A message to members of the SCCI

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Executive Committee, Councillors, Members, Friends, I would like to take the opportunity to address certain issues, in advance of the 2010 Annual General Meeting of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to be held tomorrow. My father, the late Dr. George R. Davison arrived in these island in the mid 1970’s, before the Independence of Seychelles, and found a beautiful, peaceful land with friendly people.  He came to work on a hotel project at Intendance, which was doomed to failure, because the then owners did not have the necessary resources and acumen to mount such an endeavour.  It was only thereafter, by sheer accident, that he founded the Plantation Club, after a long struggle which, at one point, nearly broke him financially.  He ended up falling in love with Seychelles and it was his wish to end his days here in the islands, which he did in 2005.  During his time in Seychelles, I believe that he embodied all of the spirit of enterprise which our chamber represents. Since my fist arrival at the beginning of 1988, I have, likewise, grown to love the Seychelles, her islands and her people.  It has, for many years, been my great pleasure to devote my energies to contributing to the life of the community which has welcomed me and included me so warmly.  I have enjoyed being part of the very diverse and engaging business culture here.  It has certainly been an interesting challenge! When one considers the dynamic and varied business activity in this tiny country, which yet manages to flourish and to innovate very impressively, despite all of the disadvantages and hurdles set in its way, I remain convinced, as I have said to many people in the past, that Seychellois business men and women, were they on the level playing field offered by most other countries, could outshine and outperform anyone. There is no point in crying over spilt milk, in complaining about the unfairness of certain aspects of life in the Seychelles.  That unfairness, however, does not make it right that we who have committed ourselves to the economic growth of this country, should suffer, or tolerate, the corruption and iniquities of the system that we have to combat with all of our might and resources, before we can even begin the difficult challenge of trying to build a profitable and competitive business. No one person alone can change the environment for business in Seychelles.  It is therefore up to the Chamber of Commerce to fight for this, and we are lucky that we have a chamber to take up the gauntlet.  By this I do not mean that it should be left to the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry to make it all happen for us.  I mean, very specifically, that it is up to the entrepreneurs who have joined forces under the structure of the Chamber to work together to make it happen.  This means that each and every one of us must make a sustained commitment, through continued and daily and repeated efforts, to push for a change in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. It means sticking our necks out.  It means risking the lot for our principles and our futures.  It means not taking injustices lying down.  I know that some of you are champions for the cause of justice and equity and have fought for this for many years.  However, an association does not mean the courage of the few, it means the courage of all.  We must all become warriors.  Why must we do this?  My opinion is that it is for the children of tomorrow’s Seychelles.  If we do not have children of our own, then it is for future of our friends’ children.  They are the ones who will make Seychelles what it will be and they are our responsibility.  If we do not champion the cause of justice and fair opportunity, then what chance do they have to sustain and build this tiny nation? The Plantation Club is perhaps the most glaring example, in recent times, of what I am trying to illustrate. Before talking about the Plantation Club in detail, however, I would like to state that I make no apologies for any sentimental expressions which punctuate my speech.  It sounds corny, particularly in this clinical, profit-oriented day and age, but we feel that our company was about as close to being, genuinely, a “happy family” and a community-oriented business as one can get and I care about it very much.  One only has to consider that around 120 of our staff came from all over the country, last October, from Silhouette, Praslin and even from as far as Desroches, at short notice, to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the opening of the hotel, despite the fact that the they had been forced out of their jobs by James Michel’s government almost two years previously and that the hotel had belonged to the Saudis for more than a year.  To me this is the result of what I consider corporate responsibility, or, in more simple terms, the whole point of doing business.  We must care for the personal worries of each employee, to enable them to contribute the maximum they can to our business.  They care for the mother, the mother must care for the children. While the Plantation Club case has, to some degree, faded from everyday conversation and while many who suffered from the loss of the jobs they had had for years in a company that they loved, we, the management and shareholders, supported by many loyal members of the Plantation Club family are still fighting to force the Government to reverse the unlawful seizure and to get the Arabs out of the hotel, and subsequently, out of the country.  And yet, the injustice done now more than two years ago is still as unjust as it was then.  If we never succeed in reversing what has been done, the injustice will remain as grave forever.  While it might seem to have become a personal vendetta against these particular Saudis, I have nonetheless not lost sight of my long-held belief, which I know is shared by most Seychellois, that many of those Arabs who are in Seychelles represent an insidious body of people for the country, who distort the due process of government by bribing, and who, to many, also represent the worst aspect of a system which has deprived Seychellois of opportunities rightfully theirs, by transferring much of what they can aspire to into the hands of outsiders with, in the most part, very little interest in the country and her people. In 2004, when I took the helm of Ailee Development Corporation Limited, just about one in every hundred working Seychellois worked for our company, according to the government’s figures of Seychellois in employment.  