Christopher Gill's Column

Forcing MNA’s Into Communist Mold

Christopher GillIn spite of being rebuffed in the Polls, Mr. President has kept his word to the People of Seychelles in the last National Assembly Elections and has drafted a National Assembly Members Emoluments (Amendment Bill 2007) hereinafter referred to as the Bill that will require MNA’s to attend National Assembly Sessions and behave according to the whims of the Speaker of the National Assembly. This is a Bill that adds insult to injury of Mr. President’s own public persona, after the last National Assembly Election results. It has a pungent stench of Communism in the works, under the window dressing of Multi-Party Politics.

SPPF’s Bill vows to deduct Rs. 1,000.00 from every and any MNA who does not attend a Session of the National Assembly or chooses to boycott sessions or is ruled out of order to the extent it is worthy of a Rs. 1,000.00 deduction per day, for an MNA’s Salary of Rs. 8,000.00 per month. Opposition MNA’s will likely bear the brunt of this Pol Pot legislation. The overall objective of the SPPF is to legislate the appearance of a democratic regime to instill investor confidence in Seychelles and make the SPPF look democratic while actually running a One Party State under the table and behind closed doors. The appearance of democracy is important to Bankers; SPPF know that. They will of course continue to beat people in the streets, while trying to implement the French beating techniques learnt recently. Don’t expect them to be good learners.

Violation of Separation of Powers

The Bill, because it is initiated by the Executive Branch of Government with the clear intent to curb Legislative mandate of elected MNA’s to participate in the democratic process as each MNA sees fit individually, is a gross violation of the Principle of Separation of Powers which dictates that the Executive Branch of Government cannot and will not obstruct the work of the Legislature except by the power of Veto of Bills so presented by the Legislature for the President to sign into law. Mr. President can submit Bills for debate. But it is ultra vires (beyond his own Executive Authority) for him to submit Bills relating to National Assembly conduct of its own affairs. The National Assembly must run itself under the Principle of Separation of Powers so dictates, just as the Executive Branch of Government has the same power to run itself. This means that each separate branch of Government must look after its own day to day affairs which includes MNA salaries and method or earning salaries.

Opposition Must Seek Redress Before Constitutional Court

SPPF MNA’s will curb their rights if they are told to do so. In the last State of The Nation Address, SPPF MNA’s committed legislative mandate suicide when asked to do so by the President. As he dissolved the National Assembly, they all clapped their hands and left. Do not expect them to seek any glory in the name of Freedom and Liberty when this Bill is tabled for debate. They are a different breed from Opposition MNA’s. They work for salaries not principles. They work for the betterment of themselves, not the People or our Country.

 Opposition will have to seek redress of this gross constitutional right violation from the Constitutional Court. It is clear cut and not controverted. No real issue to be questioned. The Court should expunge the law from the books at the drop of a hammer. In the meantime, Mr. President wastes our time...we pay the price for the wasted time.

Cut Salaries Not Rights

Opposition MNA’s must protect the right of protest at all cost. Expose the SPPF. Propose that wages of all MNA’s be cut and slashed to Rupees 3,000.00 per month across the board. This will save Government and People of Seychelles Millions over 5 years. At the same time Government will not loose any money should MNA’s decide they want to walk out of the National Assembly or do a sit-out, which is their right to do, in protest against oppressive SPPF-Communist tactics.

Opposition MNA’s should also propose salary cuts for Ministers from 18,000.00 to 8,000.00 across the board until the Country can come to terms with its finances. Minister with two portfolios can earn Rs.16, 000.00 per month, which is more then enough to live well under SPPF instead of Rs.36, 000.00. Ministers should also start driving their own cars and drivers should seek employment in the Private Sector where they are really needed. Each year after the Budget is reviewed, we can of course, re- consider reinstating Ministerial salaries if there is a change in our fiscal forecast. How can we ask parents to clean up school yards, give our children toilet paper for school, when Ministers live disproportionately well compared to everyone else in the Country. All the while the Minister of Education says there is no money to finish a security fence at Point Larue School. This is SPPF style. The top brass lives well, does little, the ordinary Seychellois must pay the price, and our children suffer.

Seychellois, open your eyes! The Plantation Days are over.

 Gratuities of course, should be slashed to cut Government expenditure. Ministers gratuities should be no more then Rs. 100,000.00 for five (5) years service per portfolio, until such time as our Country has made a sound Fiscal turn around or about face from the failure we are currently facing under the SPPF.

 May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

July 20, 2007
Copyright 2007: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles