Troukler
President James Michel is not Father Christmas
Another week is upon us. Soon it will be Christmas. In only five weeks, the season of goodwill to all our neighbours, friends and enemies would have started. This year promises to be one of the worse ever Christmas in our history, economically. Violence has become a tool of choice in problem solving, bearing in mind that Seychelles is above all, a catholic country, with over 90% of the population belonging to the Roman Catholic Faith. Certain person finds this situation normal. The new prison at Mt. Posee has become the official torture chamber, Human Rights organizations around the world has become aware of this situation. People involved in human rights watch locally are making inquiries on the basis of prosecuting the people responsible for these atrocities in criminal courts outside Seychelles, most probably in The Hague.
The President for his part has given notice to the populace to Take The Bus! President Michel has advised Seychellois to curb consumption, stop wasting electricity and take the Bus! This Presidential Declaration has come at a time when Fuel cost will be increased and the President said the international oil prices are causing Seychelles great difficulty in benefiting from our Invisible Boom period, which he says exist, but the People cannot see it or feel the impact of it. The price of fuel will likely reach Rs.15.00 per litre this December. In the new year 2008 before the State of The Nation address is delivered, the price of fuel will likely reach Rs.25.00 per litre. In spite of that, we expect the President to tell the Nation, we will be right on track to achieving our goals under Strategy 2017 conveniantly abandoning vision 2013.
Last week after visiting fuel storage facilities at the New Port, President Michel stated that all the excess foreign exchange that is flowing in from investors, tourism and elsewhere is going towards purchasing fuel for local consumption. President Michel failed to give any figures; it was the usual political talk, “bat latet”, insulting the intelligence of the ‘baka drinker’. The great contradiction came immediately after the President’s comment on SBC, when it was the turn of Captain Adam, the big chief at Seypec, to say his piece. The Captain, intelligent as he is, gave us the statistics and the figures to back up his argument, and in the process made the President look like a pussy in a well, wet. Mr. Adam, known locally as the good Capt., told us that we receive US dollars ninety thousand ($90,000) from Total for storing fuel. This, Mr. President, is more than enough to supplement the excess charges on fuel costs. Now Mr. President can you tell us, and please give us some figures so that we can evaluate the truthfulness of your statement, where are the flood of foreign exchange you said are coming from investors, tourism, the fishing industry, the selling of land by government to foreigners, port dues and landing fees at the Seychelles International Airport and wherever else foreign exchange come from. Mr. President we want you to be truthful to us, don’t treat us like small children pretending that father Christmas is just around the corner with bags full of gifts. We need to know the truth ! ‘Laverite, dir nou, rien ki laverite.’