Some 96% of the staff were Seychellois, including almost the entire Executive Management.  We have estimated that some eight hundred people derived their livelihood directly from someone employed at the Plantation Club.  The economic “trickle-down” effect was vastly greater.  All of this benefit has been lost to the country.  The following approximate figures give an idea of the economic loss, over the past 27 months, caused by the expropriation of the Hotel: Foreign exchange inflows into Seychelles                        24 million USD Wages                                                                                    27 million Rupees Trades Tax                                                                            9.45 million Rupees Social Security Contributions                                            6.75 million Rupees Pension Fund Contributions                                            1.62 million Rupees This leaves aside the fact that almost all of the revenue of our hotel operation went into the local economy by way of payments to suppliers, revenue for DMCs, etc.  All of this has been lost in favour of what the Government said was necessary in the interests of the tourism industry of the Seychelles, upon which the economy relies heavily.  And yet the new Saudi owners have done nothing but build a pleasure palace for themselves, contributing virtually nothing to the economy. This demonstrates why it is important to fight nepotism and corrupt or unethical practices, wherever they are encountered and why democratic principles must be kept pure and not prostituted for the interest of one man or one small group of powerful people.  It was this very nepotism and corruption which cost all those connected with the Plantation Club everything for which they had worked for more than twenty years. Last year an unscrupulous scheme was perpetrated to ensure that control of one of the Seychelles’ most important civil society institutions, by which I mean this very Chamber, was put into the hands of one man, for his benefit.  This may have been done by democratic process, but not according to democratic principles.  I have since made efforts to enlist as many new members as I could, to have as large as possible a cross-section of the business community present at the forthcoming meeting, each with one equal vote.  This is not to oust the present chairman for personal reasons, but to break the self-interested, preponderant majority purposely created by him, thus ensuring that an even-handed chance exists for all of the Chamber’s membership to vote, according to pure democratic principles, for the person they feel can best steer their interests in these dangerous waters.  This should ensure that no-one can crown himself king.  The Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an association, not a feudal, private facility, and it is there to serve all of its members equally.  If the majority of Chamber members vote to re-appoint the present chairman, then I will embrace my duty to serve him as a member or our association.  If someone else is voted in as chairman, my duty to the Chamber will, likewise, be to serve him, or her, in any way that I can. I do not expect to win points with the powers-that-be for these statements.  In fact, I am sure there will be negative repercussions as a result of this.  That, unfortunately, seems to be Seychelles today.  After all, who am I?  Just some damned foreigner with his notions of the universal rights of all people to fair opportunity.  However, I am also an equal member of this chamber and part of the business community of Seychelles, foreign or otherwise, and I have a right to express my views to my fellow Chamber Members.  Unfortunately, my absence from the Seychelles renders me unable to present this before the Chamber, in person at the meeting, but the important thing is that, before all of you, I am practising precisely what I am preaching.  I am commenting openly, despite the risk of negative consequences.  If we want to make a difference, we must stand together and face each dragon, not run from its flames and hope that it will just go away. As regards the Plantation Club, I would like to ask all of you for your support in our continued fight.  It is a fight not just for our own interests, but for the interests of the country and our chamber.  You all know and, I believe, fear that if they can do this to us today, they can it to you tomorrow.  This doesn’t mean that you have to wield a sword on my battlefield.  It merely means that even your moral support and the pressure you can bring to bear on those in power will help us in our struggle and help all of you in yours.  As I am committed to support all of my fellow members, when they call upon me to do so, this member now asks you for your support.  We hope, one day, to see our company back in business, employing Seychellois and helping to build a strong Seychelles economy. I would also like to say that I regret the damage that the Plantation Club affair has already done to the reputation of Seychelles, particularly in terms of its reputation as a destination for Foreign Direct Investment, and realise that my continued actions in fighting for justice in our case will continue to cause the spotlight of international scrutiny to shine on the dirtier aspects of the country, even if the situation was not caused by us.  I nevertheless believe that the pain of treatment is necessary for the long-term healing of a sick patient. Building a nation is not achieved by complacency or by observation from the sidelines.  It requires personal involvement, dedication, courage, sacrifice and tenacity.  It requires courage to continue when there is no more energy left to fight.  It is a mutual effort of blood, sweat and tears, with only the hope that someone, someday, will live the life of which we are dreaming. In closing I would like to say: I ler pou tou biznesmenn (ek fanm) Seselwa debout, pou mazinen zot lepase e zot lavenir, pou vremann “koste” e ensiste lo enn vre “Sesel pou tou biznesman Seselwa” God Bless Seychelles and all who sail in her. Thank you Mark E.Davison Ailee Development Corporation Limited (The Plantation Club), “former” Managing Director Hotel Development Corporation Limited, Director Westend Development Company Limited, Managing Director St. Antoine Company Limited, Director April 2010

