RALPH VOLCERE’S WEEK
There was a lot of talk from the ruling party in the run-up to the last presidential election that they are best placed to bring about the changes, which are needed to surmount our ailing social and economic circumstances. This is not a new talk; in fact it is a very old talk coming from the ruling party. All things considered it is always hard to let go, but it is the right thing to do in the interest of all in the country. The control (almost total) that government has been exercising over society in the last three decades must be relaxed if this country is to make social and economic progress - President Michel must heed this advice, if his legacy is to be different from that of his predecessor.
It is time to face up to the challenges ahead of us and the people’s interest must come before party political interest. The best way in which to build the future of this country is through unity, unity of purpose in achieving changes for the better. President Michel must demonstrate the guts to take tough decisions, decisions that might not be popular within his own party, but good for the country and the majority.
We have been going round in circles ending up where we started from. Politics is about ideas and policy no-one particular group has monopoly on ideas – thus the reason to put heads together when dealing in matters of national interest, our difference in opinion should not be the catalyst for division, tolerance must be cultivated if this country is to move forward from where it is anchored in the mud of the past, lies can no longer be the building blocks for the foundation of our new society. We need to refrain from revelling in irrelevance but rather focus on matters which are of concern to our wellbeing as a nation like eradicating poverty from the four corners of the country.
We can no longer afford to sweep the darker side of our reality under the carpet pretending they do not exist, it will not go away. Society is just not looking after the weak and the more vulnerable the way it should be. The rich are getting richer and the poor poorer. The Government is more concerned with providing facilities to the rich (tax exemptions and concessions) whilst the poor are being taxed to the bone to provide the Ministers with their big cars and fat salaries with perks included.
Almost 40% of the population is still struggling to make ends meet, another 30% can just about get by, whilst only 30% can be considered comfortable. This is the reality in
THE TOURISM CAKE HOW MUCH OF IT ARE YOU EATING?
The Vice-President, Joseph Belmont, who is also the minister responsible for Tourism, in his message to mark the occasion of the World Tourism Day on Wednesday 27th, September had this to say, “Together, let us continue to enrich the industry, let us enrich Seychelles and let us enrich ourselves ...”
“The UN World Tourism Organisation’s theme for 2006 is ‘Tourism Enriches’. It is a theme that is very appropriate for
“Over the past three decades the government has ensured that local entrepreneurs and the country as a whole benefited to the maximum from major overseas investment in the tourism industry.
Such investment has created an enabling environment for small businesses to flourish. It is through such home grown initiatives for small enterprises and family businesses that the industry was able to develop and prosper.
“Tourism also has the potential to enrich our country even more in the years ahead, and this industry is timely for increased Seychellois involvement, not just within the hotels, but also in the many spin-off opportunities that will continue to come about in the process.
“Tourism has served as a catalyst for many other social and economic developments. As the industry progresses, there is the need to improve infrastructure further to handle the influx and add value to our product.” …………
The above is the part of the Vice-President’s message, which we need to look at closely in order to evaluate whether we are living in the same country as the minister responsible for Tourism or whether from where he is standing he is not seeing what we the people walking the streets are seeing. Minister Belmont needs to come down to look at things from the ordinary man’s level and I guarantee him a totally different picture altogether.
The call by Mr. Belmont to work together to enrich the industry is a nationalistic approach, one, which all stakeholders and the country as a whole can identify with and participate in – the problem which arises from that battle cry is that in the past the tourism cake has not been shared equitably amongst all contributors. In fact only a few has been eating the lion share of the tourism cake including cream. This is something Mr. Belmont needs to strive to put right for the future and the future is here already Mr. Vice-President.
And the statement that “over the past three decades the government has ensured that local entrepreneurs and the country as a whole benefited to the maximum from major overseas investment in the tourism industry” – is not entirely correct. The facts remains that this government neglected local entrepreneurs in favor of people coming from overseas who had means to induce powerful individuals to see things their way. The STMA poured millions most of it in foreign exchange in promoting five star establishments, whilst the small hotels and guest houses fended almost on their own without any substantial assistance in promoting their establishment from the ministry of tourism. Most of the big five star establishments have been granted 100% retention of their foreign exchange earnings, whilst the smaller man is made to deposit all of his foreign exchange with the Central Bank, direct access to which is obviously denied. Central Bank officers are constantly harassing small hotels and guest houses alike for records of their hard currency earnings, letting the big fish off the hook. This is the measure of the situation Mr. Vice-President. Something to look into, what do you think?
Foreigners with powerful friends in the present administration are given priority over the local man even if the Seychellois can match the capital involved. The most recent example apparently is that