Christopher Gill's Column

Christopher GillBeyond Political Parties 

If we reflect and analyze for a moment what has happened to Seychelles since Independence in 1976, it does indeed paint a grave and miserable case for political parties in our political life as a Nation. While each political party may have exceptional leaders in their organization, relying on political parties to do our bidding in our interest as a People of a micro state has arguably been a big let down to the People of Seychelles. Political parties by nature do political bidding and with that they divide and rule to win the day. Beyond political parties, we are all Seychellois First! 

The SPUP/SPPF RAGA-SAGA 

At its formation, SPUP said clearly it wanted "Seychelles for Seychellois". In the early days, Rene took to the beaches, took to the streets and took a Country from a democratically elected Government in which he was Prime Minister, to carry this popular banner which became set in the hearts of many Seychellois. 

As political winds changed, so did Rene and his SPUP's name and slogan. 

After 1977, we saw Rene and SPPF telling Seychellois themselves that if they did not like his communist Cuban-styled system to leave. Seychelles was no longer for Seychellois; power had altered Rene's perception of who belonged in paradise.  

After becoming dictator, Rene took a turn, abandoned the "Seychelles for Seychellois" battle cry and resorted to "Seychelles for Communists" rhetoric. The One Party State days were a dark cloud over Seychelles history. It will always be so. 

At the time, Seychelles was divided and many Seychellois left their motherland to become exiles - political and economic immigrants in foreign lands. 

Many of us had to adapt to a completely new life and new ways. The "Seychelles for Seychellois" slogan Rene spurted out in the early years would sound meaningless when considering that one was now an immigrant, getting on in another land where even the weather could be bitter and cold to our Seychellois bones. 

I recall well two brothers who went to the prestigious Marquette University in Wisconsin.

Rene had asked Seychellois like them to leave Seychelles. Today, in spite of Rene, both are highly successful business men that can hold their own around the world. These Seychellois are no Ramaducks! Their Father is a former Rene loyalist and founder of SPUP. They ditched Rene and SPPF and succeeded in spite of Rene. Today, both Rene and SPUP-SPPF fail Seychelles. How many Seychellois have succeeded overseas in spite of Rene? Many! 

The Multi-Party Winds

In the 1990's when Rene appealed for a change to multiparty politics and he invited sincere Seychellois to return to Seychelles to assist in its political and social economic development, some Seychellois returned. 

I was among the returnees in 1992. Rene did not offer much of a welcome though; we were all soon to learn. We did not return to Seychelles because we supported Rene. It is biologically impossible for me personally, to support Rene. 

I returned because as an Optimist at heart, I wanted to believe, Rene in spite of gross intellectual error in committing a Coup and implementing a One Party Dictatorship, he some how must have at least had Seychellois best interest at heart....even if he committed an idiotic act. We all make mistakes in life. 

Being 28 years young then, I foolishly believed that somehow, in spite of 15 years of Communism, we could put things back together as a People and move our Country forward in spite of Rene's early economic-social failures. 

After all, at the end of World War Two, the whole World was broke and suffering, but by this time (1992), most of the World had moved on and become quite successful. Why should beautiful Seychelles be excluded from this World success story? 

Seychellois should rightly, be able to be successful in their own Country and not be subjected to policies of victimization, graft, corruption which prevent countries from prospering. Surely, I would reflect, Rene SPUP- SPPF could not envision of making a political transition and yet, keep things running like a Communist dictatorship. One could not get more stupid than that, of course. The result would be catastrophic for Seychelles down the road.  

No one would or could be that stupid don't you think? Surely we would not continue to propagate a policy of selective preferences and intentional economic victimization with a new opportunity to open Seychelles up to all Seychellois natives. 

Surely, a new Constitution, and a new beginning, Rene would look beyond his own self interest and we could let water under the bridge to so flow in order that a People and Country can go on living instead of being balled and chained to Communist dogma and a tormenting past that never leaves us. 

Surely, as the sun rises everyday and so sets, I, along with many others, were wrong. 

Till this day, SPUP - SPPF have kept their old ways of doing things to the point that Seychelles today, is failing its People and even failing SPUP-SPPF, as they fail themselves and each other, with political infighting and debt defaults on the international finance circuits. 

Today, just like it was under the British and perhaps French, Seychelles is no longer for Seychellois. SPUP-SPPF has made "Seychelles for Foreigners". They have been doing that for years now, selling Passports to foreigners all over the world. Millions have been made in that effort across the board as our Citizenship has been prostituted by SPUP-SPPF. Some of the "Johns" have used the passports to buy up hundreds and hundreds of acres of Seychelles properties which they would otherwise have to seek Sanction and propose projects to be approved by the Public and Government. 

Some have dabbled in shady deals to acquire properties held by Government and parastatals. They have done so because SPUP-SPPF has made them comfortable in knowing that corrupt transactions are acceptable under SPUP-SPPF. Failing corrupt practices, business and property transactions do not get completed in Seychelles

SPUP/SPPF Empower Foreigners

The long and short of this scenario is that foreigners start to feel more powerful in our Country than simple Seychellois themselves. They start to believe in their empowerment, because SPUP-SPPF allows them to believe, that they can do whatever they want in our Country. They can even victimize Seychellois, since they have SPUP-SPPF conduct as the example to follow. 