DEFENDING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

THE MAIN PILLAR OF OUR ECONOMY

There is an urgent need for everyone to rally and defend our tourism industry. We will be we will be dedicating weekly contributions to tourism to call on everyone to join us in defending our fragile industry. This industry remains the main pillar of our economy and we are not about to let it crumble while some unscrupulous actors try to milk it for their own pockets or ulterior motives.

Today we want to take up the complaints being received from the UK trade with regards to the shortage of seats for Seychelles on our national airline. Locally everyone is scared to raise the issue, but British tour operators and travel agents are saying that the situation is alarming. We need to stand up and take notice.

Why is our beloved national carrier failing in its mission to serve the needs and interests of our destination? There are so many questions that we need addressed and we put the questions out to the ‘capable’' high powered management team at Air Seychelles. We are shocked to see a multi million building going up by the airport cargo terminal by the very same company that came to the national assembly late last year to seek several millions for a bailout. How ironic!

But here is the story about the airline’s disloyalty in serving the ‘best interests’ of our country and its frail tourism industry… Air Seychelles has as its CEO, a Mauritian. Air Seychelles has contracted with another Mauritian Company in London to block a huge amount of seats on its flights out of London - which conveniently flies onward to Mauritius.The market is primarily an ethnic one (Mauritian nationals)!Good business sense? Well, serving the interests of our competition is the more likely scenario. Today the airline is coming in with barely a 60% load factor. They are sweating as Emirates plans to move in with daily flights. But what are those at the top doing in the face of all this competition? Putting their foot in their mouth to put it mildly…

We hear from the UK that Air Seychelles is saying that it needs the traffic to Mauritius to keep itself afloat. What a rubbish excuse! The flight ticket to Mauritius (on Air Seychelles) is the cheapest on the market and even Air Mauritius is up in arms with our airline about this practice. What is even more mind-boggling is that the London to Mauritius ticket is CHEAPER than the London / Seychelles one – and there is an extra two hour journey! Why not just give that rate for flights to Seychelles and fill the flight with passengers to Seychelles? Do we need to be a rocket scientist to figure out such simple logic? Yes, these fares will be cheaper than they are today, but they will help fill the hotel rooms in Seychelles. They will make taxis work. They will lend a hand to the fishermen and farmers to sell their products. They will help the handicraft people to sell their goods and the whole Seychelles tourism industry will benefit. Unlike today where we see Mauritius profiting and the Mauritians laughing all the way to their bank saying how stupid the Seychellois are; working to make their economy prosper.

The bid question being asked today when one takes notice of the visitor arrival figures from the UK is to ask why St.Ange and the STB are spending money in the UK to promote Seychelles. With limited seat capacity to our beautiful islands at a premium price, cheaper fares to Mauritius through a Mauritian Company to support its ethnic traffic, we can all say forget the UK market until Air Seychelles believes in Seychelles and stops listening to the Mauritian heading Air Seychelles. We cannot really blame that Mauritian CEO! Rajiv Brisseur is just being loyal to his motherland Mauritius! BUT, what about David Savy? Where is your heart my brother? Where is your head? Up there in the clouds most probably…

Today, Seychelles after a year of STB with a new vision we need to ask - what has happened to Russia, Germany and Switzerland? Simple! We can all reply quickly that these markets have been yo-yoed by Air Seychelles. Today they are flying there and tomorrow they are out only to announce that they are back again a few months later. In again, out again and back in again. Makes genius business sense don’t you think?

Our visitor arrival numbers cannot be consolidated with such irresponsible actions by the country's national airline. Let us be serious! Get our planes up in the air to bring in the much needed visitors to our shores instead of leaving them like ‘gran golans’ on the tarmac. Fly them in with much needed bums on the seats so that we can sustain our fragile tourism industry and bankrupt economy, instead of serving the interests of our Mauritian ‘dalons’ or the British government’s thirst for oil in the Falklands for that matter!

And for Pete’s sake, let us do to Air Seychelles what was done to STB. Put someone in charge with a heart for Seychelles. It is high time that we start serving the interests of our country and that of its people. Is that asking too much? Will we be accused of being ‘Zenofobik’ Mr. Michel? NO! To enhance your vocabulary, it is called PATRIOTISM!!!!!

Next week we shall investigate where we have gone wrong. Why are we not receiving the same visitor arrival numbers as Mauritius and Maldives, our two Indian Ocean Islands competing with us for the same tourists?

Hot Topic on our Facebook page

Topic: What should be done to stop SPPF from buying our brothers and Sister vote this time???

Reply to topic.Displaying all 2 posts..Allen Gervais Comettant:  Speak out or take action???

29 March at 08:15 · STAR SEYCHELLES BLOG  - Well, this is a very pertinent question! For sure they will be buying all the votes they can this time around! The question is how do we stop the 'Fabrike' voters to vote. There are several of them who hold an ID card and they are 'allowed' to vote by the sppf. The key is to weed them out.

As for our bros and sis, it is sad to say that most of them have been indoctrinated into this communist mentality, where they have to rely on handouts. We have to eliminate this type of mentality. A lot of them cannot think for themselves. They do not see beyond a rice cooker, a fridge, some fey tol or bags of cement! They do not see that the manipulative housing policy is timed around elections to influence votes. As long as we have people with such a mentality, we will be digging a deeper grave for this nation. We will be heaping more disaster on the backs of our children (who are already heavily loaded for the next 15-20 years.

We need a rejuvenation in this country. A total change of mentality. Bring back strong moral values. We need to liberate the hearts and minds of our fellow brothers and sisters. They need to know that there is a better alternative out there and their motherland deserves better. In other words Alan, we need to educate them for the better. Encourage them to take the money if they can't resist. BUT do what their conscience has been telling them for a while now. Get rid of the monkey off their backs! Vote against them. Soon they will not be able to use their victimization tactics anymore as those who are being victimized will take matters into their own hands... beware SPPF, you have been warned!!!!!

