Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

IN DEFENCE AND PRAISE OF SEYCHELLES COLLEGE AND REGINA MUNDI

SIR, I, refer to Mr. Patrick Vidot’s letter, which appeared in the 23rd issue of the Seychelles Nation. He refers to the Seychelles College students as “Les Petits Rois”. He was certainly one of them himself since he was a student there. So, why the fuss?

Let us be fair and honest with ourselves rather than allowing ourselves to be blinded by dirty politics or by people like Mr. Vidot who is simply trying to curry favour with the SPPF government. Seychelles College and Regina Mundi Convent, through their devoted and dedicated religious teaching brothers and nuns, provided quality education to all Seychellois students, regardless of their racial background in my class of 20. There were only two students that you could fit into the so called “Grand Blanc” category. All the others were of African or Asiatic origin. As a matter of fact, the promising one but of a less privileged background were receiving free tuition plus and allowance. It is relevant to mention here that 8 Ministers (including the Vice-President) plus the speaker and leader of Government business among many other leading personalities and certainly not considered as “Grand Blanc” have benefited from a good education at the Seychelles College and Regina Mundi Convent. So, why denigrate those two great educational institutions which were unfortunately closed down just for political mileage at the whim of a political leader, Mr. Albert Rene, himself a product of the college?

Apart from academic knowledge, sound moral values were inculcated in the students of different religious denominations through religious instructions, sadly lacking these days if not non-existent at all in our secondary institutions. No wonder, we have become a morally decadent nation. It is a fact that among our youth today, there is over indulgence of Sex, Alcohol and Drugs (S.A.D), a sad situation indeed.

How can the SPPF leaders boast of nation hood and national unity if they go on harping about the “Grand Blanc” issue, which is divisive – what does it matter whether we are “Grand Blanc”, “Ptit Blanc”, Grand Noir” or “Ptit Noir”? Aren’t we all Seychellois not responsible for our racial origin? Please, wake up and show “Grandeur D’esprit”, political maturity and honesty.

I shall end my article by singing the praise of my alma mater in reproducing below our beautiful school song, “up and on” which we proudly sang at the start of every Monday school assembly.

1.Lives are in the making here

Hearts are in the making here

Mighty undertaking here

Up and on

We are arming for the fight

Pressing on with all our might

Pluming wings for higher flight

Up and on

M. L

“Hard Times in Paradise”

SIR, it was an interesting article about the effects of the aftermath of the abolition of slavery upon our forefathers. The excerpt from the book “Hard Times in Paradise” by William Macteer provides a poignant insight of our past and is I believe an important tool of reflection for our future. It provides a vivid comparison to what is actually happening in Seychelles during our time.

From this comparison one can only conclude that “Zomn Lib” has been running around in circles as the parties involved in his circumstances have not detracted from the inaction that plagues the misery of his existence. The advent of this conspiracy to keep the shackled, shackled, has been by a copyright on the truth.

Mr. Macteer’s letter to you, Mr. Editor, printed on 20th April 2007 is living proof of this. Then as now, the leopard never change its spots in the unbridled thirst for power.

Vera

Dirty politics and Racism

Sir, Mr. Tambara’s letter which appeared in the Nation of 20th April smacks of dirty politics and racism. Mr. Tambara sounds a real racist and as such does not deserve to consider himself a true Seychellois living in modern Seychelles. He should know that Seychellois have all come from somewhere – Africa, Europe and Asia – and are not to blame for their origin and whether they are ‘Grand Blanc’ or ‘Ti Nwar’ has absolutely no significance. Our racial mixture or ‘melting pot’ has made us into the proud beautiful Seychellois race that we are. Racial harmony has always characterized our Nation. So, please, do not try to divide us along ethnic line for political motives. Mrs. Eichler has not insulted anyone in her letter but you have certainly been insulting to her. She was only arguing a principle of justice and she is RIGHT in arguing that Minister Sylvette Pool is NOT deserving of this award simply because she has never done anything to promote the French Language and everyone knows this. Her point is that the award should have been made to a really deserving Seychellois regardless of his or her racial background. One’s skins colour does not at all come into this. I could give you names of black-skinned Seychellois that you would not consider ‘Grand Blanc’ who have done more for the French Language than Mrs. Pool and are more deserving. In any case, why bring the colour issue into this matter?

