THE WISDOM OF THE SNP LEADER HONOURABLE RAMKALAWAN

We will stick to the last two years during the course of this exercise in evaluating the wisdom of the man who is dying to be our “Dear Leader”, the presidency is or was his ultimate goal, but, it seems that he has now given up all hope and has opted for the next best thing. “If you can’t beat them you might as well join them”, strategy. This strategy is two fold, giving up on all the grand principles, getting everything that he so desires but still managing to keep his support base. This will probably be the hardest task on hand.

Having lost the presidential election for the third time in August 2006, our man was clueless on how to move to the fore from this position. A rally was organised out of town, Port Launay, to claim victory in defeat in an attempt to keep the faithful believing – a radio was called for, he named it ‘Radio Freedom’. The people contributed handsomely. A petition signing exercise conducted on the steps of the National Assembly was turned into a blood bath when the SSU was let loose by their masters on all who had gathered. In the wake of the incidents of the 3^rd 0ctober, 2006, the Honorable gentleman called for a total boycott of the National Assembly, he pulled his team out and suspended all participation in the affairs of the National Assembly, but still collecting his monthly stipend, on the basis that their Constitutional Rights to assemble had been violated. He has since accepted, after the release of Judge Reilly’s report, that the gathering without police permission on the steps of the National Library on the 3^rd of October, 2006, was illegal. In the process he had negligently endangered the life of his supporters. Some of his supporters has been charged and are awaiting trial before the courts. We are all hoping that he is using these meetings at State House with President Michel to negotiate, in the name of reconciliation, the dropping of all criminal chargers imposed on his supporters. He is looking for compensation whilst his supporters face terms of imprisonment.

“The SNP will not take part in the 2006 National Assembly elections”, he said - Unless the rules are changed and the playing field leveled. He did not get what he wanted from Michel; he made a complete u-turn, abandoning his principles and participated in the National Assembly elections to save his position of Leader of Opposition, which brings him Rs20,000 a month, a car, plus an office, secretary, driver and bodyguards all provided and paid for by the state. With his associates they denied their party and supporters a voice by not publishing the popular Regar newspaper. They went on a long holiday after the presidential election, last year. Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly kept the voice of the Opposition alive in the country and supported SNP causes regardless.

President Michel in his state of the nation address in March, 2007, dissolved the National Assembly and called for early legislative elections. Ramkalawan was caught with his pants down. He needed the Democratic Party (DP) to help save democracy and to stop the SPPF from gaining an all powerful two-third majority in the National Assembly. DP delivered, Ramkalawan was spared the blushes, democracy in Seychelles survived by the skin of its teeth - thanks to the none direct participation of the Democratic Party. DP was rewarded as per an agreement with a well earned seat in the National Assembly.

Attorney, Frank Elizabeth took up the seat representing the Democratic Party alongside the SNP contingent in the National Assembly. Elizabeth wasted no time in making an impression on his peers and the public at large; Ramkalawan became uneasy, this was obvious to all observers. He plotted and waited for an opportunity. The opportunity came when an agreement between the French Government and the Seychelles Government was put before the National Assembly for ratification. It was to approve the patrolling of part of our EEZ by the French Navy to help curb illegal fishing in Seychelles waters. This agreement was in the “National Interest”, that no one can argue against. Ramkalawan on the outset indicated to Elizabeth that he would support the agreement. He changed his mind without informing the DP representative. Elizabeth, who was given the opportunity to speak first, spoke in support and voted for the agreement. Ramkalawan moved in fast, he was determined to seize on this opportunity to get rid of Elizabeth.

Ramkalawan ended the alliance with the Democratic Party and removed Elizabeth from the National Assembly without a word of consultation or dialogue with DP. This was the action of a man who claims to believe in dialogue. As irony would have it, barely two weeks after this infamous act of betrayal, Ramkalawan was full of “What is good for Seychelles is good enough for Him and his SNP”. He was seen on SBC TV addressing his party’s convention, where he stated that he will from then on be working closer with the Government of President Michel on issues of “National Interest”. This is the same man who two weeks earlier had sacked Mr. Frank Elizabeth for doing just that, upholding Seychelles’ best interest. He has since visited State House twice for tea and biscuits with President Michel, his political arch rival who had vouch in May this year to wipe Ramkalawan’s party, the SNP, off the local political map.

Ramkalawan and Michel, it is alleged, are now planning the demise of the DP and Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly. Regar Printing has refused to print the ‘Weekly’, denying this paper an opportunity to pronounce an opinion on the 2008 Budget. This Budget, as it is now obvious, contains plenty of juice, sweets and meat for both sides. They did not want us to spoil their party…. Just too bad Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly has once again risen from the ashes just like the great Phoenix……..!