Editorial
THE SPPF HAS PRODUCED A SHALLOW SHOW OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
Today, the SPPF has pursued short-term benefits and in doing so has produced a shallow show of economic prosperity. This is most apparent in the two main pillars of the Seychelles economy; Tourism and Tuna Fishing. In the tourism industry numerous developments have occurred. These developments have, to the most extent, never been transparent and accountable. A prime example is the Fishermans Cove hotel. This Five Star was originally nationalized by the one-party state government in the eighties. It was refurbished by the parastatal COSPROH to the tune of US $ 5 million and leased to Meridien for US $ 2.6 million a tear for 20 years. It was subsequently sold to a company whose principal shareholders is a British Virgin Island offshore company for 85 million rupees. The onward transfers made by COSPROH have never been made public and accountable. Good governance, accountability and responsibility have no place in SPPF-controlled ventures.
Other notable tourism developments that require investigation are the developments on Ste. Anne, Source d’Argent La Digue, Silhouette, and also the outer islands being exchanged for payments due under the 20 year solid waste management contract. These transaction have again never been made public, nor been subjected to the test of transparency and accountability. These developments are all tourism related.
Amidst all this, the Government has once again persuaded the people to believe in fantasies about the SPPF. However, the fundamental conflicts between the interest of the leaders of the SPPF and that of the nation and the people determine that this false prosperity will not last. The “reform” the SPPF has promised has one purpose – to maintain its rule. It is a lame reform, a change on surface but not in substance. Underneath the lopsided development lies a great social and economic crisis. Once the crisis breaks out, the nation and the people will suffer once again.
On the Tuna Fishing side, the Government has within the space of less than six months, gone through a number of motions changing the structure of revenues from the industry. In essence the Seychelles are still being short-changed for the tuna being fished in our waters. The quality of fish is the best in the world. Prices being received by the government for the fish do not reflect this reality. This is clearly seen when compared to Sri Lanka. Seychelles, like Sri Lanka, is a member of the Commonwealth. It also shares, with Seychelles, in the Tuna Fishing industry within the Indian Ocean and has contracted with the European Union for the same.
However, Sri Lanka receives more revenue for the tuna it lands than does Seychelles. The simple question is why? Putting the question to officials at the SFA, The Ministry of Finance, Members of the National Assembly and others including the President of Seychelles will all draw either a blank expression or the rhetorical phrase “I don’t know”. This is SPPF leadership at its best – working for interests other than the people of Seychelles. Concrete example being the SFA with respect to allocation of fishing permits, the construction of ice-making plants in various districts in Seychelles, the development of the long liner tuna fishing industry, the sea-cucumber permits.
With the presumed change of leadership, the new generation of SPPF leaders wishes to display a break with the past. It is exactly because of this, that they therefore have less and less prestige and credibility in managing the nation. Amidst the crisis of its legitimacy, the SPPF’s protection of the Party’s interests has increasingly become the basic guarantee for maintaining the interests of individuals within the SPPF. The SPPF’s nature is selfish. It knows no restraints. To hope such a party might devote itself to developing the country is wishful thinking. This is because these white-collar criminals can only operate under the SPPF umbrella that gives them the protection to do so. “Professing to be wise, they became fools ... who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator....” (Romans 1, 22 - 24). The sub-prime scandal is the triumph of the quick buck over social values and hypocritically ignoring “For the Love of Seychelles”.