A TRUE SEYCHELLOIS

Sad road to a communist style dictatorship

Sir, may I be forgiven my ignorance, but I was under a distinct impression the since the year 1993 we had introduced democracy in Seychelles, doing away with the one party state dictatorship that was there before it. I say this because of the impression I am getting as I follow the presentations of a number of SPPF candidates for the coming National Assembly election on television.

It seems to me that, almost without exception, each SPPF candidate so far, is asking the voters “to give them their mandate because they, as opposed to the opposition candidates, will have the support and commitment of the SPPF Government and the President of the Republic”, and therefore “they will be in a position to do anything for their District”.

Haven’t the President of the Republic and his Ministers all take an oath to serve all of the people of Seychelles without favour or distinction” irrespective of whether they vote for the opposition Party or not? It is, therefore, not surprising that the SPPF MNA’s are openly admitting that the SPPF Government discriminates against those that do not support them and further they are blackmailing the community in this election by suggesting that a District would suffer if it did not elect an SPPF MNA?

Forgive my ignorance once again, but this certainly gives a clear impression that we are once more on the sad road to a communist style dictatorship. I hear a lot of comment from the President in his campaign speeches that the opposition wishes to return to a dictatorship whereas in reality it appears abundantly clear from the words of the candidates, which he and the Party have endorsed, that more the reverse is the truth. Indeed, as they themselves have said quite openly, the SPPF MNA’s are intent on discriminating against anyone who votes against them. This begs the question as to whether they have any interest of the community and its voters at heart or whether they are simply looking for power at all costs, even blackmailing the very community they pretend they want to serve. I pray earnestly that every Seychellois is listening carefully to the actual words they are using so that they see the futility of voting for the SPPF candidates.

Moreover, it is indeed borne out by the fact that, under both Mr Michel as well as Mr Rene, that the SPPF Government had tied the hands of those opposition MNAs elected freely by their communities and now they are hypocritically pretending that the opposition has done nothing for their districts. I sincerely believe and pray that, bearing in mind this kind of political dishonesty that the communities make the necessary effort to throw out all the SPPF MNA’s and bring in the opposition as a new Assembly en masse. Let us not consider establishing a balance of power because the SPPF candidates by their very words to us indicate that they hold their parties interest before that of the community they would be elected to serve.

BMB

La réponse de l’ambassadeur de France

Maryse EICHLER

Pointe au Sel

Mahé

Madame,

La remise de la légion d’honneur relève de la seule souveraineté de l’Etat français, prérogative du Président de la République. Je n’ai donc ni à commenter, ni à justifier le choix des personnalités ainsi mises à l’honneur. Mais dans la mesure où, de manière subjective, vous prenez à témoin « beaucoup de Seychellois », l’observateur que je suis est d’avis que cette nomination a suscité au sein de la population seychelloise plus d’échos positifs que de critiques, contrairement à votre affirmation.

Par ailleurs, vous omettez complètement les raisons, autres que celles liées à sa seule fonction de Ministre seychelloise en charge de la francophonie, qui ont amené la France à décorer Mme Sylvette Pool, comme l’a exposé sans ambiguïté Mme Brigitte Girardin dans son allocution. Libre à vous d’estimer que les « qualités évoquées » par la ministre française ne « justifient, en aucun cas, la remise de la décoration la plus élevée de France ». Mais dès lors que cette critique se fait dans une lettre ouverte adressée à l’ambassadeur de France, je me dois de répondre à vos déclarations en soulignant avec regret leur caractère excessif et injuste.

L’évocation de la personnalité de votre sœur, me paraît, dans ce contexte, hors de propos. Mais, puisque vous en parlez, sans la nommer, qu’un réel hommage lui soit à nouveau rendu pour son action en tant que Ministre du président Albert René et comme Seychelloise francophile.

En ce qui concerne l’information « éclairée et honnête » que vous proposez à toutes les représentations étrangères, je tiens à rappeler que les diplomates sont tenus à l’objectivité et à la transparence, ce que vous savez, bien entendu, ayant été consul honoraire vous-même.

Madame,

Je crois que vous intentez là un mauvais procès. Je souhaite d’ailleurs profiter de la célébration en cours de la francophonie pour rappeler que ce concept n’est la propriété de personne et que la francophonie reste, par définition, un espace d’épanouissement de toutes les cultures et l’acceptation de toutes les différences.

