WEEKLY BACKS PRESIDENT MICHEL’S CLEAN UP SEYCHELLES CAMPAIGN!

President Michel at least came clean on that one, admitting that the country is becoming dirtier and dirtier with each passing day. Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly is in total agreement with the President. Littering in this country is becoming an epidemic and something needs to be done about it. No one can be exonerated from responsibility - we are all in the same boat together. It is our civic duty to help keep Seychelles clean and beautiful; we depend on it for our livelihood!

Seychelles is known internationally for its natural beauty and pristine environment. This is one of the reasons we managed to attract a record number of visitors to the islands last year. The local tourism industry is starting to experience a revival, which will have a direct impact on our surroundings. Visitors to our shores are inclined to see things that we probably would not look out for in our immediate backyard because we have grown accustomed to seeing it there. We live here and probably we are expected to put up with certain ills that our society develops from time to time. However, tourists are paying valuable dollars to come and visit our country. They have a choice of coming to Seychelles or to stay away. We must do whatever it takes not to discourage visitors from coming on their holidays over here but to come again and again.

The foreign exchange that we earn from the tourism industry is something this country cannot afford to do without. Even former President Rene came to accept this reality; something he initially rejected when he stated that tourism is the butter on our bread but not our bread. In the meanwhile, Seychellois is reputed for their cleanliness at home and for their personal hygiene. As the saying goes, cleanliness is godliness! Unfortunately, this fact is not reflected in our public expression. Litter, such as take-away lunch boxes, plastic bottles, plastic bags, tin cans and juice cartoons, are scattered indiscriminately without regard or concern to the harm it causes to the environment. This problem is being allowed to mushroom out of control because the person or persons whose task it is to manage our waste and educate the population on the importance of keeping the country clean is failing us. Spin has been at the core of their program. They over-exaggerate their achievements without evaluating the actual results they accomplish. Continuity and progress have been replaced with complacency.

Education programmes in the home, schools, districts, and the workplace along with the annual events such as the “Clean-up the World Campaign”, should be the cornerstone in tackling the littering crisis. It should become the framework that fits into a sustainable development project. Resources are now being devoted to trying to keep the status quo and not going to emerging national issues that eventually progress into national problems. Forward planning is not being given the importance it desperately requires. An example is the current housing programme being undertaken by the government. The building of flats coincides with the limited land for housing construction. What is not being addressed is the waste that such projects will eventually generate. For instance; sorting of waste into its various categories prior to disposal. Having a waste sorting programme would also spread into the workplace and the general public mindset.

This would also assist in being able to address other potential pollution areas such as traffic, industry, medical and ocean generators of waste. These are issues that require attention, and not addressing them in the proper forum will only make matters worse and add to the costs of finding solutions. Action is required now and not later. This is the test of leadership and vision. The President can count on our support. Seychelles must stay clean and beautiful for our visitors, but most importantly we owe it to the future generation to keep the country unspoiled!