Seychelles Weekly

RALPH VOLCERE’S WEEK

PRESIDENT WAVEL RAMKALAWAN!

If any one ever had any doubt that Wavel would ever become president of this country, the opposition rally at Bel Ombre last Sunday (09/07/06) put paid to that belief. Half of the people who turned up for this grand event did not make it to where the speakers were addressing the crowd which had overflowed the reclaimed area where the meeting was being held. In fact people driving to the rally had to leave their vehicles behind in the vicinity of Fishermans Cove Hotel because they could not get any further. Some people who did not want to make the long walk to where the meeting was being held simply turned back.

This impressive crowd had come down to Bel Ombre despite the fact that public transport was not made readily available to the general public. Some people had walked all the way from BeauVallon, Pascal Village, Le Niole, St. Louis, Bel Air and lower Sans Soucis. The Seychellois people are now determined more than ever before to effect a change of government. Nothing can stop them now not even threats from Rene and Jj that people will be sacked from their jobs after the election. All the indications are that the people are coming together to vote for Wavel to stop just that; political victimisation.

When President Ramkalawan took to the podium people were still coming onto the reclaimed area in large numbers. It was worth being there witnessing history in the making. Former President Mancham addressed the crowd to rapturous applause. Mancham stated that it was time for the ruling party to be ousted from government. One of the reasons he gave was that “we must unite the people of Seychelles; in fifteen years of multi party the SPPF have showed little to no commitment towards my philosophy of national reconciliation refusing to endorse fully the idea of a united people. I am convinced that under Wavel Ramkalawan it can be achieved. His training as a priest has prepared him for that task. I am therefore giving him my full support and invite you to do the same”, President Mancham said. The crowd responded with a thunderous approval.

PARTY POLITICAL BROADCASTS IN FULL SWING

On Wednesday this week we saw the start on SBC TV and radio of the Party Political Broadcasts (PPB) by the candidates taking part in the presidential election due for the 30th, July. The SNP candidate Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan spoke first; he was followed by the SPPF candidate Mr. James Michel whilst Mr. Philip Boulle running as an independent candidate featured last. The order by which the PPB would be screened was decided last week at the Electoral Commissioner’s office; representatives of the three candidates drew lots.

Mr. Philip Boulle’s presentation concentrated on a government of National Unity, where politics would be removed from the civil service and the decision making process. Appointments would be made on the basis of competency and ability. According to Mr. Boulle political parties and politician owe favours; he has no such commitments. The state of our economy is in a situation, that is best described as deteriorating: the health and education system is failing the expectation of the people, our law enforcing agency is not functioning in the manner it should, all these things must be put right, only a government free of politics and politicians can bring about these changes Mr. Boulle said.

The SPPF candidate had nothing new to offer to the electorate. Mr. Michel is simply asking the voting public to stick with him and his party to maintain what we have. Both Mr. Boulle and Mr. Michel failed to introduce their running mate. Mr. Michel is determined in preserving the legacy of Mr. France Albert Rene above all else, even if it is at detriment of the national interest, it seems. Mr Michel cannot make a firm commitment to the electorate that he will serve the interest of the people of this country and not only that of his party and its leader Mr. France Albert Rene.

The SNP/DP candidate by contrast was clear and precise in what he is offering the electorate and the country at large: a better health and education service, resources directed where they are needed the most, elimination of wastage are all part of Mr. Ramkalawan’s plans. IOT workers will be awarded a pay rise immediately upon his assuming office. His government will make available two hundred (200) plots of land to small entrepreneurs such as masons, carpenters, mechanics and the likes. Agricultural land will be made available; “we need to grow more of what we consume,” Mr. Ramkalawan said. It must be noted that the SPPF destroyed self-sufficiency so that SMB could import all our food requirements to maximise profits. Certain individuals have benefited enormously through the operations of SMB. GST on food imposed by Michel, Mukesh, Rene and the SPPF will go as soon as I take office, Ramkalawan promised. That will cause the cost of living to go down immediately and the purchasing power of the workers enhanced.

The tourism industry was singled out for particular attention: under a Ramkalawan government Seychelles will become affordable and visitors to our shore will increase bringing the foreign exchange Michel has not succeeded in attracting in the two years that he has been at State House. According to Ramkalawan the Seychellois people will get to participate fully in the economic development of the country under his presidency; never again will the Seychellois come second to anyone, especially in business. Businesses like transport and the likes will be reserved for the locals.

In the two years that Michel has been president he has done nothing to protect the interest of local businesses against the influx of foreign investors with the sort of capital not readily available to the small Seychellois businessman. Michel and his government have allowed foreign investors access in all sectors of local business life, destroying countless small businesses in the process. In fact prominent members of the ruling party have entered into partnership with foreign entrepreneurs establishing cartels in all areas of business: car hires, small hotels and guest houses, shark-fining and sea-cucumber, food importation, supermarket and the wholesale business to name a few. Wavel Rankalawan and Annette Georges have promised above all else to look after and to protect the interest of local businessmen, in particular the smallest because of their vulnerability. This is something that Michel and Belmont has only paid lip service to, but have not done anything tangible towards providing them with a stable environment in which to do business.

Wavel has stated that we need our very own commercial fishing vessels to exploit what is easily considered as our most valuable resources. Michel, on the other hand, is banking on discovering oil. “Vey dizef dan vant poul”, as my mum used to say.

This is the choice we have before us, one man who has been in power for the last twenty-nine years, fifteen of which he spent as finance minister and two and a half years as president. Michel is asking us to be patient with him and his party and that if elected he will do in only five years what he and his party has failed to do in twenty-nine years. The father of Mr. Shelton Joliceour (Deputy Speaker) is absolutely right in stating that Michel is behaving in a manner as if he has just been beamed down to earth from outer space.

The clear choice we have before us is of a mature individual, young and dynamic with the mental strength and energy required of a leader of the Nation. He is Wavel Ramkalawan. Wavel in his PPB was clear, crystal clear in what he is offering this country. His proposition is simple, realistic and above all workable. Wavel is not waving a magic wand – he is proposing solutions to our difficulties something James Michel has failed in doing so far.

VOTE FOR CHANGE!

VOTE FOR WAVEL!

IT IS WHAT SEYCHELLES NEEDS RIGHT NOW!

PA LES NOU PEI TONBE!