A Round Table Without King Arthur?

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 5^th and End June 18^th 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 5^th and June 18^th as national days for the country. Our real national day, is our Independence day, June 29^th . It is so in all countries. June 5^th cannot be a Liberation day, because on June 5^th, 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 5^th 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 18^th, 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 18^th 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 29^th, 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 29^th, 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!