The following are taken as is from a web blog
Has Wavel sold out to SPPF? This is the question many SNP supporters are now asking. We publish below an interesting observation from a member of the public.
Wavel gave the reasons for cozying up to the SPPF and they are as follows:
“Wavel in Convention gave 3 reasons:
1. Wavel believes in the good faith of the SPPF, since they have welcomed the O Reilly report.
2. Wavel has been invited to SPDF celebrations.
3. The Police suspended police thugs for beating up an Accused. “
Personally I do not see any solid reasons why the SNP should believe in SPPF goodwill, for me they have not done a single thing in past weeks which shows they are ready to change. It is all cosmetic...and plus ca change....
Unfortunately and as usual the SNP is having difficulty explaining the reasons. It is worse than when they decided at the last minute to participate in National Assembly elections.
The rumours are rife and range from Wavel getting a huge loan from Development Bank of Seychelles to build chalets at Ile au Cerfs (if that is true it is certainly very suspect taking into account that Opposition supporters are unable to get a single cent in loan from Govt Controlled Organisations), to put into law salary increases for MNAs, Leader of Opposition, Leader of Government Business, the Speaker and others plus giving allowances and gratuities.....
The DP factor is not helping...and SNP is finding it really hard to communicate to its hardcore who has been use to SNP attacking SPPF on every front.
One thing is clear; the SNP is at the end of the road.... in esoufle e perdi tou sans direksyon except trying desperately to cling to being the main Official Opposition Party.
Whilst it is very unlikely that the SNP will remain the main Opposition Party it is also clear (unless a catastrophe befalls the SPPF, like a major earthquake and all SPPF Leadership are sucked into a black hole) that the SPPF will probably remain in power for the foreseeable future and that even in the event of FAR dying.
The word on the street is that Wavel has sold out (the reasons being given is multiple), but even the most hardcore SNP is admitting that the situation is at best suspect.
I met this really, really hardcore SNP supporter (a fellow which is found in all SNP meetings and even in the photo of the National Assembly steps commemorating the 3rd October incident. I asked him “mon boy ki deal”; sadly he told me “bef dan disab sakenn vey son lizye” which says it all.
One way to measure whether the SNP Leaders have been bought off is to see the external signs of wealth: when one sees X who is one of the clique of the SNP getting license to have car hire business, or a loan, or increase in salary (whilst the ordinary Opposition Supporter continues to anmas beze) then I think it will be fair to declare them having sold out.
It is a sad day for snp supporters; Wavel’s decision to change his political tactics should have been made clear, because after all the votes won (which have significantly increased over time) were because a portion of the population agreed to the previous snp style of politics. This sudden change will lose him a lot of support. History has already shown us how JRM was met at the airport by crowds crying and waiting with bated breath for his next move only to be disappointed when he seemingly joined ranks with the SPPF. JRM learnt the hard way that people want a different kind of politics, one where the SPPF actions are questioned; otherwise everyone may as well just vote SPPF and be done with it.
If Wavel is all about personal gains, he should be man enough to step down and pass on the helm to someone else who will continue the fight for democracy, justice and economic stability for all Seychellois regardless of their political beliefs.
Could this be the reason Annette Georges left? She does not strike me as a quitter; there must be something else behind her reason to leave at this specific juncture.
Or maybe Wavel has simply given up. He has been in this game for a long time, and has decided he has had enough of fighting the system. Still if this is how he feels, he should step down instead of making those who stuck out their necks to support him openly and bear the consequences feel it was all for nothing.
SPPF has always been good at the concept of divide and rule. It reminds me of the style used by the slave owners, when a group of slaves would revolt they would single out the leaders, give them better housing, more food and less work, making their followers soon lose interest in fighting with their ‘master’ and instead concentrate their anger and frustration at the leaders. One can only admire the SPPF use of this technique successfully.
SPPF employs divide and rule strategy?
Someone once said that “SPPF has always been good at the concept of divide and rule” and I disagree. Let me explain:
In the SNP/DP divorce SPPF had absolutely nothing to do with it. Reasons given by SNP are so thin that one has only 2 possible conclusions:
1. SNP was looking for any reason to kick DP out and divide the Opposition.
2. Wavel had already decided to lean towards the SPPF (for reasons only known to him).
As I’ve said above, the SPPF has not given a single indication or any evidence whatsoever that it is changing ways or being more democratic. In fact evidence seems to be pointing otherwise.
Any cosmestic change is not towards pleasing the Opposition but meant to pacify and convince Western Aid donors and for calling in the IMF. All this divesting itself of parastatals and its assets is one of the medicines of the IMF. The question that begs is whether the IMF will be bailing us out anytime soon.
The devaluation is hurting the population so is the privatization process which over time will mean losing of jobs.
The privatization process is far from transparent (but the SNP has chosen not to hit at it but has been mellow).
I know it is hard for people to accept that Wavel may have sold us out (it was hard when Mancham did so), I repeat that one should not expect to one day come across an envelop full of money written “from Albert Rene to Wavel Ramkalawan”, but there are other ways that benefits are derived.
More than half of the population supports the SPPF and we all know the extent of corruption in this party, so it does not surprise me that a good chunk of the other half is as blind to what is happening in the SNP.
Maybe the saying “a people deserves the rulers it gets” is right.
With regards to Annette Georges, she is a great Lady! I have but respect for her. As you rightly pointed out there must be reasons for her to leave. Ou pa zis les tonbe en “cause” koum sa menm, non?.
I know that she will never spill any beans (no matter how bad it is) simply because she believes that Wavel/SNP is the lesser of the two evils. I guess a lot of people think likewise, and I was inclined for long to do so as well.