La France a donc décoré la Ministre des Arts, de la culture et des sports avec la plus haute distinction française, comme vous le soulignez très justement. Vous ne l’acceptez pas, c’est votre droit. Mais certains de vos commentaires semblent vouloir susciter une polémique qui dépasse le cadre de cette remise de décoration et, je dois le dire, des relations bilatérales entre les Seychelles et la France.

C’est pourquoi, en ce qui me concerne, il n’y a matière à aucun débat sérieux. Mais il faut peut-être voir dans votre lettre, au-delà de votre désagrément personnel, une initiative à rapprocher de l’actualité seychelloise du moment. Je veux donc, et très rapidement, oublier vos critiques à l’encontre du choix fait par l’Etat français.

Je vous prie de recevoir, Madame, l’assurance de mon hommage respectueux.

Michel Trétout

Ambassadeur de France

SPPF Confusion - Is Dementia setting In

Sir, allow me just a little space to comment on the article in “The People” of this week, 26 April inviting “Tou Manm SPPF “ to desann Victoria to attend a gran rally. The headline says “Rali nasyonal le 6 Me”. I frequently scan this paper (sic) when I need to laugh at stupidity . The article in question then goes on to say that a grand rally will be held Dimans le 12”. I ALWAYS KNEW THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH STRAIGHT TALKING because they cannot string together two words without both being lies but we need now I think to add dementia. They have succeeded in confusing even their own feeble minded who no doubt will turn up for a rally on election day. “Bon chance” to them, We can all stand along the road and wave as they go down to their non existent rally on the 12 May

BEL OMBRE GETS AN IT CENTRE

Sir, Allow me to comment on a headline article which appeared in the Nation of April 26 2007 entitled Bel Ombre gets an IT Centre. I guess the old adage late is better than never should apply to this issue. Some thirteen years ago, when the concept of computers in schools or in the community was being mooted around the world, I came up with the idea of establishing a small IT Centre with six or seven computers at Takamaka. My concept although tacitly supported by some was considered a low priority by the powers that be, so that it failed to receive the necessary support to move along. Several projects of minor importance, which never got off the ground, were given first priority and despite the funds being disbursed for them. One can only imagine that had the private donors, who were willing to fund my project at the time, been given the go ahead instead of being told it was not a priority, now some thirteen years later and how many children, (many would have been adults now) would have been trained in computer use (hardware, software, word, email and internet). What a shame, that an opportunity was denied at the time and now so many years later the same concept is presented as though it is a recent one Our children lost out because of petty political mindedness of a few self centred individuals who cannot accept a good idea simply because it did not emanate from them.

Intendance.

Editor: It is interesting to note that, in respect of Bel Ombre, one of the persons filmed involved in the “project” is none other than the SPPF candidate in the National Assembly elections. Also, Bel Ombre did not vote SPPF the last time. We will come back to this issue six months from now to see whether the IT Centre is still in existence at Bel Ombre.

Devoir De Memoire

J’ai institué l’ordre de la Légion d’Honneur en 1802, en récompense de services militaires et civils. Deux siècles plus tard, la France semble avoir perdu ses priorités quant à cet ordre National Français.

D’outre tombe. J’observe et je constate :

Madame la Ministre Pool est une dame très sympathique qui, dans son ministère a accompli, sans nul doute, beaucoup de choses très interessante. Mais qu’a-t-elle rèellement fait dans le domaine de la francophonie pour recevoir cet insigne, honneur dont, je pense qu’elle en a été la 1ère surprise ? La médaille des arts et de la culture aurait été plus appropriée.

Par contre j’ai pu voir le combat mené durant de nombreuses années par Mr. et Mme André Sauzier, Madame Danielle de St Jorre, Mr. Antoine Abel, Mr. K. Jivan Shah et Mr. Guy Lionnet, Mme. M.J. Désaubin et Mr. André Del Homme (qui lui à reçu la légion d’honneur) et bien d’autres encore, pour maintenir, contre vents et marées, la langue française aux Seychelles, alors que la puissance coloniale anglaise en avait enlevé l’apprentissage dans les écoles.

N’oublions pas que la 1ère Alliance Française, le bal du 14 juillet (avant l’indépendance), les réceptions des bateaux de guerre français t plus récemment l’ecole Française de Victoria ont été financé des propres déniers de ces Seychellois francophones, bien avant que l’Etat français n’en reprenue la relève.

