President Michel’s Visit to Abu Dhabi
IS THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG?
A PRESS communiqué from state House recently announced that President Michel has left the country on a two-day visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The communiqué continued by stating that President Michel's visit is a follow up to the December 2006 mission to Abu Dhabi.
Although the communiqué seems innocent enough at first glance, when looked at closely, one is struck by two things. Firstly, the epigrammatic nature of its content. Secondly, the reason for the visit is not divulged. Michel, who is fast acquiring the reputation of a globetrotting President, has been to Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion, Rome, Singapore, China and Abu Dhabi to name a few places since being inaugurated as President.
Although there is nothing wrong with these visits undertaken for and on behalf of the government and people of Seychelles at the expense of tax payers' money, the impression given is that the President is increasingly perceived as doing something for the country rather than actually doing anything at all. This perception has become more pronounced as the President has informed the public at large that he is working hard to bring fresh investments into the country. However, to date the President has very little in terms of investment to show for his countless visits overseas. At the risk of treading into the realm of speculation, one therefore wonders if there is a more sinister motive to all these visits. Why has State House refused to reveal the real reason behind those visits?
Why has the President seen it fit to visit Abu Dhabi twice in the space of a few months? Why Abu Dhabi in particular?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven states formed in 1971 by the then Trucial States after independence from Britain. Although each state - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain - maintains a large degree of independence, the UAE is governed by a Supreme Council of Rulers made up of the seven emirs, who appoint the prime minister and the cabinet. Before oil was discovered in the 1950s the UAE's economy was dependent on fishing and a declining pearling industry. But since 1962, when Abu Dhabi became the first of the emirates to begin exporting oil, the country's society and economy have been transformed. The late Sheikh Zayed, ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE at its inception, was quick to seize on the potential of the oil industry. He oversaw the development of all the emirates and directed oil revenues into healthcare, education and the national infrastructure.
The oil industry has attracted a large influx of foreign workers who, together with expatriates, now make up more than three quarters of the population. The country's growing business sector and its tourist industry have helped to fuel a construction boom, with billions of dollars being pumped into showpiece schemes.
Chic hotels and skyscrapers are emblematic of cities such as Abu Dhabi and cosmopolitan Dubai. The UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf, with other cultures and beliefs generally tolerated. Until December 2006 it was the only state in the region not to have elected bodies.
What is there to hide therefore about the visit of our Head of State to such a country? In the SPPF mouthpiece The People the visit was announced as a non-event and then again in very brief terms in what appears to be a mere repetition of its sister papers Seychelles Nation and the Rising Sun. The “Rising Sun” merely reported the following about the visit: “President James Michel has left the country to undertake a two-day visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the invitation of Crown Prince Sheik Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Seychelles and the UAE have established a strong relationship based on investment ties, as well as cooperation through the Abu Dhabi Fund. According to a Press Release from State House President Michel's visit is a follow- up to the December 2006 mission to Abu Dhabi.”
In the other SPPF propaganda machine, “Seychelles Nation," the paper simply carried an even more succinct article in a small corner of the front page entitled “President Michel in Abu Dhabi.” In this article the paper simply states that: “President James Michel has left the country on a two-day visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the invitation of Crown Prince Sheik Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Seychelles and the UAE have established a strong relationship based on investment ties, as well as cooperation through the Abu Dhabi Fund. President Michel's visit is a follow-up to the December 2006 mission to Abu Dhabi.” What sort of “mission” President Michel was on in December 2006 is not clear as is the present “visit” for that matter. Nothing more was said about the visit even on his return in the country, except for a communiqué from State House stating that the President held fruitful discussions with the Crown Prince of Abu-Dhabi, His Highness Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on subjects of mutual interest including tourism, fisheries, investment, civil aviation, petroleum, higher education as well as renewable energy. SBC television was not much help either if one was hoping to get detailed information about the President's visit to the UAE.
No details of what really was discussed there on our behalf or on how Seychelles stands to benefit long or short term from such a visit. Why so much secrecy around this visit? This coming from an administration and a President who promised the people good governance, transparency and accountability not so long ago and had the audacity to throw down a challenge to the populace to "judge me by my actions."
The way the visit was portrayed in the local government-controlled media appears to be peculiar. If the President went to the UAE to discuss the business of the people, why can't we have a full account of what was discussed and the outcome of his meeting with the Crown Prince? One wonders what part of our heritage was on sale during this visit. And who got what in the process? It looks more like the President had been “summoned” by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nayan rather than responded to an “invitation”. The public perception of the President’s various visits overseas seems to be that the President is being ordered around by foreign despots, Rulers, Emirs, Presidents, kings, and powers. Thus the apt title the tail wagging the dog instead of the dog wagging the tail.
If this is the case then this is definitely not a healthy situation for our President to be in and the public has every reason to be concerned. It is a known secret that locally our President is repeatedly summoned by the powers that be at Maison du Peuple. Our President cannot and should not be at the beck and call of foreign powers that may have a vested interest in the strategic location of our islands and our natural resources. Since the President has made it a point to espouse the virtues of transparent government, should he not lead by example by giving the people of Seychelles more details about these sinister visits overseas? Is Seychelles going to benefit from these visits? If the answer to this ubiquitous question is in the affirmative, then the President should also explain how and when the country can expect to see a windfall from his visits overseas. This is the least the people expect from their President!
