Letters to the Editor

Transformer les coqs ‘capons’ en coqs courageux

Monsieur  le  Rédacteur, Merci de nous avoir informé de la déclaration de Son Excellence Monsieur Nicolas Sarkozy, Président de la République française á propos des diplomates de son pays.

La déclaration du Président Sarkozy a été très utile pour nous faire comprendre l’attitude des ambassadeurs de France en Afrique en générale et aux Seychelles en particulier. Dans ce contexte nous rappelons les mots de Bertolt Brecht, ‘Celui qui ne sait pas est un ignorant, celui qui sait et qui se tait est un malfaiteur.’

Maintenant que le Président de la République française a fait son analyse, nous attendons avec impatience des actions tangibles pour transformer les coqs ‘capons’ en coqs courageux. En particulier nous serons ravis de voir le jour ou les ambassades de France deviendront des lieux ouverts aux défenseurs des droits de l’homme au lieu d’être les pupitres de rationalisation de ses abus, comme Madame le Ministre de la Justice française a récemment déclaré.

Mille mercis pour m’accorder l’opportunité de faire connaître mon opinion.

Un grand ami de la France.

Mr. Chow Was Expressing His Own Personal OPINION

SIR, I was indeed surprised to read in the last week’s issue of the Nouveau Weekly that, according to Mr. Paul Chow, it was the Democratic Party’s policy to support a one-China policy without any consideration for Taiwan, which has been developing a democratic society since 1949. More surprising still was the statement of support for the Government declared policy, offering its soul to the communists for economic assistance and protection of their own communist tendencies.

 Having also read the SNP’s statement regarding that same China issue, I am indeed confused to understand how such an abyss could exist between the DP and the SNP? I always thought that, DP, as a supporter of democratic development in the world would never outrightly support the communist power against a smaller industrious democratic society like Taiwan.

Was Mr. Chow expressing his own personal opinion when he made that statement in Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly last week?

I am a supporter of the SNP/DP Alliance, but I was taken aback by the mixed signals being sent by Progress House and Arpent Vert. Can Mr. Chow and Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan clarify their party’s position on the China-Taiwan issue once and for all.

Regards

Opposition supporter

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT!

Sir, I read The Story of Three Rolls Royce Cars and Three Presidents in your weekend issue of October 5th.  In many senses, the story was correct, but all important details, which make the true story, are not generally known.  Perhaps you will permit me to provide you with this information.

The story actually started in 1975 when two Government Representatives visited my Factory – Chelle – next door to the Brewery.  They advised me that Barclays Bank, the Standard Bank and the Brewery had each made a donation to the Independence of ₤10,000 (RS133,333) and perhaps  I could consider doing likewise.  I explained that all three companies they had referred to were Publicly Quoted Companies, whereas, I was a private individual.  I explained I would prefer not to give money, in case it went astray, and I could subsequently be held to account.  They said they fully understood and would be very happy to take my car as a donation instead.  The car in question was a 1965 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III, an enthusiasts car, but notoriously unreliable.  The car has an idiosyncrasy in that both petrol pumps pack up before the driver is aware and one glides, quite silently, to a halt.  Fortunately, enthusiasts are well aware of this problem, and a brick from a nearby hedge, tapped under the driver’s door, will always start one of the pumps.  I could just imagine this happening at the Independence Ceremony, which given the Royal Dignitaries in attendance, would be most embarrassing for all.

I offered to buy a newer car and acquired a 1972 Corniche for ₤10,000.  The car was given to the People of Seychelles and at no time did President Mancham request, or have any involvement with the gift, it was between me and the said Government Representatives.  Incidentally, it was Seychelles blue, but the production line was not stopped to introduce a new colour, as I could not afford new Rolls Royce’s in those days!  A little journalistic licence!

When President Rene came to Power, he asked to see me and explained that the car in question was somewhat flamboyant and might be regarded as inappropriate.  I advised him that it had more than doubled in value and suggested that we might consider an extension to the hospital.  President Rene said he would prefer that it was traded in for a bullet proof Mercedes.  I explained that I knew nothing about Mercedes and even less about a bullet proof car.  I explained that I could not accept the responsibility of providing such a machine, since if he got shot in, I would get the blame.  He laughed and suggested an appropriate Limousine for visiting Dignitaries.  The car was swapped for a Long Wheel Base Silver Shadow Limousine.  The last person I saw being driven in the car was Mrs. Ghandi. Years later the car was sold and the money returned to the Government.  This car is now being used in England for weddings, for which it is most suitable.

In January of this year, a Senior Government Official advised me that there would be a visiting Dignitary from China (I forgot, actually, which one) and asked if I would be prepared to lend my car for use on the occasion, which of course I did.

I didn’t think it was right that the Seychelles Government should have to borrow, from a member of the public, a suitable car for Dignitaries, but should have their own.  After thirty years of being resident in Seychelles, I have achieved (through the correct channels) Citizenship of your lovely Country.  For this honour, I thought it would be nice to donate the latest model Rolls Royce to the people of Seychelles.  To make sure there was no misunderstanding, I asked John Pugh, the first British High Commissioner at Independence, if he would accompany me to see President Michel and offer out this gift to the People of Seychelles.  I must make it clear, President Michel, at no time requested any type of motor car, let alone Rolls Royce.  He graciously accepted the car on behalf of the People and agreed that it would be most useful for future visiting Dignitaries.

I am no longer a ‘foreign businessman’, as I have been accepted into your charming Nation and I am very proud to be able to call myself Seychellois. My wife is Seychelloise and so is my son, so I was feeling a bit left out.

Finally, few foreign businessman plant Coco de Mer’s in their garden.  I planted mine in February 1976, before independence and this year it is going berserk, having thrown out eight huge leaves, (twice as many as usual) and so soon.  I shall know whether it is male or female.  The man running the Agriculture Department in Praslin (where I purchased the seed) assured me it was female.  He was quite old then and I pointed out, he would be in heaven before I actually knew whether he was right or wrong – he laughed!

Yours faithfully

Robert Gaines-Cooper

Group Chairman

The Sky rocketing Price of Living under the SMB lie

SIR, It is with disbelief that I read on the front page of the Seychelles Nation of 22 October 2007 that the SMB are selling a list of essential items that they import at below cost price and also without any GST.  My disbeleif comes about as a result of a number of factors:

(1) A couple of years ago, for those who remember, SMB were taken to court for their unfair pricing policies with regards to essential items.  The case was never heard because SMB is “above the law” i.e. it is an outlaw.

(2) Everything at SMB is unbelievably expensive compared to other countries in the world.  If SMB is selling below cost price, where does SMB import its goods from? Switzerland, Monte Carlo, Hollywood Boulevard, Harrods of London – these places where the rich and famous go shopping and only people like “latet karang” can go there.

(3) SMB has never been subject to transparency, and accountability.  Nobody has ever been able to openly criticise SMB because of its pricing policy.  Prices and quality are never checked at SMB.  Goods are mixed to catch the public unawares e.g. sometime ago the “green packet rice” was the same quality as the “brown packet rice” – price control, police, taxation, health etc. etc all said “YES” to what SMB was doing.  The only way I will believe SMB is if they can come with proof of what they are doing – this they will never do!

Jess

October 26, 2007
Copyright 2007: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles