OBSERVERS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION
This exercise is now becoming the biggest farce in elections in Seychelles. In the past international observers have been accused of dragging their feet when over here on mission to monitor elections. They have been accused of spending time in restaurant and on beaches enjoying themselves as if on holiday taking very little time to scrutinise the process surrounding the election itself. They are rarely seen about in the districts talking to the people that matter most to find out the impression of the ordinary man and woman about the process or what had taken place prior to polling day itself, the time when all the mumbo jumbo takes place. Polling day has now become a well rehearsed formality in Seychelles. The election is won and lost the few days before polling day during the so called “cooling off period." This is when it is stolen through tricks, deceit and blackmail by people with too much to lose should the results go against them.
This time again the observers have been late coming into the country. They might as well not bothered at all even the Seychelles Nation does not think much of them. It devoted only sixteen lines to their cause in an article on the front page in its issue on Tuesday May 8th. We are all hoping the observers will surprise us all this time around by doing some real observing and putting their feet down where irregularities are found to be obstructing the spirit of a free and fair election. Bonne vacance!