With this social-civil mindset in play, "Seychelles is no longer for Seychellois", it is now Seychelles for Foreigners" under SPUP/SPPF. If you forget the slogan just think of "SPPF=SFF". To make sense of what is going on around you. 

The Indian Saga 

Most recently, we have been hearing a lot about the up and coming Indian community. There seems to be some sort of division brewing. Well, many of us are of some Indian decent somewhere down the road. The issues being aired are not cultural, race or origin issues. They are economic and social primarily. 

When a "Seychellois is economically displaced in his own land, because a political party has had a policy to so displace him over time, can you blame him from raising his voice. Indians have a home land. Similarly, South Africans and Russians have a Country, but you Seychellois, when SPPF tells you to leave Seychelles, where will you go? Can you go to Paris, can you go to Moscow and take up permanent residence, and enjoy the benefits of citizenship? 

SPUP SPPF Don't Care For US

When a Government turns its People to welfare recipients over a prolonged period, and does not engage them, challenge them to look beyond the bottle of BAKA, or beyond a bucket of Lapire, does this Government have the best interest of its people at heart? Of course it does not have the interest of the People at heart. 

What it has at heart is self preservation and the maintenance of power, even at the cost of losing its population. Why worry, when you can replace them, they think. SAD- SPUP- SPPF, what happened to the ideals of your Party? Today you are SPPF=SFF! 

Seychelles Not For Professional Seychellois

Most recently traditional SPUP-SPPF professionals are complaining that the "JJ Spirit" Government will admit foreign lawyers to practice in Seychelles and is currently admitting foreign companies to set up off shore registration companies, a business that can be easily managed and run by any Seychellois out of Polytechnic with a little motivation and willingness to learn proper procedures for company registration. The spirit +SPPF= SFF. 

Fishing and Tourism Not For Seychellois

"JJ Spirt" also lets foreign ships into our waters and foreign fishermen to the detriment of our Seychellois fishermen. The "Spirit" squeezes local Seychellois in the hotel business and allows Four Seasons, Raffles, Meridien and Hilton and everyone else into our Industry. Shame on SPUP-SPPF. I am no fool SPUP-SPPF. I know we need foreign investments to pay your debts, but you do not have to squeeze local investors at the same time while you receive foreign investors and pad the business playing feel in their favor. Sick! You make Communists look bad SPUP. The JJ spirit+SPPF +SPUP=SFF. 

SPUP-SPPF Sacrifice Seychellois

SPUP-SPPF you can steal opportunities from real Seychellois, and give them to foreigners as you like, while you like, but you will never be able to take a Seychellois, inalienable right, to change the course of his and her Country from your destructive path you have set in motion.

Seychellois First overrides SPUP-SPPF=SFF. 

Our Politics Are Exclusive For Seychellois

We Seychellois reserve our political rights in exclusivity of any other group or Nation SPUP-SPPF will want to bring along to destroy Seychellois to preserve itself. This exclusivity in Seychelles affairs is nonnegotiable SPUP-SPPF, in spite of yourselves and all your foreign friends. 

Foreign companies and associates, that commit fraud, and rely on corruption base tactics to garnish business favor in Seychelles, are put on Notice, along with the USA, European Union, India, South Africa and Mauritius, our neighbors, when there is a change in Government in Seychelles, these dark room dealings will be put on the table for the Public and review systematically. Crooked deals will be scrutinized and prosecuted to the fullest extent under the laws of Seychelles today, and applicable legislation to stamp out corrupt practices in our Country. Illegal passports will be canceled and not renewed. Land transactions arising out of underlying illegal negotiations will also be null and void as per laws of Seychelles which are being ignored under SPPF. 

Ill gotten wealth in private hands will have to go back to the People of Seychelles for their rightful benefit and enjoyment. Seychelles must not allow itself to become the Gold Medalist Nation in victimization and corruption. The quicker we clean up Seychelles, the quicker Seychelles will be able to pay SPPF debts so we can live comfortable again. 

French Embassy and "JJ Spirt" 

French Embassy is also meddling in Seychelles Affairs. The French Government is put on Notice, to stop meddling in Seychelles affairs to prop up a failing "JJ Spirit". We welcome you as friends to our shores, we have much shared history, but you must not allow the incompetence of "JJ Spirit" to allow you to feel that you can do whatever you want in Seychelles at the expense of Seychellois interests. 

Regardless of what Debt SPUP-SPPF owes to you, French Embassy, your Ambassador has no right to compromise our Dignity as a People. No amount of Money owed to the European Union by SPUP-SPPF can match up to a single ounce of Dignity you take from a Seychellois by meddling in our internal affairs to prop a failing regime, and preventing a Nation from making a peaceful natural political transition as is normal in a Nations' life cycle. Micro state we are, but "idiots" is not a title every Seychellois carries around his neck, although some in your company of cocktail party circuit friends do carry around their necks. 

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

 

  

September 5, 2008
Copyright 2007: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles