TROUKLER

A CONVERTIBLE RUPEE

In an article which appeared in a column entitled ‘The other side’ in ‘The People’, newspaper, the author - the inimical Sam – suggested that the weekly had ‘made a dogs meal’ out of the issue of a ‘Convertible Rupee’. This article purports to present ‘the other side’. Let’s see just how prepared the ‘People’ is to show the other side. Let us have a national debate on the question of a freely convertible rupee.

Let’s hear the reasons behind the decision by the SPPF Government to deny every Seychellois a convertible rupee. I know there are many of us in the community, trained economists and financiers alike, who will gladly take on all SPPF ‘experts’ head on, on this particular issue. Come on SPPF take up the challenge. Put it in writing and let us see the real reasons behind SPPF’s inability to see the benefits of a freely floated currency. I don’t know why but somehow I get the feeling that SAM, The People and the SPPF will simply back off on this issue.

SAME OLD FACES

The Highlight of the ‘Nation’ this week is the decision by the government to establish a National Human Resource Council to ‘Promote a Culture of Training’. Great Stuff, it replaces the now defunct Vocational Training Board which it appears has achieved little, simply because it lacked a sufficiently strong and committed head and the Committee comprised of the little clique of individuals we see sitting on numerous Boards.

Many may not realise it but those who sit on Boards in Seychelles are actually paid on a per sitting basis which means one can earn a significant additional income by sitting on as many Boards as possible.

The new Board membership is soon to be announced and it will be headed by a CEO, imagine that! Any guesses as to those austere people selected from the ‘clique’ as members. Let me throw a few names in the ring and give the game away before they are appointed and we can see later the same ‘clique’ in operation. Don’t be surprised if you hear that the board comprises of a Ragain, a Confait, a Dias, a Mondon, a Charles, an Alexis, an Alexander, a Macgaw, etc. The CEO will most likely be a person who will now hold two jobs. This new position will simply be tacked onto their existing job. Meanwhile, our intractable problems remain unsolved because of a serious lack of new ideas.

One could well be forgiven for thinking that there are no other available candidates. As is now customary, those trained and experienced in human resources development, and others who are similarly qualified, will sit on the sidelines observing this old group of ‘exceptionally’ skilled individuals take on this new challenge in their usual fashion.  Plus ca change’.