Ralph Volcere’s week
THE ‘ISOLA BELLA’ IN ITS TRUE CONTEXT
However, it now remains for us to analyse the article closely identifying what the writer really wants to transmit to the electorate. In actual fact the ‘Isola Bella’ in that particular front page article (Michel winning…) is hard making a case for Michel, which clearly demonstrates that ‘Isola Bella’ is not at all convinced at this stage of a Michel win. “Election results figures on the lips are 55%, 57%, 60% and 65% for Michel”, Isola Bella wrote. This in itself proves that the so-called scientific assessment and political analysts the paper consulted are themselves confused and have provided ‘Isola Bella’ with what ‘Isola Bella’ wanted to hear. The reality on the streets of
That ‘Isola Bella’, is itself not convinced of a Michel win is obvious throughout the article. They are deliberately attributing false statements to senior figures in the opposition in an attempt to scare and confuse the electorate. According to the ‘Isola Bella’, “There are two important election issues – to devalue or not to devalue the rupee, and to return or not to return land government has redistributed to home owners. Michel has said he is against devaluation. The opposition has indicated it is in favour of devaluation. Michel government’s prides itself at the land redistribution programme. Former Democratic Party leader James Mancham wants the return of land.”
This is what the SPPF through ‘Isola Bella’ would want the electorate to believe, a distorted version of the truth. The truth is nowhere near what is written between the pages of ‘Isola Bella’, which has now become an integral part of the propaganda machine for the ruling party.
In fact the opposition has never been shy in debating openly the issue of devaluation in their publications. The opposition is all for an open debate on TV, on radio, in national newspapers and in open fora to seek the opinion of all before making an informed decision on the matter. The opposition is in fact totally in favour of the ‘convertibility’ of the rupee, which in simple terms means that if you have rupees in your pocket you can take it to any bank in Seychelles or in the world and be able to buy foreign exchange with your rupees. This government has imposed a restriction on this possibility. ‘Convertibility’ can be achieved if all foreign exchange earned locally is channelled through the local banking system. Presently more than 50% of all foreign exchange earned locally are being channelled overseas through foreign bank accounts on the authority of Michel’s government. Michel is allowing big earners of foreign exchange one hundred percent (100%) retention. Devaluation cannot be seriously considered before conducting a national debate on the matter and especially before channelling all of our foreign exchange earnings through the local banking system.
And as for the return of land already redistributed, the ‘Isola Bella’, like their master has taken to insulting the intelligence of the Nation. In fact the opposition is all in favour of a fairer redistribution of land. This government should refund people who have been overcharged for a small plot of land and must get their political friends who have benefited unfairly with numerous plots, some for only one rupee (SR1.00) to pay what is fair according to the market value of the land at the time of purchase. Unfortunately, the ‘Isola Bella’ has now allowed itself to slip into the same league as ‘The People’, ‘The Nation’ and the unfortunate ‘Independent’. How unfortunately unfortunate!
‘THE LAPIRE BOOK OF RECORD’
The third entry being proposed for inclusion in the book is about the US 4.5 million dollars, given to someone representing a bogus construction company commissioned to build residential houses on
Apparently the minister in question has contacted a well known SPPF lawyer, asking him to file an application before the Supreme Court objecting to the issue of the 4.5 million, US dollars, going into ‘The Lapire Book of Records’. The Minister is convinced of success before the Court, “after-all, we, the ruling party pays for their salary, they need to grant us our wishes”; he is known to have said. PLUS SA CHANGE!
DEMOCRACY AT ITS ULTIMATE BEST?
Apparently, Mr. Nalathamby had forgotten that earlier in the year at an executive committee meeting of the Democratic Party, he participated in a vote approving an electoral alliance between the two main opposition parties, SNP/DP. According to the party’s secretariat the minutes of that particular meeting taken by the party’s Secretary General had recorded that fact. This column has requested an interview free of inducement with Mr. Nalathamby to clarify further his position on the matter. However, at the time of going to press Mr. Nalathamby had not made himself available for the interview. It appears that his favourite mode of giving interviews is before the television cameras.