Politics is not a game; it is the serious business of the people. Nor is Politics a business where unscrupulous politicians can employ it as a get rich quick scheme at the expense of the people. However, President James Michel and Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan have single handedly managed to turn local politics into a lucrative business overnight. They are playing a game with the lives of the people of Seychelles. They have failed to discharge their responsibility mandated to them through the ballot box not so long ago. President James Michel was given a mandate of five years in which to run the affairs of state and improve the economic life of the country and people. In seeking his mandate President James Michel looked the people in their eyes and said: “I will never devalue the Seychelles Rupees because it will only hurt the most vulnerable in society.” He was asked about electricity and water charges. “The economy is good and solid” he replied. “Therefore, I do not foresee any increment at least during my mandate.” he retorted. He thus gave the overall impression that he did not intend to make any drastic changes as President. All these have now been proven to be false to the point of deceit. The President has quickly embarked on the very changes he promised the people of Seychelles he would not do during his mandate. In fact, the President has gone even further than expected by giving himself a fat pay rise whilst handing the hard working Seychellois men and women chicken feed. This has been done within only the second year of his Presidency!
Wavel Ramkalawan, for his part, announced to the world and all that cared to listen, that he wanted to be President because he felt that he had the ability and the perfect team to deal with the economic crisis the country faced. So it was a great disappointment for all who voted for him to be President, when he announced in the National Assembly recently that he is relieved he was not elected President. In a sycophantic display of a man who lacks the intellectual ability to understand the intricacies of Seychelles politics, Ramkalawan heaped praises after praises on President Michel. His troop in the National Assembly cringed with embarrassment as Ramkalawan spoke. “It is a tough job being President”, Ramkalawan mused like a man who had just woken up from a long and deep slumber and had suddenly been struck by a bolt of lightning.” I am sure that President Michel has many sleepless nights when he ponders the problems that the country faces today” he continued unashamedly. Suddenly it became crystal clear to all of us who stood by Ramkalawan through thick and thin, with some making great sacrifices, that the man has clearly misled us into believing that he had the ability to do the job and was going to be our saviour from 30 years of SPPF misrule. This has proven to be the biggest con ever inflicted on the people of Seychelles! Ramkalawan also promised during the National Assembly elections last year that he will fight to the end for all the people of this country. Today it is clear for all to see that Wavel has all but given up on his promises and is now looking after his own pocket and personal interest! Beware of Ramkalawan. He is a good actor and he will probably continue to fool and con the people for what remains of his mandate. But let this be his very last mandate as we, the people of Seychelles, will ensure that he disappears into political oblivion never to be heard of again in the 2011 elections. In the meantime he can enjoy his ill gotten gains.
President Michel was given a mandate to govern whilst Ramkalawan was given a mandate to oppose, thus his title of Leader of the Opposition. The job descriptions are self evident in their titles. We now have a President and a Leader of Opposition in title only. Michel is not leading, Maison du Peuple is. Ramkalawan is not opposing and has all but abdicated his responsibility as Leader of the Opposition. Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly is doing the job that Ramkalawan is getting handsomely paid to do! Now that we are talking about salaries the truth must prevail. We owe it to the people of this country to make this information public. In December last year, 21st of December to be precise, the Bill to increase salaries was inconspicuously presented before the National Assembly and unanimously approved by the House. Some SNP MNAs said in their budget address that they would not support the Bill. However, after a certain amount of arm twisting by the “dear Leader” himself they all obediently fell into line like sheep to the slaughter and voted for the Budget in its totality. Not even a thought was spared for the Seychellois family who would face extreme hardship and in some instances dire poverty as all the prices of commodities in the shops increased a hundred fold and the utility bills increased by as much as 60%. Not even a word of support or encouragement was said for the children of Seychelles who will suffer the most from the negative impact of the budget. All thoughts selfishly turned to the huge salary increases of politicians in government as well as in opposition as the Seychellois families were abandoned and left in the ditch to fend for themselves.
Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly has given ample time to the SNP to come clean on this matter of salaries. But they have chosen to remain suspiciously silent. In both Regar and Vizyon nothing was said on the matter, not a word. Not a word was uttered even in the public meetings with their activists. This is from a group of people claiming to believe in democracy, transparency and accountability. The truth of the matter is that Ramkalawan has taken a huge increase of nine thousand rupees (Rs9, 000) for himself and approved a monstrous sum of thirty-eight thousand rupees (Rs38,000) for President Michel, an increment of twelve thousand rupees (Rs12,000) on his old salary. We had expected the SPPF to remain quiet on this issue because that is their style, lie to the people through smiling faces. But from the SNP we expected better, at least a disclosure of the sums involved. They chose to support the SPPF on the budget, going against their pledges and principles to fight for the weak and the voiceless in society. Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly will not pronounce an opinion on this matter. We will leave it to you, the people, to make your own judgment. Although this is clearly a case of what is good for the goose is not good for the gander, we trust in your judgment and we are confident that you are more than capable of making your own assessment of this situation.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I’m a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” Let this be a lesson to Ramkalawan, as history will judge him not for what he has done for this country, if any, but what he has not done. He has miserably failed to stand up to be counted when it really mattered!
