TROUKLER

IF THIS IS SECURITY….

“Our job is secured, so is our future” is a nice sentiment coming from a young person, commenting on her “impressions” of President James Michel’s two years on Office in the “Family Life” column, of the Nation newspaper.

One can clearly understand her position, having not attained a position in a post secondary institution and thereby seeing the limitation before her. She worked for two years with the URS Scheme before landing a secure position in Industrial relations according to her.

Unfortunately, there are many young people in the same position in Seychelles who are not as ‘fortunate’. It is sad, that the “Nation” editors, do not go out into the community and interview the many young people, especially women, with exceptional qualifications and experience, left at home or by the side of the road or within the URS scheme, waiting for an opportunity to knock on their door as well.

It is so disheartening to see and talk to, the numbers of young people who enthusiastically apply for positions, only to be told the vacancy has been filled or are told “we have decided not to fill the vacancy at this time” because of their perceived political affiliation.

A few have even been employed, given their best to the employer, only to find the permanent positions are filled by those with political connections. If they have the opportunity to read this, my heart goes out at least two young people, who have been told this week to find other work, because the permanent place, they expected to fill has been filled by others.

“Courage mes amis”. EQUALITY FOR ALL is round the corner.

A PRIVILEDGED CLASS

Since Monday, Officers from the Seychelles Police Force have been conducting exercises on the roads to identify and caution those found driving vehicles with tinted windows.

The laws of Seychelles prohibit the operation of vehicles with tinted windows with exception granted to a privileged few, who apply for a permit from the Police Force. This so called exemption should not exist.

The reason behind the prohibition is to ensure safety on the road, to allow Police and other vehicle users to identify other drivers in the event of breaches of road safety and in cases of accidents, hit and run vehicles and motor vehicle theft. These are all valid reasons for prohibition and there is absolutely no reason for any driver to be given an exemption from the rule. In many well established democracies across the world, like Australia, no driver is permitted to use tinted windscreens for the very reasons as previously outlined.

The use of tinted windscreens in Seychelles is just one more of the many privileges that the “privileged class” has given themselves, to set them apart from the rest of us. If the Police was to issue a listing of drivers with this privilege this would become clearly evident. Almost without exception, the list of those permitted includes the privileged, upper level executives in government and parastatals, senior police officers at rank of inspector and above, All Army Officers ranked from Lieutenants to Colonel, all government members of the National Assembly, Ministers, Former SPPF Ministers, Judges, the Vice President and the President.

Seychelles is not a country overridden with weapons and Seychellois are generally peaceful. The reason given for permitting the privilege is unfounded. It is high time that this kind of self aggrandizement by SPPF cronies is stopped and we all live in a country where the rule of law applies equally to all of us.