The leader of the opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan, this week stood up to the Speaker of the National Assembly in a show of boldness and defiance. Herminie who was still reeling from a half baked apology from Bernard Georges in the morning, was clearly taken by surprise by Ramkalawan’s assertiveness and did not know how to react. After having ruled the National Assembly with an iron fist since its inception in June this year, Herminie looked at a loss and disconcerted. The morning session of the Assembly started with the Speaker calling on Bernard Georges to apologise for last week’s incident which led to him giving Georges his marching orders after the latter had called him a dictator. Instead of giving an outright apology, Georges went on to make a statement. When challenged that he should make an outright apology and refrain from making a statement, Georges retorted that the apology was at the bottom of the statement. Herminie insisted and Georges, clearly annoyed ventured in a matter-of-fact manner “You have it “ . Herminie asked “Have what?” Georges, unflustered and as cool as a cucumber replied “An apology”. Herminie, obviously out of his league decided to move on to the surprise and consternation of the House.
Next came his altercation with Ramkalawan on a motion to approve the appointment of Dick Esparon as ambassador. Ramkalawan, for reasons best known to him, stated that in his opinion Dick Esparon should be appointed Speaker and Herminie should be ambassador instead. This did not please Herminie in the least and he immediately called Ramkalawan to order and asked him to address the Assembly in a civilised manner. Ramkalawan visibly at the end of his tether, replied that he has the constitutional right of freedom of speech in the Assembly and he would express his opinion as he pleases. He said that no one has the right to stop him from exercising that right. He said he was addressing the Assembly in a civilised manner and he would continue to do so without hindrance. This drew loud jubilant cheers and banging of the table from the opposition side of the House. Hermine, visibly shaken, did not know how to react to this outburst and chose to exercise his constitutional right to remain silent instead, allowing proceedings to take it natural course.
Bouyed by this turn of event Ramkalawan went on to deliver a blistering and one of his most brilliant speeches to date in the afternoon when he adrressed a motion brought by Hon. Joevana Charles asking the government to conduct a study on how the most vulnerable in society can be better assisted especially single mothers. Ramkalawan who was on a roll, accused the SPPF of creating a situation where people is kept in a vulnerable situation and then are turned into SPPF voters during election time after receiving money from the ruling party. He said the cradle to the grave policy of the SPPF has failed miserably and has created a country where people have become welfare dependants instead of having the motivation to go out and earn a living. In conclusion, he said that some people in Seychelles are using deaths in the family as an opportunity to raise money through sponsorship schemes, similar to a sponsored walk, instead of burying their dead with dignity. This is the legacy of the SPPF regime he lamented. The motion was passed unanimously.