Je vois une grosse frustration et comme un malaise chez beaucoup de ces Seychellois francophones qui vivent cet évènement comme une injustice. D’autant plus que la ministre a reçu sa ,médaille lors d’une réception à l’Alliance Française, alors que la 1ere Alliance F. a dû fermer ses portes sous pression politique il y a 30 ans.

L’Ambassade de France aux Seychelles aurait été avisée, de mieux se renseigner sur l’histoire sensible du français aux Seychelles avant de recommender au Président Chirac l’ectroi de toute récompense nationales française. Ce qui aurait évité de toucher la sensibilité de beaucoup de Seychellois et surtout d’éviter toute polémique à quelques jours déchéances nationales pour la France comme pour les Seychelles.

S’il fallait que la France remette la légion d’honneur, coûte que coûte , a un Ministre Seychellois, il aurait été souhaitable que Madame Danièle de St Jorre, ancien Ministre des affaires étrangères, qui a tellement oeuvré de son vivant pour la francophonie (ne serait-ce qu’en étant à la base de l’inscription du français en 3ème langue officielle aux Seychelles) reçoive cet insigne honneur à titre posthume. Et moi, Bonaparte, l’initiateur de cet ordre national français en serait plus aisé et reposerait en paix.

Bonaparte

Economic Recovery – In Your Dreams

Sir, permit me a little space to address an article from the People this week which tries in vain to portray the picture that the Seychelles economy is showing signs of a recovery. In the first place if indeed there was a recovery or sign of it this presupposes an economic demise has taken place in the first instance. One cannot “recover”, from something one did not have at first. A patient cannot say I recovered unless he had an illness to begin with.

This being the case it is an admission, the Seychelles economy was in a bad state. This now begs the question when did it get into such a mess, by whom and when did it start to recover. The “People” would have us believe it was in 2006. If indeed it was. In all these years we have heard SPPF politicians including MNAs highlight the virtues of this economy. Never once have I heard an admission that it was under some kind of economic malaise.

However, as a simple man on the street in the land of NAPA, watching prices skyrocket from week to week, standing in long queues I know and the rest of the people of Seychelles have known for at least the last twenty years that the economy has been in tatters and the only way we have made ends meet nationally is by printing money which the IMF screams at us for or borrowing from our “friends” and then failing to pay them back. We have fewer and fewer of them as a result. I think someone should go to Chang Leng and prod him a little, he has either become Rip Van Winkle and have been asleep for the last twenty years or he is comatose.

Wide awake and watching

Name withheld

YA! JOACHIM DUPRES

Sir, as a resident of Anse Boileau I would appreciate if you can allow me a space in your esteem paper to congratulate the SNP candidate for Anse Boileau Mr. Joachim Dupres for showing to the people of Seychelles and Anse Boileau the real state of our district and the country as a whole.

I would especially like to bring to light and give a more detail explanation on one of the points that he touched in his PPB shown on Monday 23rd April 2007. That is on the contamination of the water in the river. I have personally seen the construction workers living in the area of lower Anse Louis taking showers and excreting in the river and thus when it reaches the area where they are staying in those living quarters made up of corrugated iron the water becomes stagnant, murky and you can even see foam floating as a result of the act being done in the water. All the fish in the river in this area have died and now mosquitoes are making it a breeding ground.

Going down the river you would also notice the sewage system from the dwelling of those workers are being discharge in that same river. It is also evident that the same river discharges in the sea where the pumping station for the desalination plant is located next to a five star resort the Maia Resort. In my opinion it might be that this contaminating water is causing the problem - a dozen of Anse Boileau resident have been reporting to the clinic every week. They suffer from pain in their stomach and from diarrhoea.

Sir I hope that your paper can make a further investigation into this matter and let the people of Anse Boileau know what is going on as our former MNA Mr. Andre Pool has failed us for the past 15 years.

Thank you Mr. Dupres for shedding light on this matter for the people of Anse Boileau and the country as a whole. You also dealt with some interesting issues affecting the youth of Anse Boileau. I wish you good luck in the forthcoming elections and pray for you that the people of Anse Boileau will give you their votes and the mandate to serve us for the next five years.

Meme