Looking back over the last four years since Mr. James Alix Michel took over the Presidency - it has been one photo opportunity after another. Is President James Alix Michel suffering from narcissism? Mancham was renowned to be an international playboy and traveling President. Michel is well poised to take over this mantle from him. The playboy title was wrestled away from Mancham by Rene a long time ago. But Mancham is not giving up his belts without a fight - he wants to keep the belt for playing away on the international scene. He once called Rene a Playboy “poulaye” in a political rally in Victoria and in one of his books, the aptly titled “Paradise Raped.”
President Michel often described himself as a hard working man. However, we are yet to see the results of all his hard work. Is he really busy doing nothing? In the four years that he has been working hard as our President very little has materialized from the President’s travels overseas and in terms of his hard work locally. The government controlled media have done their fair share in making the last four years look good for the President. But in reality it is a totally different state of affairs. Shortages of basic commodities in our shops are rampant. People cannot stop talking about it on the streets, at the work place, in bars, restaurant and at home. Furthermore, what we do now know, courtesy of Standard & Poors, Bloomberg, Reuters and The Financial Times, is that our country is heavily indebted and finding it extremely difficult. In fact, it is quite impossible for our country to meet our commitments vis-à-vis our Creditors overseas. Locally, the Commercial Banks have threatened to stop giving loans to the government through the Central Bank since the government owes the banks over 100 million rupees and cannot pay back. SBC TV, the Seychelles Nation, The People, The Rising Sun and Isola Bella have become the laughing stock of the country for ignoring reality and keeping the truth from the people. The people no longer believe what they hear, see or read from these propagandists.
President Michel now famously known locally as the “Judge me by my actions” President - will have to do something if he doesn’t want to be known as the President who bankrupted the country or if he is to stand a chance at keeping the presidency at the next presidential election due in 2011. Surely, someone within the ‘finance’ inner circle need to pay for the mess we find ourselves in - economically. Otherwise Michel will have to pay the price himself comes 2011. Whatever the President chooses to do to distance himself from the imminent economic catastrophe, a full explanation to the people is now overdue…… so much for transparency, accountability and good governance promised on the lawns of State House, in April 2004. Lest we forget.
IMF: Stands for “It’s Michel’s Fault.”