday’s
If
we are serious about democracy in Seychelles, we must all be intellectually
honest about two pending national holidays that must be brought to an end, to
allow greater unity in the country, and attempt in good faith, to foster an
atmosphere of peace, brotherhood, and common good to rebuild Seychelles.
The
first real step that must be taken in this direction is to remove June 5th
and June 18th as national days for the country. Our real national
day, is our Independence day, June 29th . It is so in all countries.
June 5th cannot be a Liberation day, because on June 5th,
SPUP liberated itself from DP. DP was made up of Seychellois.
Some
said Mr. Mancham was a colonial stooge, fine, but he was still a Seychellois.
So there can be no Liberation from your own people. Let’s put the play on
emotions, and intellectual dishonesty to rest and end June 5th so the healing
can start for all of Seychelles, not least the family members of the victims
that died that day, and after that day, because of that day.
June
18th, as Mr. Michel correctly highlights, is a constitutional
provision. But this provision was made, to accommodate DP, in the transition.
Hence, it is not a real national holiday in bona fide terms. We can put it to
rest and stop trying to fool people into thinking that June 18th is
some special day. Even during the parade, each year, we now see more GOP workers
attending the ceremony then Seychellois. They should be working, not enjoying a
parade, while Seychellois toil hard all day in hotels and run buses.
June
29th, as the Interfaith Leaders correctly appealed to Mr. Michel
last month, is the “liberation day” of Seychelles, and “National Day” and “Independence
day”.
This
day, should never, never, have been
reduced to a secondary school sports day. Such a decision, foments national
division in the country, throughout the year. We must all strive to give Independence
Day June 29th, the merit-full place in our calendar that it
deserves, free of political party manipulation, which insures the political
playing field is not leveled. For a nation, there may be internal conflicts and
strife, but there can be no greater day then Independence day for all that make
up a nation.
To
change this, we do not need a referendum. All parties can agree on the matter
within the context of the Election Reform Round Table, and the PL have a super
majority in the National Assembly, with the help of PDM Mr. David Pierre, they
can resolve this political malaise, that breeds internal strife in Seychelles
365 days a year. In the end, our country under performs and under produces 365
days a year because of it.
Heal or
Destroy Seychelles Mr. Michel
In
this day and age, Seychelles must choose between internal strife, or economic
and social excellence. The One party state model we are still living under
cannot produce economic success with a divided people. If the PL persists in
their mischief, fake historical realities, the age of economic turbulence upon
us will drain all resources, Seychelles will resign itself to failed state
status, not far from Madagascar……we are not far from Madagascar.
I
hope I do not have to tell you what resources I am talking about.
Seselwa
Unite!
Sesel Pou
Seselwa!
May God
Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!