Christopher Gill's Column
ISOLA BELLA BOZO ECONOMICS
Sometimes I read the rubbish SPPF puts out in its Isola Bella mouthpiece. Rarely do I comment on it because its level of debate and argument is so low and generally lacks dignity which is found in a person that can read and write. If the ideas did not come from State House, I think it would be worthy of closing your eyes when reading. But the ideas do come from State House. Hence, we need to address what Isola Bella puts out and not ignore it. To ignore it would be a dereliction of the Opposition’s obligation to shed light on SPPF charades and mental suppression of a People that denies us our inalienable right to be free and exercise our rights to true Liberty.
This type of hype appeals to marginal SPPF who want to believe the system has not failed yet. These People believe, the SPPF were kind to give out loans and give them a start in life, not realizing for a moment every Government has that obligation, to bring its People up and not leave them down. How it is done is the difference between the SPPF and the Opposition. The modus operandi (how it functions) of the Paper which publishes on expensive gloss paper and is in color, is to make things look pretty and make “SPPF- Seychelles” look good as the name of the paper infers. In effect, it is another publication tool of the SPPF to help them fake the feel good affects of their effort to continuously prop up a failed system, and of course, pass blame onto the Opposition and make them appear responsible for SPPF failures, like the foreign exchange shortages and food shortages and crime and traffic jams.
Devalue or Take Rupees from Pockets
For example, Devalue or Take Rupees from Pockets, in the May 2007 Issue, the Paper writes an Article titled Foreign Exchange either devalue Or Take Rupees from the Pockets. In this Article, the Paper,( it has no Author signed in) alleges their is confusion between the Chamber of Commerce position concerning the value of the Rupee and the Leader of The Opposition’s position in the National Assembly. They make as if the two entities do not know what they want or as if they do not know what to do about the Rupee. They spend a lot of time regurgitating Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan’s speeches in the National Assembly Budget Speeches. In the end, the Article changes subject and say the Chamber (SCCI) and Mr. Ramkalawan wants to just take more money from People for free public services and hence, they will have less Rupees in their pockets. It is amazing to me, that these writers are paid a salary to dish out such rubbish. Percy Ah - Mane’s fees may be justifiable for his vicious cartoons and art for disseminating individual character assassinations in the Opposition ranks, but this is plain “Bozo Economics 101”, not worthy of comment but for, the People’s need to better understand our reality, in Seychelles today. The problem concerning our Rupee has been created by the SPPF. They are in Government. Isola Bella has access to State House. Why don’t you call State House and ask them for a position on the Rupee and a plan on how to solve our economic crisis. Perhaps the publisher is afraid of facing the facts: 1. there is no real Plan; 2. we are just trying to stay afloat, after a ship has already sunk; 3. we are just waiting for a Rescue effort. This is the truth. Now, just go on denying it.
Pass the Dollars Around
In June 2007 Issue, Isola Bella asserts in the headlines: "US Dollars for Everyone Pass the Dollars Around". Again the Paper acts like it knows what it is saying, in nice gloss and color, the headline on the front Page reads: “Economy PASS THE DOLLARS AROUND”. In this Article, the Paper, again no one signs the Article, calls for more foreign exchange the Country makes to find its way to more people. Its main example is that UCPS a huge Rupee earning entity and CCCL another huge Rupee earning entity does not have access to foreign exchange to replace equipment. The paper asserts that foreign exchange earners need to make dollars available to Rupee businesses. How nice. However, this Paper with links to State House could not get a position from the Central Bank on the idea. Nor can Isola Bella get statistics from MISD? Sophistry at it’s best. For those of you who do not want to look up the meaning of the word in State House, the Central Bank or Isola Bella out of fear of having to face your failure: it means using half truths to tell the whole story to the Public. In Kreol, for Pemba Choppy and Rene to cross check in a Kolok, it means “Bat La Tet”, in English for our young Graduates from Manchester University (good on you all you passed your exams not SPPF).
The weak US Dollar vs. STRONG Seychelles Rupee
What Isola Bella is saying and is asking for is in effect, a Dollarization of our Economy: Make our economy a Dollar based economy. Since we already do not have enough Dollars in our system it will not be too easy to do. It is actually a complete 360 Degree turnabout from what Mr. President told us before he was elected in August. He said it is his Government’s intention that the Rupee always remains STRONG! He was elected on the mandate that he keep our Rupee STRONG! Now his private mouthpiece, has asserted that the Rupee should be done away with and we should Dollarize our economy and finances. Workers will be paid in Dollars. UCPS will be paid in Dollars for aggregate. PUC will be paid in Dollars for electricity. SEPEC, poor SEPEC, it earns so much Dollars from the oil Tankers, but now wants to be paid in Dollars for fuel in Seychelles.
SPPF Has Made Our Rupee Impotent
What is wrong with our STRONG Rupee? Has it become like a male IMPOTENT? - strong in appearance, but in reality, it cannot produce enough sperm count to produce offspring? Maybe our expert Scientist in the National Assembly and other experts in the numbers game, can toss the science of the matter, do the numbers for us and tell us what the situation really is. After all, judging from Isola Bella’s assertion that UCPS and CCCL, those big companies, cannot get foreign exchange to run their operations, only tells us one thing: We Are Officially Rich....But Practically Poor.....under SPPF!
Do Not Blame Your Neighbor
Do not blame your neighbor for your failures. Be brave man! Our future has no place for cowards! When you are breaking your Mon Blanc on SBC which the People paid for with their money, think about using a plastic Bic pen instead...it is more cost effective to us. Besides, twisting your Mont Blanc’s to death does not make it write better economic-financial solutions. Use cheap plastic pens, it will alleviate the stress when you hear the word: Devaluation... going around your Round Table... with the symbolic big hole in the middle!
Long Live All Freedom Loving Seychellois!