EYEWITNESS NEWS

THE LA MISERE COMMUNITY UNITES FOR JUSTICE

"Once upon a time, on a group of 115 little islands called the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, despite the fact that a lot of his people were on the Priority / Urgent List in the districts, 25 in all, the President of these islands decided to sell 24 acres to a Sheik, which his government says was sold for Rs. 1.00 ( the local currency, equivalent to 100 cents) but according to the buyer, paid 50 million dollars, cash, which, rumor has it, arrived in the country on a Saturday, at 9.00 and left at 2.00 pm the same day.....Rumor also has it to where, but I will not TELL.....Anyway, to continue the story, the deal was done, and the Sheik was given diplomatic immunity....I do not believe though that meant that his workers should shit on us....This, now, is the fault of this government, for not implementing the laws of the Seychelles......Who ever heard of people entering 'legally' in any country in cargo planes??? Well, this is the Seychelles for you....Large groups of people arrived in the cargo planes, no idea if they have any passports, as neither the immigration department, nor the customs saw them.....Therefore, no one, except for the Sheik's construction companies /management themselves, ( there are 4 different companies up there by the way) knew how many workers there were....Still not a problem for JJ and the click......Then, they accidentally damage an old diesel tank, there since the Americans had their base, from too many dynamite and however else they were damaging the mountain to build a castle......La Misere, let it be known, sources water to 3-4 different places......Luckily, the diesel only contaminated the river down Kennedy Road, so not a lot of households were affected, this time.......The people affected by this had their crops die, therefore causing a loss of income, animals died, and God only knows what will happen to our insides as it was deemed toxic, and the Attorney General called for a meeting. And that was in December of last year, and to this date, nothing had happened, though the Sheik apparently appointed a lawyer to deal with the case.....The Attorney General Office is sending the people to the Ministry of Environment, and they in turn are sending the people to the AG's office......And so the ball keeps rolling around in circles.......And when VIZYON carried the story, the little paper that a lot of people read whilst in the toilet as it helps the bowels, PEOPLE PLUS, had the guts to write and say that the SNP was protecting only 1 person....There were 23 families that they were defending....Unlike you people who seems to bow and say it's okay for them to drink the diesel....TOXIC DIESEL IN THE BODY CAN CAUSE CANCER PEOPLE, AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT ELSE, WAKE UP AND REALISE THIS......

Now, on the 13th February, if a certain gentleman and his son was not walking along a certain track next to a river, exercising in the late afternoon, I do believe that the people of La Misere would have strarted dying like flies, cause unknown......For, according to the gentleman, the amount of sh.t in that water was incredible......And definitely not an overnight thing.......

SHAME ON YOU, PLANNING DIVISION, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT, FOR NOT VISITING THE SITE TO CHECK ON WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND YOU PUC FOR NOT CHECKING THE SAFETY OF THE WATER YOU WERE PROVIDING FOR THE PEOPLE......

IN ANY DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE RESIGNED......You have expired by the way, gone way, way past your sell by date, hence the reason for all this stupidity.......Seychelles does not belong to the SPPF/PARTI LEPEP....Seychelles belong to the people, and you WILL one day DIE, but the Seychelles and its people will go on...SO GET OVER IT...

We cannot blame the Indian workers, cause for them, this is the normal thing to do....

It was up to the Government, the department concerned to see that they abide by our laws.......Never heard of any Seychellois breaking any rules in any country they have visited so far.....IN ROME YOU SHOULD DO AS THE ROMANS DO......

As Seychelles is now rife in rumors, the Government IS hiding everything that they do not want people to know, it is now rumored that the Sheik has already given the Gov. 450,000000 (Four hundred and fifty million dollars) as HE has apparently acknowledge the damage done, and wants to address the situation as soon as possible, and THAT Amount IS for THE PEOPLE AFFECTED, NOT FOR YOUR OWN GAINS AND BENEFITS, SO WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TO FILL UP FORMS WITH PETTY CLAIMS..... how many bottles of water you have bought, extra gas to boil the water, mounting electricity bills, whether you have paid a taxi to go to the doctors, or taken the bus.....ALL THIS IS PETTY AND IRRELEVANT....THE DAMAGE IS DONE, WE SHALL NEVER AGAIN BE ABLE TO DRINK OUR WATER STRAIGHT FROM THE TAPS, RIVER....EVERYTHING HAS LOST IT'S INNOCENCE......OUR MOUNTAIN, OUR ENVIRONMENT......We still do not know, now, the damage that it is going to cause us on the insides.......We want enough, so that we can send our children and all the affected and infected for check ups and treatment overseas, as we do not believe in the PARTI LEPEP anymore.......So why are you (the Gov.) putting your dirty hands on what is rightfully ours.....Give us our dollars, as you got it, for UAE has no banks in Rupees! There has never been any school under the coconut trees as far as I know....we also know how to count dollars, BARCLAYS, MCB, and other banks have foreign account facilities for the Seychellois now....

Joel Morgan should have been ashamed to go on National TV to say that they are claiming SCR 750,000 for the damaged done to the environment, when they did not do their jobs in the very first place.......You people are the biggest culprit in this saga.....

Shame on you for all the b...s...t you give us on TV......You people have sold your souls to the Devil.... Selling us in the process.... All for SR1.00 as you say.......SHAME, SHAME, SHAME......And listening to the PARTI LEPEP FATCATS in the ASSEMBLY, NOT ONE SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAD A GOOD WORD FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LA MISERE.....ALL PRAISES WAS FOR THE PERSON & CASTLE UP THE HILL....So, what does that tell us??? Where does that leave us???? A STEERING COMMITTEE was elected, but was dissolved after only one meeting....IT'S okay, we do not need you guys, because we will do the steering, there are enough of us for that, and we will steer in the right direction..... DEFENDING Our rights TO THE HILT ( Well literaly speaking)....

SEWER WATER CAN KILL A HUMAN BEING - BACTERIA FROM CONTAMINATED WATER :BOTULISM, E-COLI, LISTERIOSIS, SALMONELLOSIS,STAPHYLOCOCCAL POISONING,CAMPYLOBACTER INFECTION, CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS POISONING......

PARASITES: GIARDIASIS, TRICHINOSIS & OF VIRAL ORIGIN:HEPATITIS A, HEPATITIS E, ROTAVIRUS......So Mr JAM, before you say, and think, that this is too much money for the simple Seychellois.... Look at all the sh.t that we have absorbed in our bodies, through our food and water, over God only know how long it's been going on.....

Who are you to decide for us, after all we have been through, with no help from you...Can you just close your eyes for one moment and image a plateful of that in front of you on a table.....We are traumatised....Some people are scared to open their taps......One usually drinks water to keep healthy, flush the bad out of the system, but in this case we were drinking water to get the bad in our system....So who are you to decide how much we are worth....A life is PRICELESS....

I firmly believe that the Government should not touch a cent of this compensation money.... The Court should appoint a Committee, who in turn should pay the people concerned, a package.......And they have the guts to write in the PEOPLE that people are but s...t in their own water to blame their dearly beloved up the hill......And you call yourselves PARTI LEPEP....You should change your name from P.L.P to P.P.F - PARTY PROTECTING FOREIGNERS......SHAME on you who are protecting your miserable little lives and big income.... Not protecting your brothers and sisters.....What are we, chop liver???? We the residents of La Misere have no immunity in our our country.......

CARING PEOPLE, TAKE A RIDE UP KENNEDY ROAD, AND ON YOUR LEFT HAND SIDE, JUST BELOW THE SHEIK, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT HAS SOLD ANOTHER 5 ACRES TO THE CHINESE EMBASSY WHO ARE BUILDING SOME HOLIDAY HOMES, IN THE RESERVE, MIND YOU, AND CHECK OUT THE RIVER.........NOTHING ON IT SO FAR IN THE NEWS......

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the story of the little community of La Misere, forgotten by its own Government.....BUT TAKE HEED, CAUSE NOW WE STAND AS ONE, UNITED, AND WE SHALL SEE JUSTICE SERVED......

I JUST HOPE THAT I DO NOT BECOME A VICTIM AFTER THAT......
 By Lydia Jumeau

Seychelles Comedy - State House Anytime Now

Innovative Thinking or Bust!

In the face of adversity, the Seychelles Presidency is ushering in a new era. New ways of thinking and doing things at both government and party level has now been adopted as the latest mantra. We are already registering some heavy collateral damage with the recent mishaps and we can count our stars that the well oiled propaganda machines are still operating. Those pirates seem to want to test our resolve. You do not mess with the Jj Spirit!


JenPa: Hello my good Sir! Despite our show of unity at the ‘one-of-a-kind’ conference we seem to be taking to the slopes. We are in for the ride of our lives. ‘Per Fondater’ never bothered to show up. Our intelligence team can no longer cope with this wave of public outcry. The movement seems to be on the march and loads of our people have joined in. While these guys try to mount a challenge, we still have to grapple with all this mess and the infighting in our camp. The future does not bode well for us, Sir. We need to score some points. Let’s be tough on these pirates! The Chairman of the Committee is here to see you Sir.

Mr. President: Very well JP. Please let him in.... (Superman J comes in for a debriefing on the latest developments about the standoff with ‘Topaz’. He is looking the part complete with his four star beige cap & military fatigues!) 


JoMo: A very good morning Commander! I have already done my interview and provided all the details of the action pertaining to the rescue of our fishermen brothers. We will never allow ourselves to be taken hostage again. This was a daring mission and the best PR stunt to get our people’s minds off their day to day destitution. I tried to paint a vivid picture to give it a Hollywood twist. I did ensure that your name was mentioned more than 15 times during the interview...

Mr. President: Brilliant JoMo. If you continue in that mould, I will make you C in C one day! But what’s with these 10,000 rounds that Topaz pumped into this poor dhow before it caught fire and sunk? This is more like target practice! Well I’m glad that you highlighted this fact. We can now get more ammo rounds from NAVFOR. Our action has sparked a fuse within the region and a search and destroy mission is on.


JoMo: They have now been warned Sir. We cannot allow any pirate infestation in our waters. Now that we have the mandate, we will whip their little raisin bottoms and they will swim all the way to Somalia. I made sure that the overseas press is well informed of our heroics on the high seas. The message out there is clear. Don’t mess with Seychelles!


Mr. President: OK JoMo, don’t get too carried away. This is just child’s play. Back in the 70’s, we were doing more daring stuff than that! Now we have upgraded. I do not have to handle a gun anymore. I do everything remotely, monitoring every detail on a GPS and a computer screen. I tell you. This modern technology that the young ones are exposing me to is just fabulous.


JoMo: I am sure that you do find some VP material in this performance right Sir? This is the mindset we need to adopt for our next election campaign. Our people want a decisive Jj Spirit and firm leader. But you need to be in the thick of the action & provide a warm Presidential welcome to the distressed fishermen. The Iranians are already in awe with you. I am sure you will receive a message of heartfelt thanks from Ahmadinejad. We did a much better job than Carter did when he tried to rescue the Americans hostages.


JenPa: Sir, our young leaders of the defence forces are proving their worth. They are doing us proud. These Somali morons ‘pe tat zot delo’! We are in full swing with our innovation process. Next thing you know they will invade Aldabra and take our entire colony of tortoises hostage. And that will come at a hefty ransom.


Mr. President: Very well JoMo. Many thanks for this update. We’ll see to it that we get some good mileage on SBC when they arrive. You now need to attend to the groaning folks at La Misere. There is a huge compensation that we need to come up with for the pollution fiasco. I am very unhappy with the way Environment handled this issue. Now where do we find all this money to pay out? The Sheik refuses to fork out any more money. He says that he cannot be the one rewarding such incompetence.


JenPa: We thank you for your time Mr. Piracy Committee Chairman; we have more pressing business matters to attend to. (JoMo gulps down his glass of Evian water and makes his way to his car).


Mr. President: OK JP, so what do you have planned for me today?


JenPa: Sir, you will be happy to note that we have already set up the new agency to oversee the transformation of the ‘Nation’ newspaper. Danny had no problem presenting the bill. Just a little cosmetic make over - just like we did when we transformed SMB to STC. We now create a board that will be appointed by you so we can maintain more control as we’ll have more people doing the job of the editor. A bigger push indeed!


Mr. President: I have found the magical formula to solve all the problems and issues affecting our young, budding democracy. It is best to pluralise everything. We create committees and agencies and I appoint all the members to help me run the show. It is too much for one man JP. So I get to delegate. Once you have these members on board they have to follow in our footsteps.


JenPa: Sir, we have just received a parcel in the mail from Commrade Raul Castro. He has sent many books as you requested. He sent the entire ‘Dummies’ series. They are perfect for a crash course in these subjects such as ‘Business 101’. By the way he has also sent a box of Cohiba cigars for Ton Albert. But he is not in a state to be puffing on these fat ones anymore.


Mr. President: Yes my man! I have tried my hand with these short courses on the Internet and I quite like it. I have been fascinated about a section called ‘guerrilla marketing’. I picked up some ideas and I am ready for my walkabout to visit some of the key businesses in town. But we better stick to the government businesses. We can perhaps call at the Credit Union to show some support. “Business skills are key to lower operating costs. Having good business management skills is the key to reducing the high costs of running a business”. You see I am mastering all this business high tech jargon heh!! Do I make any sense??


JenPa: Colastik Mr. President! But the best businessman beats you by FAR! He is more than $ 2.5 billion worth. Now that you are rubbing shoulders with the real movers and shakers in the business world we will ensure that you get the first honorary degree in business admin from ‘Uni Sey’. It will be of vital importance in our future dealings as we have quite a lot of foreign investors lining up to meet with you. They have gotten wind of the Sheik Khalifa story which STAR has put out worldwide. They are all keen to cut some deals to earn their key to Paradise.


Mr. President: Great move JP. We now also have control on world news, do we? Well I hope that my PR team will be able to get all the State House news in the world press. This time it needs to hit AFP, Reuters, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera etc... Make sure you also send a picture of our new BMW X5 (courtesy of HRH) that we used on Praslin for the opening of the new Seypec depot in the company of our good captain. I am tempted to ask him for my own yacht as I need to think of a getaway plan. But I hate sailing. A private jet might be asking for too much though don’t you think?


JenPa: Not at all Sir. He is such a kind hearted and generous man. He has a heart for every Seychellois.....!!


Now that the Pirates have been taken care of, they have turned their undivided attention to riding the business community horse. Hmm, there is another battle looming ahead. The steed is about to jump over the precipice as the monster we unleashed is masterminding a coup to hijack the SCCI. We need to mount a strong lobby to avoid another disaster. Otherwise we’ll be masticated alive...

The Seychelles Column - By Christopher Gill

Seychelles Being Sold By President Michel

Seychelles is entering a chaotic period of desperation, confusion and despair as Michel Administration grapples with collapse mode.

The PP led by Mr. James Michel, aka “Mr. Winner” in their circles of yes men and women, is now “Losing For Every Seychellois”. His answer to crisis is to sell Seychelles one plot at a time for as little as One Rupee at a time. 

Locally, Michel cannot make heads or tails with the situation Seychelles faces. He has delayed repayment of our debts at 8% interest from 6-10 years, but our children will have to repay all of it when he (Michel is gone). This is a travesty. Our children will not have a fighting chance to survive the future, with such a huge load of debt on their shoulders.

People of Seychelles, open your eyes; Rene and Michel’s failures are being transferred to our children. Wake up from your slumber, get involved, have courage to stand up and do what is right for your children.  

Stock Sugar To Reduce The Pain

Stagnation in Fishing Industry, reduction in revenue in the Tourism Sector is rife, the only growth industry is political power, as PP stoops so low as to buying stocks of sugar to supply baka hubs throughout the country, to make Seychellois forget the misery and reduce the pain they live each day PP is in power. However, the next day, after a dosage of baka, the problems aggravate for us all.

Confirmed Long Haul Downturn

On the world financial stage, the numbers are in. The experts have taken a look at what type of World financial crisis we are dealing with. It does not look good. The crisis is not a country by country crisis and it is not regional. It is global. Even China with 8% GDP has 15% unemployment. It will take a decade to get back to the prosperity of 2008, perhaps.

The People of Seychelles must be prepared for a long haul. We must be prepared for the reality of a downturn that will last for years to come. Already, we are facing a Three (3) year down turn with James Michel as the leader of the Country as we register negative growth rates each year, between -9%, -7%, -4%.

As I have said before, the downturn will last as much as 7 to 10 years if the P.P. start doing things right today. They will not, so we will have to remove them before we can rebuild Seychelles and have Seychellois take their rightful place in their own country.

Blind Man Walking Thru Excrement

The PP will not start doing things right. PP does not know what to do. They are blind to the correct path forward. They lack the instincts of free market, and need to balance and protect Seychellois Rasin interests in our homeland.

The La Misere madness of contaminating drinking water from the excrement of 2000 illegal workers, and the subsequent cover up to protect Sheik Khalifa of UAE shows that James Michel and PP do not know how to run a Country for Seychellois Rasinist. Their priority is only power, not our wellbeing as a People.

Their solution to difficult times is always to sell Seychelles to someone.

Seychellois Rasin say: “Sesel Pou Seselwa!”

My solution and the Seychellois beginning to rally behind me today calling for a new movement, encouraging me to move forward, is to preserve “Seychelles for Seychellois” (“Sesel Pou Seselwa” PP!). This call to unity nationwide-worldwide has been launched in January 2010 on STAR. It is now taking another dimension, which will allow all Seychellois Rasin who are non-collaborators to PP to participate.

Do not forget it, PP, “Sesel Pou Seselwa”!

This slogan has departed your lexicon. I have brought it back to save the People of Seychelles from you PP. We will succeed. Failure PP is not in our lexicon. PP, be thankful to all Seychellois who answer this call of unity in the years to come.  For it is then who will unravel your mess and set Seychelles on the right course to lasting success.

We Seychellois Rasin, will take back our country from the doldrums of failure you have led us into. We will retrieve the missing $2.5 Billion, jail the main 15 culprits and set Seychelles on a course of freedom of graft and corruption.

We Seychellois Rasin, will restore our dignity as a People in our motherland, which you PP, have forsaken and taken as lightly as the very colonialists who oppressed us for generations and made us “boys” and “maids” in our own home. Some made us slaves PP.

You PP, will not enslave the People of Seychelles any longer. You PP, will no longer make us servants in our own homeland! We are not your boys and maids! In our homes and in our country, we will remain masters of our destiny, in spite of you PP losers and your failures. Today PP, we Seychellois Rasins do not lick boots of foreign masters, whether they wear pants, robes or dresses.

You Leader of PP, are guilty for teaching your followers how to bend their knees and beg foreigners for handouts in our own land. You are guilty for encouraging Seychellois in your party to subjugate themselves to a non-Seychellois ruler through you, as his adopted estate agent. You go on national television and encourage them to bow to foreigners in our own land.

Now read on to see the pot of #@%%^^ James Michel has brought upon us, People of Seychelles.

Is James Michel Khalifa’s Guardian Angel?

Michel spares no energy and effort to protect Sheik Khalifa. It appears that Mr. James Michel forgets that Sheik Khalifa is not who he is supposed to be protecting.

Michel is mandated to protect the interest of all Seychellois Nationals. Instead of protecting Seychellois, and defending Seychellois, Michel protects Sheik Khalifa and he orchestrates our protection piecemeal, by calling for a governmental committee through the District Office of Grand Anse Mahe, to address the water contamination issue for residents of La Misere. It is conclusive today that the PP takes care of themselves and their foreign friends at the expense of Seselwa Rasin (those true Seychellois who have a vested interest in Seychelles their motherland).

Michel and P.P forsake Seselwa Rasin interests for Fabrike’s and foreign interests’ time and time, again and again. The incident at La Misere is but one incident. People of Seychelles, there are many examples. This is only the most grotesque example that even Hollywood film makers could not dream of.

I say to James Michel, Seychelles belongs to all Seselwa. Seychelles does not belong to Sheik Khalifa or to any other foreigner. Get this straight; do not forget it, because it will not forget you.

James Michel, Seychelles is not, I say, is not, your personal asset to dispose of, as you wish to please your foreign friends. This act of national betrayal will resonate in the hearts of all our true Seychellois for years to come. The consequence will be unity of purpose to depose and remove PP at the ballot box, forever. Once gone PP, you will not be back. We will create a corner at the Museum and call it traitors’ corner and place your picture there with the picture of all the colonialist rulers who grace the walls of State House under your despotic leadership.

Bring Back Land Acquisition Policy To Restore Sovereignty Over Our Motherland

I will push, and advocate a strong response to this policy of selling out Seychelles and displacing Seychellois in their motherland. This is my solemn duty as a true Seychellois. It is a gift of effort I bestow upon my children and all Seychellois able and capable as myself, and who are being called upon today to do the same.  

It is the duty of every Seychellois from all political parties, to support this sincere effort in unity. I call on all Seychellois, who have supported political parties of the past, such as SPUP, SPPF, DP,NDP, Parti Seselwa, NAP, SNM, Liberal Party, SNP, to join us, in unity, to move forward and secure the rights and dignity of the People of Seychelles.

Appeal To Opposition

I ask Regar and Weekly, in the interest of Seychelles, to print this article in whole, unedited.

Serve the country, not your personal political interests that are party oriented. Go beyond the gates of the party, unite the people. Do not play the games SPPF has indoctrinated into the minds of the People of Seychelles. Smash divisions in your mind and spirit. It is a key to success. Do the right thing, if you stand on the side of Truth; do not live on the political wall of division to please PP.

