Face-A-Face Shows SPPF Failures!

SBC program, “Face a Face”, aired last week with Madam Jacqueline Moustache-Belle presenting four guests to discuss not the “sea level rise” issues facing us but the “Rise in Cost of Living.” The rapid escalation in the cost of living is a consequence of SPPF devaluation policy. It is responsible today for tearing almost every Seychellois family to pieces as they struggle to earn a living. Whatever cash they earn in a month is wiped out after a short shopping trip to SMB. The situation has gone beyond mere habitual complaining by citizens. It is real and it hurts. SPPF leaders have told us point blank “Debrouy zot, travay, aret fye lo nou”! The Rising Sun suggested we start planting pumpkin seeds and papaya seeds instead of complaining.

 Ralph Agrippine, SPPF economist, said the problem in the increase of the cost of living was because some merchants abuse the system and over charge the consumers. This is the old tired Rene- One-Party-State line which was used to fool people into believing a small group of people were making life hard for the majority. With this political classification gone obsolete today, Mr. Agrippine appeared like someone bound for Mauritius, but landed on Coetivy instead, right in the middle of the stinky prawn basin, completely missing the airport.

 Mr. Afif, Principal Secretary of Finance, gave us a historical perspective of loans and commitments the SPPF Government had undertaken. “Hence the increase in the cost of living today,” he mused. He tried to convince us that the International Market for goods and increase in price of petrol and shipping rates have had a detrimental effect on the cost of goods to our isolated and micro State. The logic may have worked well in Maldives in the good old days, but it will hardly be worth a packet of fish today in Seychelles. SPPF may consider sending Mr. Afif to Veterinary Services where he can teach old dogs new tricks, instead of running our finances.

 The person that made any real sense on the panel was the impressive Mr. Radley Weber. We must salute Mr. Weber for his frankness and forthrightness when faced with a couple of intellectual stooges. When you listen to these stooges present their arguments, you know why Seychelles is in the mess it is in today. For too long now, too many people have towed the Party line at the expense of the Seychellois as a whole, and what is best for the people.  Mr. Weber, in a nonchalant manner, told us that the price of food has not increased on the international market, except for a few items that are milk-based or wheat-based. He said the DEVALUATION and a prolific Black Market is responsible for 90% of monies he receives to import food stuff. Thanks God for the Black Market! Coupled with the exorbitant GST at the rate of 12% or more on goods, is the cause of the sudden increase in the cost of living in Seychelles today. Webber pleaded with government to remove GST on food stuff in order to alleviate the hardship and suffering of the most vulnerable in society, at least until the economy improves significantly. Any responsible and compassionate government would have heeded Weber’s plea. But SPPF is far from being compassionate and responsible. Their attitude clearly shows that President Michel is just paying lip service when he said that he was the President of all Seychellois. Since SPPF is the one which got us into this economic mess in the first place, it is only proper that they do everything possible to get us out of it. Removing GST on food will be a first step in the right direction.

 The economic melt-down is a direct result of SPPF’s failed economic policies which they were warned from day one was a recipe for disaster. But they refused to listen and adopted an arrogant attitude of “we know what’s best for the country.”  In defending the SPPF’s failures, Mr. Agrippine said people do not use the banking system. Mr. Weber came back and landed him an intellectual knockout when he retorted, “people do not use the banking system because the system has no credibility!” Thank you Sir!

 Now you know why we must remove SPPF and replace it with another Government: CREDIBILITY. Once done, it will be the first step towards establishing credibility. To get a credible Government, you must first replace the old lack-of-credibility government with one that is most credible. This means you hire the smartest people to run things, not the fastest talker trying to fill his pockets on our backs and sweat.