Seychelles Weekly Coverpage

SPPF PAYS LIP SERVICE TO THE TRUE PURPOSE OF JUNE 18

June 18 is a very recent event in our nation’s short but turbulent political history. 13 years ago on that date the people of Seychelles were asked to vote in a referendum – witnessed by international observers - to approve a new constitution for our country, the third in our short history and they did so by a large majority.

The true purpose of marking June 18 as our national day was to unite all our people in a spirit of democracy, unity and reconciliation as well as to renew our commitment to the rule of law and good governance as expressed by our new constitution. These purposes were not, however, those of many of the parents and their children who were asked to gather at the Unity Stadium last Sunday June 18th. For the SPPF leadership, they were a captive audience for election propaganda. read more

TROUKLER

THE 60 DAY COMMERCIAL WONDER?

A new supermarket opened its doors last week dedicated to selling goods usually sold in a well known supermarket chain located in Dubai. The supermarket is located in a building in Victoria, which has been under construction for the past 5 years financed by money from the Social Security Fund. According to the Government, as of 2005 the building had cost over SR 55 million, enough to build 275 public houses costing SR 200,000 each. The latest estimate is that the final cost is SR80 million. ..read more

MANCHAM: VISITING PROFESSOR OF UNIVERSITY OF PEACE

According to a comm-uniqué from Glacis-sur-Mer, former President James R. Mancham has been unanimously nominated by the Scientific and Educational Board of the European Center for Peace and Development (ECPD) as a visiting Professor of the University of Peace in the area of peace studies and international relations. Concurrently the Academic Council of the ECPD has nominated President Mancham as a member of the Council. read more

MORE ABUSE OF POWER BY THE SPPF

Last week the National Assembly gave priority to a motion tabled on 11th May, 2006, by Honourable Herminie over all others. This certainly happened with the collusion of the Speaker of the House, who in fifteen years has not been able to demonstrate an ounce of impartiality. The motion reads as follows: “This Assembly demands that this book ‘Seychelles, in search of Democracy’ is removed from all places belonging to the National Assembly because it is a plagiarised document and the facts within it are incorrect”. read more

HUNDREDS TO LOSE THEIR JOBS - SMB TO CLOSE DOWN COMPLETELY

Last week we saw the opening of a new supermarket in Victoria. The individual posing as its owner elaborated on his company’s plans for the future. Stating that as well as the current retail outlet his company will also be operating a wholesale distribution network across the country, in the very near future. The gentleman gave the impression that the local foreign exchange shortages are something that is of no worry to his organisation. This indicates that the gentleman either has an unlimited reserve of foreign exchange or he is well connected locally and will have priority over others. We will have to wait and see how this situation plays itself out. read more

Former DP MNA and senior official of the DP, George Bibi, was the victim of an assault causing him grievous bodily harm while at the Marine Charter Association club on Sunday 12 June. Bibi had just arrived at the club and was in conversation with the barman when he was set upon by a man identified as Cliff Loizeau and four other men. Loizeau, a well known SPPF supporter who has been granted a license to operate a security guard business from his home at Beau Vallon, attacked Bibi the first time at the bar inside the Marine Charter. read more

Judicial history was made last week in the Supreme Court of Seychelles. In a ruling which shocked the whole legal fraternity, Supreme Court Judge Karunakaran ordered that the Democrat Party leader, Paul Chow, pay up over SR 500,000 or go to prison for 6 months for the debt of a company of which he was once one of the directors. It was not coincidental that the unprecedented ruling comes just as Chow has acquired a high profile in the politics of Seychelles as the new leader of the Democratic Party. read more

WHALING: Has Seychelles Been Paid For Her Silence?

Sir,

Sunday, during a historic conference of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) held in St. Kitts and Nevis, the IWC declared that a 20 year moratorium on commercial whale hunting was no longer necessary, because the marine mammals supposedly have recovered from near extinction. Essentially, the vote of 33-32, although barely passing, gives Japan a key symbolic victory in its campaign to resume whaling, and more importantly, signals a major power shift within the commission. Sunday’s vote deals a devastating blow to the environmentalists and whale conservationists worldwide. read more