Troukler

Troukler

IT’S TIME THAT THE GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THE VOICE OF THE OPPOSITION

A judge in Argentina revoked the pardon of former Dictator Jorge Videla this week. Two of his Ministers also lost their immunity. In Seychelles the Government passed a law not too long ago giving immunity against criminal prosecution to the one party state government for any act or acts committed during this era.

The founding President of Seychelles, Mr. James Mancham, has made several calls for the government to embark on a policy of national reconciliation to heal the wounds of the past and put our turbulent political history behind us once and for all. The government of the day continues to act unilaterally ignoring the existence of a popular and strong opposition faction. Mr. Mancham’s views on the issue of national reconciliation remains but only a voice in the wilderness. As President James Michel appoints members of the powerful, National Economic Planning Council recently he has totally ignored the opposition and the Chamber of Commerce, taking a regressive rather than a progressive step.

Before the National Economic Planning Council, Mr. Rene, then President had set up the National Economic Council and had included both opposition and Chamber of Commerce members on the committee. Although Michel is anxious to distance himself from Rene and prove that he is his own man, the wisdom of ignoring both the opposition and the Chamber of Commerce on the National Economic Planning Council is baffling.

Is it not time for the government to acknowledge the voice of the opposition and take their views onboard in the decision making process by way of consultation and consensus? Although the opposition represents 46% of the population, the government has chosen to ignore their presence and carried on with business as usual! As the going is expected to get tough, if not rough, soon, when the restructuring of the economy begins, would it not be logical for the government and the opposition to work together to lessen the impact of the economic blows on the populace when the effect of economic reform hits home hard?