The Seychelles Column - By Christopher Gill

We Are Not Anti-Foreigner...We Are Pro–Seychellois!

In the State of the Nation for 2010, Seychelles President James Michel was quick to point out that there was a xenophobic movement taking root in Seychelles and he categorically defended the hiring of a number of Irish Ex-Army, as Police Officers, and as part of the Financial Intelligence (FIU) based at State House.

In the same breath, he defended his hiring of Australian tax agents which included the highly qualified and capable Mr. Rene Nusse. In that group of Australians were individuals like Mr. Simmon Hannaford, and Mrs. Fiona Powell at the Seychelles International airport and Port Customs who the Government of Seychelles, simply did not need to staff the Customs office of the Government of Seychelles. There is no debate there.

“Sesel Pou Seselwa in 2010”
In my first article on STAR for 2010, I announced that this year, the theme of my writings were departing the standard business , economic and social issues, and would refocus on the founding principle of the Republic of Seychelles: “Seychelles Pour Seychellois. The new translation under Rene’s KREOL is now: “Sesel Pou Seselwa”.

I am happy to note that the Leader of the Opposition took notes of the article and used a substantial portion of it in his rebuttal on the State of the Nation, though I never received any credit for it, or even a thank you card.

I could make out the faint call of “Sesel Pou Seselwa” in the speech as I heard it over the radio, driving through Victoria. It was weak, but at least he tried. Many have asked me why the sudden shift in gear in 2010. I will clear this up, today.

The reason I launched this year under the banner “Sesel Pou Seselwa” is simple enough to most of us, today, but it would have been overlooked completely if I had not taken the banner to task and raised it from the closets of history.

The SPPF, after the Coup of 1977, dropped the banner of “Sesel Pou Seselwa”. Since the Coup of 1977, the SPUP turned itself into SPPF and never looked back.
The SPPF turned thug criminal organization, abandoned the banner that united us all as one People. To stay in power, to run the country, as many highly capable Seychellois left Seychelles between 1977-1992, the SPPF imported foreigners to Seychelles, made them Seychellois (Seselwa Fabrikes), to the point that no one in Seychelles even questions the application of citizenship of these individuals, prior to my writings this year. Even in the State of Nation address, Madam Gamatis, said this banner, “Sesel Pou Seselwa”, is no longer relevant today.

I say, “Sesel Pou Seselwa “ will always be and remain relevant to Seychelles. Hence why, MSR founding and enduring slogan will remain: “Sesel Pou Seselwa” for generations to come, even long after, I am gone.

The SNP opposition remains silent on citizenship applications, though they call themselves the Seychelles “National” Party. They remained silent on who is a Seselwa for many years. With this in mind, why do they use the term: ”National”? Does it refer to National fan, to blow up and inflate their salaries solely, today?

As the Mouvman Seselwa Rasin (MSR) begins to take root in Seychelles political life, as a Nationalist movement, we will displace the middle of the road sleeping moderate, softy “national” party, that has taken to cocktail parties to lobby the Government of Seychelles run by PP. For whatever they want. The list over the years has been endless and much of it resolved over cocktails and shrimp tails.
MSR will work hard and tirelessly to remove PP. from power. Why? Because for Seychelles to succeed, they have to go, simple enough, nothing complicated in that assertion.

“Define a Seselwa”
The first intellectual challenge to lifting the banner of “Sesel Pou Seselwa” in 2010 has been to define who is and who is not a Seselwa, in the social quagmire SPPF created from 1977-1992 and beyond.

MSR took on this challenge early in the year 2010. We knew we would face opposition in the definition of who is a Seselwa. But we did not waver and came up with a plausible definition, which made sense and the People of Seychelles are grasping it quickly. The exceptions include naturalization applicants, individuals married to Seselwa –Rasin, and humanitarian grounds if we miss any one unfairly through a loophole.

Repeatedly, I have asked the SNP to define who is a Seychellois. They refuse to take any political risk and do not define who is a Seychellois in Seychelles today.
This political posture of the Country’s main opposition, only gives the PP a Carte Blanche to go on doing what it has done for the last 34 years, sell passports, to anyone who will buy them, and make a citizen anyone who will remain loyal to them.

With that in play, the voters list is stacked, with defeat for the Opposition becoming a permanent rule to the democratic process in Seychelles.
SNP ignores the 10,000 odd residents of Eden Island, citizens in the making, as they ignore SIVA’s Ambassadorship and Citizenship, because it is profitable to do so.
We need to find an acceptable medium status for these people. They have invested in Seychelles, and we need the investments. But we do not need to sell our citizenship, and they have no right to participate in the political affairs of our country.
The Eden Island residents should be granted investor residency status, an appropriate amendment made to the laws and constitution allowing for the status with caveats on citizenship application. No exceptions.

The Sivas of the world, are many, they buy passports and buy status and must be sent a strong message from the People of Seychelles: “ we will not honour such deals made with PP or SNP”.

On Facebook page “Sesel Pou Seselwa”, created by SNP to override the MSR ideology, I have repeatedly asked the administrator, no less than 3 times, to define who is a “Seychellois”. The administrator has remained silent, preferring to allow all that register to believe what they want in their minds.

Another page by SNP’s Pauline Ferrari has been started in response to MSR ideology and it is called: “Sesel Pou Tou Seselwa”. This gives us an idea of what the SNP are up to.

