About Face Beyond ConfusionAs the State of the Nation debates unfolded in the National Assembly, before the People of Seychelles, there was much disgrace to over-shadow the lovely words of sentiment over our suffering President Michel crowned his Year 2007 with.
While the SPPF reacted to Mr. President’s speech with the usual boring predictability found only in failing Communist organizations, the Opposition sent the People of Seychelles into confusion and surprise as the Leader of The Opposition made a complete “About Face” and turned on Michel, SPPF, the Army and SBC. He voiced concern for the People like his old self and he debated hard to reclaim his position as Leader of The Opposition in our hearts and minds. Some are now confused more than ever. Let me help.
While there are many questions left to be answered, at least some of our prayers are being answered in small doses. We must be grateful for the “About Face”! We must continue to pray for Reverend Wavel Ramkalawan as he fights off the SPPF Demons who had taken him by their grips and claws to the point that he was whispering casually in Mr. President’s ears in a St. Louis District meeting, without regard for those who, when called upon to fight for Freedom, showed up and did not ask him questions, but trusted in him.
He took up tea and cakes to seize “new opportunities” as he said in an SNP Conference, without regard for the simple ordinary Seychellois who must face the reality of a shocking destruction of everything they thought was real, only to now know it was all a dream, that is, the SPPF story of taking our People out of poverty and giving them a decent life worthy of human dignity. We are sliding back into poverty today faster than the great landslide over 100 years ago.
Under SPPF there is no dignity for Seychellois. Our future under SPPF will bring with it only more and more suffering. The difference in the problems we face today with SPPF, compared to everything else we faced over the last 33 years under their catastrophic era is that now today, we are BANKRUPT. In the days of Rene, we could still borrow a little here and there to keep things going. Now Rene uses Andre Pool to read his speeches, and he avoids us because he cannot face us and tell us why his great plans have not worked for us, but have worked just fine for him. He sends Michel and Mary- Louise with the nice red hair to tell us that it’s the world market prices for rice, corn, flour, oil, that is causing SPPF to fail. But they politely forget to mention that we have been failing for 30 years. While in the past the SPPF could fake it a little now and then, they can now fake no more! We must wake up all Seychellois to SPPF’s fake dreams.
Just as President Michel called for more private meetings without media and without questions, Mr. Ramkalawan has called for media presence when meetings between him and Michel take place. This is a wise move. We must congratulate Mr. Ramkalawan on this move and support him. For it shows he is coming back to the Opposition. But razzle dazzle politics has caused so much damage in the Opposition rank and file. We must watch some more.
Reverend Ramkalawan must re-build quickly if he is to retain any credibility to those lovely speeches in Kreol. We must take politics out of the realm of nice words unlike SPPF and place politics in the realm of real concrete action to give our People any hope. This means making personal sacrifices.
For the Bible says, “no man can serve two masters”. He will hate one and love another; he will be loyal to one and despise the other. For a man cannot serve God, the Devil and Money. Once you choose, you must be a man of courage in action and not in mere words.
As the first step, Mr. Ramkalawan and SNP must act in unison, must face SPPF, in writing, advise the Speaker of the National Assembly that you will not take the increase in salaries. Secondly, bearing in mind the economic difficulties the ordinary Seychellois are facing today, Reverend Ramkalawan and SNP must, without delay, also write to Mr. President Michel and ask him to repeal the Constitutional Emoluments Appropriation Bill of 2008. Furthermore, ask Mr. President to withhold all salary increases for all constitutional posts until such time that we have come out of our ongoing economic crisis. To show Solidarity and Unity with all ordinary Seychellois and others, ask Mr. President to table a 15% across the board salary cut based on last years salaries, until such time the economic situation improves. This is unconditional. Upon further reflection Reverend Ramkalawan will see that this is wisdom at play. The cuts must not apply to Former President’s since that may prompt them both to come back to politics and we will be back to 1964 in Gordon Square.
For the Bible says, for things that are considered of great value by simple man are worth nothing in the eyes of God. If you are a man of God, this will make some sense to you.
Last week I helped bury my Uncle, Frank Mancham. Uncle Frank was a Democrat. He helped write “ANNOU VIV COMMA FRER”. But he voted for Wavel Ramkalawan in the last Elections. Today, Mr. Ramkalawan does not talk to his Party. I find that strange and sad. How many Democrats will die over the next few years while Mr. Ramkalawan remains silent and carries on this charade with SPPF? They all voted for him in the last Elections under advice of Mr. James Mancham. Those votes should not have been in vain.
I ask Mr. Ramkalawan to cease his futile dialogue with SPPF. A drug Addict does not go to his Dealer to tell him he wants to stop using drugs and seek help from the same Dealer who is directly responsible for the Addict’s problems. Do not conduct yourself as if you are in a position of weakness when in fact you are in a position of strength. To do so only weakens your position of strength.
Take significant meaningful steps to engage in dialog with the Democratic Party. On March 1st, 2008, DP will open it’s Mont Fleuri office. Printing presses are coming, paper is being stocked. Insurance policies are being written for fire damage. The Band is polishing the Brass. It will be sad if you do not attend the opening as Leader of The Opposition.
Along these lines, it is also in order to shake hands with DP. For when James Michel called snap Elections last year in that State of the Nation Address, and you did not even have the time to produce a rebuttal but only called him a coward, DP did produce a rebuttal. It was DP that fought hard in the press and on the field to give you the seats you have in the National Assembly today. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God. Along these lines, give to DP what is rightfully DP’s. Instead of spending days and days before SPPF Courts, give DP back it’s seat in the National Assembly for the duration of this Assembly Term. Mr. Henri is a fine gentleman. But the seat he occupies does not belong to him. He sits in Frank’s seat.
Furthermore, in demonstration of your respect for us and all Seychellois whom we are fighting for, give us one (1) additional seat as moral compensation for removing Frank Elizabeth from the National Assembly. With that, you will be able to lead and speak with a voice of clarity and authority and you will stop looking like a puppet SPPF was enjoying to play with during the Christmas season like a little toy from Santa.
If you only knew what it takes to achieve Peace and Prosperity in Seychelles today, I would not be writing to you, but you would be writing to us. If you cannot see it now, the time will come when your enemies will surround you with barricades, blockade you and close in on you from every side. They will completely destroy you and the people within your walls, not a single stone will they leave in place, because you did not recognize the time when God through (DP) came to save you.
These are not my words, but the word of the Lord. Dear Reverend, pay due heed to them.