Points of view:

Forex Situation Getting Better? For Whom?

Sources within the so called “strategic parastatals” have said that the forex black market in the Seychelles has now become a personal business for some of the members. To be able to get supplies from overseas “agents” are hired to buy forex on the black market. These agents are given large sums of money to conduct these transactions on the black market. The forex purchased is then handed to the people providing the rupees for the purchase of goods from overseas. These people then use their connections in high places to have the money sent to their overseas suppliers. Although this seems reasonable enough at the beginning, it has now become a scam. The purchase price of the forex on the black market is not determined by any mechanism of open agreement; also most importantly no invoices or receipts are given. Agents inflate the rates they are paying for the forex and thereby make very big commissions. Worse still, some of the people purchasing the forex are placing this into their own personal bank accounts overseas. President James Michel recently announced that the forex situation in Seychelles was getting better. “Sakinn soz son soz, a soz limemn! (What goes around, comes around)”.

Seychelles Pension Scheme, Seychelles Breweries and Seypec

In a recent SBC news bulletin following the Seychelles Breweries price increase, SMB also made an announcement. SMB said that unlike other producers on the local market they are in a position to absorb price increases in fruit juice productions. This, meaning as they did not pass these on to their consumers, the general public is better off under their policy. How about the “Judge Me By My Actions” policy of giving back the taxes this Government has been siphoning off Seybrew all these years back to the company/public? We also noted that Seychelles Pension Scheme (SPS) purchased some dodgy shares of Seychelles Breweries, not through the proper channels of Seychelles Breweries like everyone else. In fact SPS prides itself on the investments it makes on behalf of the general public. The question now is why does not SPS invest in SMB if it is doing such a great job? However to add irony to SPS, it seems to have taken a step ahead of investment by listing itself in the latest “Seychelles Telephone Directory 2006” under the number of SEPEC. Does the Pension Scheme know something the consumers and the general public do not?

“For the Love of Seychelles” Dismissals

We couldn’t understand the “Jj Spirit” over the last few weeks. After huffing and puffing in self-praise on television a couple of Sunday’s ago, Jj was scarce the following few days. This was not a good omen. There were price increases on the local markets for beverages, and then a number of key personnel from various government ministries and “strategic parastatals” were dismissed! To make matters worse “Jj Spirit” next surfaced in Madagascar! We heard that the delegation on a freebie from “ek nou, pa ek nou” outnumbered the participating athletes! A good strategy if you look at the medals the athletes will come back with compared with the duty free of the delegation in tow! The absence of “Jj” was also because of the tsunami he has caused in government with the furious spate of dismissals. Employees previously noted for their excellence of service delivery, some even being nominated among the top five best employees in government, have been dismissed! All we can say is that “This is A real strategy for restructuring self-destruction”. However, we also note that the real intention of “Jj” is to rule through fear and intimidation – no questions asked – especially of selling arms for genocides, false passports and 4.5 million dollars worth of fish from Farquhuar!

SPPF educational system is rubbish, say SPPF stalwarts

Mr. Payet who is in charge of the University of Seychelles project, the country’s highest education project ever, and is a member of the central committee of the SPPF, is a living testimony to the fact that most of the SPPF stalwarts have turned their backs on the educational system established by the SPPF. Mr. Payet has decided that the government schools are not good enough for him - he sends his children to a private school. But he is not the only one. Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank, Principal Secretaries, Director Generals, and Managing Directors of Government Parastatals have given the SPPF school system the cold shoulder and dispatched their children to private schools. Yet the very same people supported the regime which closed down all private schools for more than 20 years. Mr. Payet and his comrades have now told us in no uncertain terms that the private schools are better than the public ones. So why carry on loudly proclaiming the benefits and merits of the public school system? Just admit it is a total failure and allow more private schools to be opened!! Maybe Mr. Payet, who seems to be very smart in this domain, will start one now that he is no longer a Principal Secretary?