Troukler

President Michel Cannot Think Outside The SPPF Box!

According to the Minister for Environment, Natural Resources & Transport. Joel Morgan, soon a new task force will be introduced. They will be known as the ‘Green Police’, nothing to do with SNP I might add or Leo the green turtle. The ‘Green Police’ will implement measures deterring the public from reckless littering. It has been said that this is the way forward in getting the people to be more responsible when it comes to the disposal of rubbish.

Minister Morgan who had gathered with environment workers last week, Friday, to launch officially the Clean Up the World Campaign at a site at Providence where waste had been disposed of negligently, stated that people are still refusing to take their responsibility to dispose of their trash and rubbish appropriately. According to Minister Morgan, known for his dry sense of humour, within the cabinet and bears a strong resemblance to well-known comedian Mr. Bean, “Very soon such actions and all forms of littering will become illegal. Those who commit the offence will be charged and will face prosecution whereby they will be fined and compel to do community work.”

This is a very commendable initiative on the part of this Government, to clean up the environment. The benefits to be had are various and will have an invaluable impact on our health. It will help tackle leptospirosis and other infectious diseases. It will also contribute in adding value to the tourism industry. However, it will do nothing to enhance directly the economic state of the country, unless we declare the same kind of war on corruption in the country. Corruption in Seychelles is now at a level where it is having a depressing impact on daily economic activities. President Michel and Danny Faure announced an increase in the price of fuel recently. This has come about not because of price increases on the international market, but rather because the Seychelles Rupee has been devalued; something President Michel during election promised will never happen under his presidency. The President and Danny now wants the population to cut down on the consumption of fuel. According to President Michel, consumption of fuel by the State-owned companies (parastatals)  have gone up by 70% in the last few years. This, we are sure, is as a direct result of corruption within these organisations.

Like the ‘Green Police’ for the environment we need a ‘Corruption Police’ to investigate all the thieves plying their evil trade within government and state-owned companies. Michel like Rene before him is determined to accord protection to the people in his administration responsible for smothering economic activities through corruptive practices. President Michel in his address at the opening of an extraordinary meeting of the Chief Executive Officers last week stated that, “I want a Government that is efficient and delivers”. There is not even an ounce of sincerity coming from President Michel in uttering these words. He was only reading from a well scripted speech which was not worth the paper it was written on. We say this because most of the people before him at that meeting has been in positions of authority for a considerable length of time and have failed to deliver. Instead of replacing them, Michel has re-appointed them and in certain situation contrary to performances has promoted failures. 

 And as for the statement that “I want to encourage all organisations to think beyond and outside what is already established. Let us think outside the box. let us be prepared to think and act boldly”. We would like to put it to you President Michel that your CEOs are only following your lead. Most cannot think outside the SPPF box and those who can are not permitted to do so!.

TWENTY YEARS TOO LATE!

Last week we witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) a state owned company and the China National Complete Plant (CNCP) at the Independence House on Monday, 17th September. The agreement is for a US $ 26 million project to improve the quality of electricity supply to South Mahe. It is widely accepted that South Mahe is underdeveloped when compared to North Mahe. The major reason for this sad state of affairs is the fact that this government has neglected this part of the island for the past thirty-one years. The shortages of water and electricity in the South have been the major deterrent in population movement and development in that part of the country.

Apparently a Russian group also expressed an interest in the project way before the Chinese showed any interest. The government initially gave the impression that the Russians will be awarded the project. The Russians even promised to identify sources of funds to pay for the cost of the project for and on behalf of the Government of Seychelles. After the Russians spent a fortune on pre-project expenses, it seems that the government had a change of heart and gave the project to the Chinese instead. The Chinese, it seems, are now the new friends of Seychelles and Africa. President Hu Jintao even made it a point to visit Seychelles when he toured Africa recently and the Government here did not spare any expenses for that visit. It is to be remembered that Seychelles, once enjoyed a cozy relationship with communist Russia. As Russia has moved towards the centre of the political spectrum and discarded its communist policies of late, Seychelles is clearly showing signs of uneasiness and has move closer to Communist China instead.