Herminie puts his foot in his mouth yet again!

Herminie puts his foot in his mouth yet again!

Dr. Herminie on the attack In his usual thuggish style Herminie went on the attack in the National Assembly immediately after the Minister of Finance, Mr. Danny Faure has delivered his inaugural budget address. After Herminie was unleashed by the speaker of the National Assembly, who allowed his intervention after the Leader of the Opposition had exercised his right of reply, Herminie immediately went on the attack.

The contrast in style and content between the Minister who showed panache and civility when addressing the Assembly and the Leader of Government Business who demonstrated verbal crudeness and uncouthness was apparent and pronounce.

Herminie could not hide his glee at the attendance of the opposition who decided to grace the National Assembly with their presence. However, Herminie’s speech although acclaimed by his SPPF colleagues as a “masterpiece” fell short in many respect. At best it was contradictory and pathetic and at worst confusing.

For instance, he came across as practically begging Wavel Ramkalawan to step down as Leader of the Opposition. His reasoning which was bizarre, to say the least, was that Ramkalawan has lost four consecutive presidential elections against the SPPF and therefore should resign. He, and probably the SPPF as a party, seems apprehensive and uncomfortable that Mr. Ramkalawan perseveres and is relentless in his pursuit to one day remove the SPPF Government from power.

What Patrick Herminie did not tell the National Assembly, however, was the fact that Albert Rene lost 4 consecutive elections before June 1977 and we all know what he did after he lost for the 4th time – Coup D’etat using a hand-picked group of terrorists. That was the clear irony and fallacy in Herminie’s argument. The SPPF has time and time again accused the SNP of being thirsty for power. Even President Michel when he arrived at the Seychelles International Airport on “black October” made this particular accusation against the SNP in his interview to SBC.

However, what is evident is that Ramkalwan, when he was alone in the National Assembly representing the SNP, single handedly challenged and undermined the powerful SPPF Government SNP President Wavel Ramkalawan through the force of his conviction and arguments. He was so effective that Rene swiftly ordered SBC to stop broadcasting National Assembly debates on SBC television to curtail Ramkalawan’s harsh criticisms of the excesses of Government. Ramkalawan was making a lot of headway amongst the electorate with his scathing verbal attacks on government. One can say what one wants about Wavel Ramkalawan, but the reality is the man has consistently refused to bow down and abandon his fight for justice, freedom and democracy in Seychelles in the face of threats, assaults, intimidation, thuggery and savagery. He remains but a legend and a political icon to many Seychellois who share his vision and dream of a truly free and democratic Seychelles.

It is also a known fact that Ramkalawan has consistently increased his share of popular votes in every single presidential election he has taken part in and this cannot be denied. Logic, therefore, dictates that if he decides to stand again in the Presidential election he stands a realistic chance of winning the Presidency. If it was not for Ramkalawan, the SPPF Government would today have a “Carte Blanche” to do as they please. Wavel Ramkalawan has showed courage, bravery and fortitude during the years he spent as Leader of the Opposition. He has put his own security and that of his family on the line for the Seychellois people. His strength of character, devotion and commitment has never diminished in his relentless quest to change our country. He remains a shining an example to us all and it is unfortunate that President Michel has not shown the “Grandeur D’esprit” to sit and talk to the man in the spirit of Seychelles First, National reconciliation and magnanimity.