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The long-term cost of indifference

(Contributed by Patrick X, a faithful and active participant on the STAR blog. Views expressed are solely that of the author and published by STAR to promote free speech)

The happenings during the SCCI's AGM has enraged many Seychellois as they feel helpless after a so-called 'Indian invasion' led by a doctor who arrived in Seychelles wearing flip-flops, but now ventures in expensive Armani suits and wears the best perfumes. Ramadoss' arrogance is no different from the arrogance of any Indian who has gained wealth in relatively short time and by far surpassed the very people of his new country. This story is neither new or unique by a thousand miles, let alone a thousand meters.

Culture's like that of the Indian breed arrogance as it is a powerful weapon and there is belief that one's wealth. gained or born with, is the reincarnation of the good one did in a previous life. On the other hand, Ramadoss and the likes of him look down on labourers, even those from his motherland India, as they are labourers due to their previous lives. I cannot therefore blame Ramadoss for being a swollen arrogant so-and-so as he simply does not know better and it is very unlikely that his ego will get any smaller as he rises even further up.

We can ask ourselves how Ramadoss has managed to achieve his status in so short time and there is no doubt that he has had a great deal of help from his good friend and patient France Albert Rene, our previous dictator and to many the biggest traitor, thief and murderer that has ever walked on our soil. Ramadoss arrived at the right time and having a constant glaze of '$$$' in his eyes bare visible behind those thick glasses, stuck between a pair of cheeks the size of a hippo's, Rene took him under his wing and flew up high before perching on the top of the Seychellois tree of society.

But is that the only thing that has helped Ramadoss reach the top? It is naturally convenient to blame the SPPF/PL, but if one thinks about the rise of Ramadoss I believe we will find that he has been greatly helped by a majority of the Seychellois people in more than one ways:

The Seychellois are indeed unique in many ways and Seychellois, like their country, are unique by a thousand miles. We are hospitable, joyful, uniquely gossipers and foremost uniquely indifferent and iit is that very indifference that have kept us in the grip of the SPPF/PL for over 3 decades. Our problem is that we take too much shit to put it mildly, We love to complain, we love to argue, but we hate to fight or rather simply don't know how to fight in an efficient way.

Whenever the Seychellois meet a major challenge be it a corrupt political system, high prices or even the infamous 'white flies' that ravaged domestic crops some years ago we do nothing but shrug our shoulders and say 'be ou kapab lager ek sa?' and resign in indifference. The perfect example of that was during the SCCI's AGM when the offended started to leave the meeting in protest and disgust giving Ramadoss the best opportunity to bully his way to victory. Instead of allying against him and giving him hell they instead threaten to start 'their own' association giving Ramadoss even more petrol to throw on the fire, not least the PL an even better opportunity to say that they are 'anti-Indian' or 'xenophobic'. What they should have done instead is cause so much mayhem that the entire process would have had to be re-scheduled where clear rules for voting would have been established. Instead they blame Ramadoss for allying himself with every Indian shop owner there is. Of course he bloody would. That is something that should have been foreseen a thousand miles away.

Not enough with that, we Seychellois also support Ramadoss economically in several ways, especially through 'his' many business ventures, especially his casinos where a good part of the population spend a high percentage of their earnings or pension there. Stand outside any casino prior to opening time and you will see a line of Seychellois, yes Fabrikes, as Indians know better than to spend their hard earned cash on gambling. We know we are losing money, whilst a filling the pockets of a filthy rich arrogant sod, nevertheless we still put our coins in that slot and activate the one armed bandit hoping for the big win. That fact that a win is made from others' losses doesn't seem to bother us. Indifference at its best.

Our government is so corrupt that corruption has reached just about every level of our little society, but nobody seems to care. There is corruption even in our hospitals, our morgue employees are corrupt as they offer 'special deals' to the families of the deceased who have been put in the refrigerator whilst waiting for relatives from abroad to attend their funeral. Corruption, but it's ok as long as we are saving some Rupees. The fact that we are encouraging makes no difference. Indifference.

We blame our top officials for being corrupt, for stealing money, abusing funds, but nevertheless we cease to realize our own indifference as we shrug our shoulders and say 'be ou kapab lager ek sa' as we accept a handful of notes in form of a bribe. Ramadoss can do as he pleases, as can his supporters in the PL and they can do so because of our indifference. Now Ramadoss arrogance is the talk of Seychelles, but yet tomorrow morning, the day after and the proceeding days after that his casinos will be full of Seychellois willing to donate parts of their salaries and/or pension to no other than Ramadoss. Be ou kapap lager ek sa?

As long as we keep on being indifferent we will be walked over by people like Rene, Ramadoss and others of their type. To mention a few are people like Radovan Krejcir, Ricci, Kashoogi and others who are allowed to do as they please because we let them do so. Even our leader of the so-called opposition won't statute an example by not showing indifference as he has grossly failed Seychelles by for instance employing Indians to do his construction work rather than Seychellois. And he expects votes? Even when given the chance to talk to the IMF he showed gross indifference by not bothering to meet up and represent the people who gave him their trust.

I Patrick X therefore challenge the Seychellois people to start showing that they care about their country and by doing so I encourage every single Seychellois to kick Ramadoss where is hurts most. I'm not talking about his butt(nothing can penetrate that amount of blubber), I'm talking about his wallet. If every Seychellois boycotts every single business that is owned by Ramadoss and his clique it will hurt him where he is most vulnerable: namely his wallet.

I also encourage all my countrymen to boycott any business of any person who shows the same arrogance as Ramadoss. This includes businesses owned by corrupt officials, people who do not employ Seychellois or employ a majority of Seychellois(hotels, guest houses and or any other businesses where there is a foreigner majority). By showing your disgust to that type arrogance you are supporting Seychellois owned businesses and or foreign owned businesses who actually help Seychelles by employing Seychellois, hence contributing to our economy. I don't expect the PL government to do anything about it by for example imposing laws to force equilibrium in workforce between Seychellois and foreigners so we may as well impose it ourselves.

It's very simple: If your local malbar doesn't employ a single Seychellois, boycott him. If your local hotel/bar employs more expats than Seychellois, boycott it. If your builder employs more expats than Seychellois, find another. You may think it's more expensive, but I can assure you that your money will do the country more good if paid to a local contractor rather than a foreign owned one, not to mention the patriotism and example you will be showing. Foreign contractors are in the dangerous position of getting monopoly in Seychelles and sooner or later there won't be a single Seychellois who can build the beautiful stone walls like 'La Flit' build in his time. We are facing a construction boom in the years to come and we won't make a single rupee out of it due to our indifference. Oh yes, and if a shop in Victoria doesn't employ Seychellois then it too deserves to be boycotted.

Seychellois, it is time to show that we care for our country and what goes on in it, this in addition to showing that we won't take anymore crap from anyone who comes from outside to tell us what to do. Seychelles is for the Seychellois and those who care for the Seychellois and their well being. I'm not asking you to start any violence against foreigners, but I am asking you to boycott foreigners who are here only to help themselves and not the country they live in. If you can't beat them, boycott them. However, I do ask and expect you all to show respect to those who do respect us be they Russian, Czech Chinese, Arab or Indian. This is not an encouragement to racism, but pure patriotism.

Indifference is cheap in the short term, but the long-term costs can really put you in ruin. As I read on a bumper sticker in Alaska once: "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance".

Patrick X