A large crowd descended on Victoria last Saturday to take part in activities organized by the Seychelles National Party (SNP) to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence. The participants came from all over Mahé, however they could, after the organizers had been refused the possibility of providing free buses on the grounds that the bus drivers were too tired. Not even a musical show hastily organized by the SPPF to keep the revelers away from Victoria could prevent the influx to the rally. In the end, we saw the largest crowd assembled on the appropriately named Freedom Square for a political event this year, signalling a definite step shift in the political fortunes of the Opposition Alliance.
The large turnout at Saturday’s Independence Day event was in sharp contrast to the SPPF rally two weeks before when SPPF supporters stayed away in spite of being offered financial and other inducements. Then the grumpy old man of Seychelles politics, Mr. Albert René had threatened further victimisation for his political opponents. But the Alliance supporters which now also include a sizeable number of disgruntled SPPF appeared to have largely ignored the threat. Instead, by their overwhelming presence, they seemed to be sending a clear message to the SPPF hierarchy that they were taking matters in their hands and come July 30th they will be putting a definite end to their politics of fear and manipulation.
Some members of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party, including the party’s new leader Paul Chow joined their SNP counterparts on stage where presidential candidate Wavel Ramkalawan and his running mate Annette Georges told the enthusiastic crowd that the Alliance was in good health and was getting ready to lead the nation into a new era of hope and prosperity. He confirmed that his new government would truly govern in the best interests of EVERY Seychellois.
The crowd and the nation at large could not have hoped for a better Independence Day message than that!
