EMPTY PROMISES STILL BEING MADE

EVERY day in Seychelles, if you read the papers and watch the news on television, somebody is always promising to do something for the benefit of the people. I know in politics for example, it is a common phrase for politicians because this is what their campaign is based on. But elections are over at least for the next 3 years so why is some people still trying to impress us with their promises which to date most of them have not been kept or delivered.

The latest promises were: that the drug lords or traffickers will be dealt with, essential goods will be available in all shops, and the issue of corruption in the judicial system will be addressed and so many others. To date we keep hearing about a lot of drugs being seized but very little traffickers are arrested or the few who are, are rarely or not convicted at all, essential goods such as margarine are still rare in shops unless you stand by at the now STC every single day and corruption in most places have become the norm.

At this point, who are we to believe? Prices keep increasing with all the price revision which is something else that is difficult to understand. Are prices worldwide on the increase or somewhere some of theme are actually decreasing? I guess we all need to start watching international prices closely to keep ourselves informed because with the current trend, we the people will always be in the dark.

I watch the news religiously hoping to hear some encouraging news but SBC has become like a broken record, news is no longer new but the same old stories. The leaders are even worse, they keep repeating everything they have said already. Some papers are saying that we should feel fortunate for at least having something to eat compared to some other countries. Why then do leaders use those same countries to compare the progress that Seychelles has made or give us those impressive statistics? We are either progressing or going back. So which one is it?

Maybe the good lord will shine some light on what has become a very somber future with no means of knowing how it is going to end. But as the saying goes “after the storm comes the sunshine” or “every cloud has a sliver lining” then there is still hope for us. Thanks god we still have this paper to keep us informed.

March 21, 2008
Copyright 2007: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles