A Time For Everything!

The ruling party held a special party congress last week to present their candidates for the National Assembly elections due for 12th May, 2007. The SBC unsurprisingly carried their master’s messages emphatically into our homes through the wireless and the television screens on Monday (16/04/07).  Three main speakers featured in SBC’s presentation in the Creole news at 8 pm this Monday. Wills Agricole a newcomer onto the political stage standing in the district of Bel Air for the SPPF. In the name of democracy we welcome Wills. Hopefully he brings with him fresh and an unambiguous approach to the stale politics of his chosen party. However, judging by this first attempt at making himself heard, Wills was given the same old hymn sheet his mentors have been singing from time immemorial  - but we trust that in time Wills will be afforded the privilege and/or courage to write a few hymns of his own (?).

Albert Rene, the Godfather of the SPPF.

Mr. Rene, SPPF President extraordinaire was wheeled in amidst organised rapturous applause from the rented crowd of mostly youngsters. He took centre stage and as always imposed his will on the congress with President Michel playing second fiddle one more time. Mr Rene did not disappoint and was quick to serve the old dish of ‘servant of the people’, only this time it gave a bitter taste in the mouth and it was not quite palatable. “Right from the very start our goal was to work for our people”, Mr. Rene told the convention. That might well have been the case in 1964, over forty years ago ago. What about now in recent time? - and years gone by during the one-party state system? The people’s interest has been well and truly forgotten, cast aside, taken over by greed! greed! greed! and more greed - with an unhealthy appetite for power, which has involved corruption, embezzlement, disappearance, harassment and victimisation of the same people whose interest they supposedly set out to protect in the first place. This is the truth, the honest truth of the reality today and years gone by, Mr. Rene!

President Michel was deliberately introduced as the Secretary General of the SPPF. This was done, many believe, to emphasise the seniority of Mr. Rene on party, country and on power lest the SPPF forgets. Mr Michel came to the podium with a few missing strings from his ‘fiddle’. He castigated elected members of the opposition for not doing enough for their respective districts. If this is the case President Michel should not look far for a solution or for someone to blame. It is proof that our democracy is not functioning the way it should. Because the ruling party as government is sabotaging the free will of the people in the said districts. President Michel’s government is deliberately not cooperating and it is not putting at the disposition of opposition elected MNAs the resources with which to carry out their mandate successfully. Therefore Mr. Michel as Head of State is solely and entirely responsible for this state of affairs. He should seriously consider his own position as President of the Republic as he himself is clearly not adhering to the supreme law of the land (The Constitution), which he swore to uphold the day after his election into the highest office in the country.

James Michel, the made man.

It is evident from what was said by Mr. Rene and Mr. Michel during the SPPF extraordinary congress last Sunday that the ruling party is not willing to entertain a participatory democratic form of government. They are firmly rooted in the one party state mentality. It is time for the electorate to speak through the ballot boxes in giving the opposition a majority in the National Assembly. This will facilitate the enforcement of democracy and freedom in Seychelles. It is the only way forward. There is a time for everything. The time for true democracy is now!

James Michel, the made man.
Albert Rene, Godfather of the SPPF, showing his age.
April 20, 2007
Copyright 2007: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles