Ralph Volcere's Week

RALPH VOLCERE'S WEEK

THE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE GOT IT WRONG AGAIN

Confusion reigned again in the country this week after a declaration on SBC TV by a spokesperson from the Electoral Commissioner’s office. In a news item on Tuesday evening the impression was created that only people with a valid form of identification, that is a valid passport or a valid identity card will be eligible to vote. The next morning it was panic all around; people were rushing and phoning everywhere for further clarification on the matter. Long queues were seen to be forming outside Ocean Gate House at the National Identity Card office of people lining up to have their identity card validated.

I visited the office of the Electoral Commissioner on Thursday afternoon at the National Library after having had numerous inquiries on this particular issue. Mr. Anaclet Tirant and Mr. Colin Jean Louis accepted to see me and a colleague from Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly to discuss the matter. They were clear in their explanation that there has been a misunderstanding and that the message they had wanted to convey to the general public was that a clear and satisfactory form of identification is what is required, namely in the form of a passport or Identity Card, preferably with a most recent photograph in which the bearer is easily identifiable. The two gentlemen assured us that no one will be turned away and prevented from voting on the basis of an expired passport or an expired identity card. This was made very clear to us and a communiqué will be going out on SBC, TV to emphasize that point, we were told.

This is not the first time the Electoral Commissioner’s office has not been clear in its deliberations. Last month they gave the impression that there would be four presidential candidates, which amplified further the rumour of a major split in the ruling party. The Electoral Commissioner has a duty to make sure that the information emanating from his office is clear, precise and above all factual, something it has clearly failed to do so far.

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!

The presidential election by all account is only seven days away and already predictions are out and the opposition candidate Wavel Ramkalawan is leading the race to State House. The respected British Broadcasting Corporation has put the opposition candidate at 53%; the much-less respected Seychelles Independent in its issue number 7, 11th July, 2006, published odds on offer from Inter lotto Sports and Events Betting Service of 5/1, 6/1, 8/1 and 8/1 for 51%, 52%, 53% and 54% respectively. This generous offer was quickly slashed back considerably in its issue number 8, dated 14th July, 2006 to 2/1, 3/1, 3/1 and 4/1 for 51%, 52%, 53% and 54% respectively.

It is clear that the people behind this betting syndicate have quick realized that Ramkalawan is now favorite and will definitely win the Presidential race. A friend of mine returned from two weeks holiday in Madagascar on Wednesday this week, according to him all the guys there capable of looking into the future are saying that the SPPF will not win another election for at least another fifty years!

THE MANIFESTO ISSUE

There is only one easy way to decide upon the content and substance of the two manifestos being presented by the presidential candidates of the two political parties contesting the election. Every body, apart from Michel the SPPF candidate, is asking for a televised debate between the three candidates.

In his Party Political Broadcast (PPB) this week Michel featured three young ladies of which only one I believe is of voting age. According the three they had conducted a study of the two manifestos and had come up with an analysis. Not surprisingly the SPPF manifesto came out on top according to them. This is their point of view and must be respected, even if we know that it had been engineered by the people running capital J’s campaign.

All things being equal the electorate would love to be treated with a debate between the presidential candidates and the vice-presidential candidates. This would be democracy in the making and no-one would be able to say ever again that Michel is being staged managed by the likes of Mr. Rene, Mukesh, Glenny, Francis and the others who are the real bosses behind this Administration.

Now that it is clear that Wavel Ramkalawan will be the next President of Seychelles, I would like to point out to my readers how the proposals laid out in his manifesto reflects the ideas laid out in our constitution by publishing the constitution’s preamble.

the preamble

SOLEMNLY DECLARING our unswaying commitment, during this our Third Republic, to

• maintain Seychelles as an independent State both politically and economically;

• safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity;

• uphold the rule of law based on the recognition of the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Constitution and on respect for the equality and dignity of human beings;

• develop a democratic system which will ensure the creation of an adequate and progressive social order guaranteeing food, clothing, shelter, education, health and a steadily rising standard of living for all Seychellois;

• participate actively in the sustainable economic and social development of our society;

• exercise our individual rights and freedoms with due regard to the rights and freedoms of others and the common interest;

• help preserve a safe, healthy and functioning environment for ourselves and for posterity;

HEREBY adopt and confer upon ourselves this Constitution as the fundamental and supreme law of our Sovereign and Democratic Republic.