THE CHRISTOPHER GILL COLUMN

THE CHRISTOPHER GILL COLUMN

Malice A Forethought

The calling of early Elections by the SPPF at all cost has highlighted their intent and mental state of mind (Mens Rea) with malice aforethought, to win the elections. Testimony of this is found in Mr. President’s act of dissolving of the National Assembly coupled with the preemption of any debate on the State of The Nation Address, which is a gross abuse of the Intent of the Drafters of the Constitution of the Third Republic of Seychelles. Mr. President has abrogated the Constitution’s Preamble and the intent of the Drafters to encourage debate in the political life of Seychelles. It is becoming more and more apparent; the SPPF will stop at nothing to win an Election. They will even cross the basic bounds of decency that is necessary to maintain social cohesion in the Country.

The act of Dissolving the National Assembly by Mr. President brought back to me an idea we had debated long and hard in the months of 1992 and 1993 as we faced Rene and his SPPF tail men and women, eye to eye, while going over the different Articles of the Constitution of Third Republic of Seychelles.

The idea was that no matter how good a Constitution we were able to come up with, it was only as good as the hearts of men. If Rene and SPPF ever want to abrogate the Constitution, they would and could. They have done it before, and they can do it again. It goes without saying, that a reactive mind is likely to be... reactive. Rarely does it contemplate the greater good of all, which is what Power requires be done, to keep a Country stable and on the path of prosperity... spite of growing instability.

The Constitution was drafted in a spirit of acute Nationalism and also an acknowledged need for the Country to embark on a path of Reconciliation, albeit very strained at times. It was drafted in a spirit of dialog, because both sides knew that dialog was necessary to move the Country forward. The People wanted dialog in order to move on. Today, it appears, the SPPF do not want dialog. By shutting down debate, they have moved away from the Spirit of the Constitution that was approved by the People of Seychelles in 1993. It appears the rules are changing.

The Electoral Shoes Have Changed Foot

In the Elections of 1992 onwards till recently, SPPF could run a functionally illiterate candidate in the National Assembly Elections and win. Only requirement would be if they could raise their hands when asked to and remain silent when ordered to. Those that did not were moved on. Rene would go on T.V. and just tell the population to vote for them. Most of the time that worked. As time has passed, Rene’s policies and Government have begun to show their failure to the People of Seychelles. It will not be as easy this time. We are now seeing that the economic disaster created by Rene and Michel is beyond their combined ability to rectify. This time they will use song, dance, music, booze, cash or whatever to cloud your mind. Do not be fooled!

On the other hand, the Opposition would run the best possible candidates with capability and have since 1992, caught up to the SPPF in the National Assembly. If the Opposition handles the campaign well, with sound assertive, focused leadership, they can win a majority.

This election, the SPPF will now run the most capable candidates they can get to face the Voters. They will back them with lots of money. Doctors will leave their clinics to stand elections. Lawyers will forget about the Bar for a moment to dip into district affairs.

Opposition does not have to run the best candidates, although it does have a formidable team. Anyone representing “Freedom” gives the Voter a chance to take the best capable Communist and send him home.

The fallacy in all this exercise lies in the fact that MNA in reality never can do much for a district since all money comes from the Central Government. But Voters opinions can be made heard in spite of a Communist Executive Administration. This is why it is important not to vote for the SPPF, but to vote for the “Freedom Alliance”. Let debate flourish in Seychelles. The SPPF need debate. It is the only way they learn since they are too dogmatic and focused on the failed ideas of only one retro 1960’s man, who wore white Bell Bottoms and Platform Shoes on a dreary night of June 5th 1977, drove to town to change the course of a Country, which today, he has made, Officially Rich...But practically Poor”!

In the meantime, the Freedom Alliance owes it to the SPPF to beat them in the forth coming National Assembly Elections. Once, you have beaten them and taken a majority, they will come running to you in a cocktail party and say, “you know, it was time for change....good job now we can listen to the Opposition...work together, meet the Bishops, listen to them and fix Seychelles economy for our children!

Do not believe their rubbish. As soon as they say let’s work together, Michel will then dissolve the National Assembly a second time. Mr. President will then, have the run of his life. Then the real Election will be upon us and the real Referendum will be upon him.

Long Live All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Election 2007 Referendum - Choose Communists or Freedom Alliance

Mr. Ramkalawan has called on the People of Seychelles to decide between a “One Party State and Democracy” in the up coming elections. Mr. Ramkalwan has been too kind and gentle towards the SPPF. They are not a mere “One Party State”. There are many Countries with a one Party State that are successful and their people have maintained some degree of freedom. Singapore comes to mind. For all practical purposes, it is a One Party State, although an opposition does exist. Worse than a One Party State, the SPPF is a bunch of Communist. They call themselves that. Why should we be polite and refer to them in cocktail parties as “Socialist” when in fact, they are not. Anyone who calls himself a Socialist today in Seychelles, is nothing more then a fence walker. The time to walk fences is over. The lines are clear and controverter.

In The People, January 25th, 2007, on the heals of President Hu Jintao’s visit, the SPPF professed to having the same philosophy as the Communist Party of China. So it goes without much fanfare that they are Communist. Since this has come to surface, they do not have to compromise their political ideology anymore and call themselves Socialist. They are not Socialist. Did anyone notice the State Dinner photos and SBC shots of President Hu Jintao and Rene? President Hu Jintao wore a white shirt signifying peace and neutralism, while Rene obviously went out of his way to have ironed his red silk shirt for the meeting. Red of course, is the international political color of the Communist Party.

There is no error in color of choice when 20 SPPF show up at your door step dressed in red shirts. They are Communists, coming to pay you a friendly visit, to send a Report to one of their Sub- District Cells, which is forwarded to the District, then on to Central Committee, then on to the Secretary General.

The Report of course, is about your backed up toilet and the problems you are having getting 4” PVC pipes and a little cement to fix the problem. They have created this problem all on their own, and now they file a Report to fix the problem and get you some pipes.

Today, the People must choose between a Communist Party running for elections and a Freedom Alliance, who have come together in the interest of the betterment of the Country.

The decision is easy. Vote For Freedom! Let’s remove those chains from our brains once and for all and send a clear message to the Central Committee: We Know you have ruined the Economy of Seychelles, and taken our Freedom! Maybe then they will take those reports of lack of PVC pipes and lack of cement seriously and not toss them on a pile of files accumulated over 30 years of neglect where the filing title is named: “Impossible Problems To Solve”.