AFTER a lot of soul searching on ways and means to fight drug trafficking, it seem that the latest measure is a new master plan according to the Drug and Alcohol Council (DAC). Making a plan is great but implementation and making the plan work is something else. The problem with any plans that government and any other respective agencies may undertake is the need the full collaboration of the general public. When it comes to drugs, the trend so far has been to sit back and watch what is being done, with only a few daring individuals actually reporting or giving information.
The concern for most people is the issue that DAC takes seriously and is looking at how to tackle it; how to protect witnesses. Seychelles is a small country and every-one knows every-one else, so working on a witness protection programme will be a daunting task. How to keep confidentiality is another issue because Seychellois in general like sharing any juicy bit of news and this goes for people in the police force as well. Another issue is catching the drug lords and not the little pushers on the street. Up to now this has proved to be almost impossible because these people simply have enough money to buy protection from corrupted politicians or police officers to keep them out of any trouble. They have the advantage of being anonymous because they do not do the dealing themselves but pay others to do it for them, so however high the suspicion against them they will never be caught in the act. The only option left is to watch suspected individuals' assets closely because many of them cannot afford the luxury they seems to have on their salary only.
When all this is considered, a lot of effort will have to be made to encourage the public to participate. For the past few years, Seychellois has lost confidence in the existing structures in place, including agencies responsible for law and order. The justice system has also been seen as ineffective against traffickers because evidence can easily disappear and therefore cases are dropped, leaving the witnesses as potential targets for harassment.
All in all, DAC has a formidable task ahead of them, and they will need all the help they can get in order to make any new plans work. But as the proverb goes 'nothing ventured, nothing gained', so any new ideas are worth a try since the one in place is not working to anyone's satisfaction.
So let us wish them success in their attempt. Good Luck!