Recent debate in the National Assembly has seen the opposition and party in power debate on changes to Commissioner of Elections Office. Up to this day, the SPPF majority in the National Assembly skirt around the pressing need to have an independent Electoral Commission in place to supervise National Elections in the Seychelles. The refusal to accept the creation of such an office with powers distributed amongst its members who will head the Commission is simple – it is not in the interests of the SPPF to do so.
Numerous attempts have been made in order to highlight the need for greater transparency, accountability and responsibility within this office. To date no mechanism is in place to ensure the accountability of the office of the Commissioner of Elections.
This is highlighted by the present glaring anomaly in the voters register. In the year 2006 the employment statistics show the total number of people in employment as being 45,620. During the same year the total number of voters eligible to vote was approximately 64, 990. As shown in the table below.
If the voters register is correct there are 19,370, over the age of 18, who have not registered to work! Who and Where are they???
Please Mr. Gappy can you answer this question for our readers? We promise to print your response in our next issue, Thank you!