They accept everyone as a Seselwa under their nationalist ideology. I suppose as long as the incoming new citizens pay their way, much like SPPF and PP today. In one article in Regar, they suggested that economic benefactors to Seychelles should be allowed citizenship. If that is not a political sell out ideology, I do not know what is. I find it grossly unacceptable. Some of their spokesmen have made the same comments on STAR Blog.
It is a recipe for national disaster.

Silence Is Deemed Acceptance of an Allegation By Public Figures
It has been alleged and never denied, that Mr. Ramkalawan received euro 150,000.00 to remain silent on the SIVA Ambassador at Large nomination, while Mr. Mancham’s nomination for the same post was taken off the order paper of the National Assembly. Silence is deemed to acceptance of an allegation.

Too Much Wood to the Fire
Recently, the Seychelles Weekly has written a strong anti–foreigner editorial. One article written even said “Foreigners Go Home!” I personally do not write in Le Nouvo Seychelles Weekly, and deny any involvement in its Editorial or its policies in 2010. Le Nouvo Seychelles Weekly does use some articles that are posted on STAR, and they have asked permission to do so. We do not object to that.

MSR and all the writers, and journalists of STAR and mouthpiece Lavwa-Seychelles are not anti-foreigner. We are all pro Seychelles and pro Seychellois, and this is the bond that brings us together from all political party colours be it former Reds, Greens, Blues and Yellows.

To preserve Seychellois interest and rights in Seychelles, large commitments are forthcoming from common citizens who love their Country. The recent pledges made to me are nothing short of heart wrenching to see patriotic Seychellois, coming forward one by one to support the MSR movement. MSR thanks them all for the voice of support.

We Are Not Fools!
In October 2008, Seychelles went officially bankrupt under the Michel Administration. Today, we are undergoing a Three (3) years IMF Reform Program. How will Seychelles come out of national bankruptcy if we are anti foreigner?

We need foreign investment in Seychelles. The process for investing must be streamlined and made easier for foreigners, in areas that Seychellois cannot obtain adequate financing. What we do not agree with, is granting of favourable concessions to foreigners because of under the table deals have been struck.

All foreign investors must contribute to the infrastructure of the country through Development Impact Fees, and not get concessions that give them an unfair advantage over Seychellois investors. Priority should be given to Seychellois that have a proven track record in development and business. Foreign investors should take on Seychellois partners in all development, to maximize Seychellois participation in the development of the country.

Additionally, we will not tolerate the victimization of any Seychellois business or individual in Seychelles, while foreign investors get carte blanche from the PP. Large projects, need to have a corresponding large investment in education, and training to boot strap our young people, as not to displace them in the development process.

Our people have no free lunches; investors should have no free lunches as well. The grossly favourable treatment of the Sheik Khalifas of the world is completely unacceptable as a mode of seeking out investments. This type of investment, Seychelles does not need. Under no circumstances, must Seychellois have to go on their knees to please any investor, and cover up his misfeasance and malfeasance to the extent that our sovereignty is compromised, not even for a scanner, or a building that has a scanner.

As Seychelles faces a downturn, we will have to regroup and reset our economy with Seychellois at the helm. We do not need foreign investors that destabilize existing investments. New investments must be carefully analyzed to assess impact and consequence on earlier gains.

Example what use is a 440 room Emirates hotel, if Air Seychelles does not allow additional flights in bound? If you allow the new foreign investment and do not allow additional flights, Government destroys existing Seychellois investments.

Additionally under the MSR Creed, we do not accept that a foreigner should work in any management position of our Army, Police, Defence Forces, or occupy any managerial post of the Government of Seychelles. Foreigners are free to work for the private sector, under GOP. While here, they cannot apply to become citizens of Seychelles, unless they fall under an exception.

The management of our governmental affairs must always remain Seselwa Rasin managed and run.This provision of our CREED is not anti-Foreigner, it is pro-Seychellois. Why? Because there are more than enough capable Seychellois to occupy the leadership positions of the Government of Seychelles. However, that does not mean they will work for PP, under existing conditions. This being the case, the conditions will have to change.

Wise Up PP
PP will have to become more transparent and it will have to allow the managers of government affairs to operate openly, and freely, without fear or favour, towards PP cronies.
For example, the Police Force has more than enough capable officers the Irish have fired, that could be brought back to run the Force effectively. Mondon, Simeon, Mousbe, Tirant, are all highly capable and better qualified then Mr. Naill Scully an Irish ex Army not ex -Police, to run the Seychelles Police.

If Conditions Do Not Change?
If conditions do not change, then the imminent collapse of the Government of Seychelles and the PP will take place, just as the imminent collapse of the Seychelles economy has taken place and I provided SPPF with ample Three (3) year advance warning. Here is your second advance warning. Then What? Then capable Seychellois, will rebuild Seychelles, without PP.

We Are Not Xenophobic
We fear no foreigners and welcome and accept them all, as long as they are not part of a corruption scheme to disenfranchise Seselwa-Rasin of their motherland and rightful place in it.

With MSR ideology, you are more than welcome to Seychelles, but regularise your status and do not buy it from PP. Pay your taxes, obey the laws and be respectful towards our people, however disenfranchised you may find them to be, after 34 years of Communism and Cronyism. 34 years of mafia rule and Marx, has its disadvantages on a People.
Just remember one thing. Before June 5th, 1977, we were not like this.

I cannot speak for other political entities in Seychelles, they appear to be in a toss of confusion between money received from SIVA and doing a Robert Mugabe on us all. But I believe I have made a sincere effort, to clearly state the position of MSR on foreigners in Seychelles.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois and Our Beloved Seychelles!

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