If you have made commitments to foreign masters like PP and taken their money and today you cannot defend the People of Seychelles, call your foreign masters on the phone, tell them you no longer serve them. Just do it! Do not worry about the money.

Write a letter to your foreign masters and tell them Seychelles is not for sale. Stop counting the amount of money you raise for campaigns, count the amount of people that suffer because of soft deals you make to sacrifice Seychellois Rasin interests.

If you cannot end the contract of servitude with your foreign masters, withdraw from the political playing field, retire your party. We will secure Seychellois Rasin interest, and you will benefit directly from our efforts. You will continue to contribute to the development of Seychelles through your talents. No one will be castigated or swept aside because Seychellois Rasinists are not a small group of people, we are the entire population of Seychelles.

Agenda One

People of Seychelles, protecting the People of Seychelles from a foreign invasion brought on by James Michel is today our most pressing agenda as a People. Once this agenda is completed, we have the brains and know-how to fix the failed economy of Seychelles.  We can do this!

A.    History Is Calling Us To Rise

Today, the People of Seychelles have a glorious calling at hand. It is a call at a moment in history, that, because of James Michel’s utter catastrophic failures, he Michel has granted all the People of Seychelles an opportunity to unite for one common cause. Those who do not support the effort to re-establish sovereignty in our motherland are sell out “Collaborators”. We will name and shame all collaborators and expose them to the People of Seychelles.

As they turn on Michel and PP, we will accept them in our family of Seselwa Rasin brothers and sisters. We must be big enough to forgive the pawns of Michel and Rene if they are not responsible for murders and the missing $2.5 Billion from our banking system. The country must be able to move one at Godspeed. As these Collaborators remain opposed to our ideals to protect Seychellois in their homeland, we will carry them on our shoulders.

This means we must not insult them if they insult us. They are fighting to preserve themselves, but teach them, that in a new government, they too will have a place according to their ability to perform, but their mastered ability to bootlick will not have any value to a new government. We want and expect debate. For this is wherein the best successful ideas come from. This golden rule of democracy cannot ever be circumvented.

We will not displace Collaborators because they were SPUP, SPPF, PP. I too have family members who were SPUP. They are not diseased as some parties make them out to be. They are people, our people, misguided as they may have been. Hitler misguided millions. But the Allied Forces of World War Two did not kill all the misguided people of Germany.  The Allied Forces taught them to stand, walk, and prosper according to their ability. Germans were assimilated into the World of Nations, and they became more productive than Hitler could ever imagine. Today Germany leads Europe in growth and innovation.

So if Rene and Michel misguided a few thousands, we must learn from history and not be punished by history as a People by a bad emotional decision at the spur of a moment in reaction to a personal attack, well planned and executed by P.P upon any political threat.

Seychelles must heal, in spite of PP.

Many of these Collaborators sit in the National Assembly, protecting James Michel and PP, to protect their bowl of rice and the cost of Seychellois losing their homeland to Sheik Khalifa and others like him who come to take advantage of the weak PP leadership.

As the debts build up, PP will bring in many more foreigners to sell us out. This has been spoken by their “Losing for Every Seychellois” leader.

         B. The Michel Strategy

One Collaborator very close to James Michel but very unhappy with him, told me James Michel’s strategy is to get the Arabs to pay for everything. But Michel does not stretch his brain to conclude Arabs will pay for everything only if you sell them everything that is Seychelles. Today, this is Michel’s economic strategy for Seychelles.  That’s as far as his brains can think!

Most recently, the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce has been taken over by another band of Fabrike’s led by Dr. Ramadoss. One by one, Seselwa Rasins are resigning from the Chamber in protest.

Seychellois open your eyes! The political opposition, wake up, unite; you have only your chains to lose. I say this economic strategy is a plan of a failure cum traitor to the People of Seychelles.

C.       Gill’s First Step To Correct Michel Injustice Towards People of Seychelles

After PP is removed from power, which it will be, I will advocate an aggressive Land Acquisition policy to return to the Seychelles all state properties that have been sold to foreigners and that were not tendered by James Michel or Albert Rene during their terms of office.  

Any properties not duly tendered according to the law will be acquired. The consideration paid will be the price paid by the foreign party.  For example, Sheik Khalifa who paid SR 1 rupee for the La Misere property will be paid back the SR 1 rupee that he paid.  Sheik Khalifa will also be given enough time to restore the site to its original condition at his own cost. If the People of Seychelles bear the cost, we will seek judgment for all costs and execute on the same for the same, unless there is a settlement that is in the interest of the People of Seychelles.  The same goes for the SR 1 Rupee Ste. Anne island sale and many other illegal acts undertaken by the SPPF-PP Government.

James Michel and Albert Rene are guilty of selling state land without tender procedures.  This land is the national heritage of the People of Seychelles. For this, they have violated the Oath of Allegiance to uphold the Constitution of Seychelles and to protect all Seychellois National.

President Violates Sovereignty of Republic of Seychelles

Article One (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles, states that Seychelles is a Sovereign Republic. This means that Seychelles is independent of any other sovereign nation or any other head of state. The political status of independence requires that every government apply the laws and rules of the land, to protect and secure the sovereignty and independence of the Republic. This means, that any presiding President is obligated and duty bound to see that no laws of Seychelles are violated, or that no laws or rules of the land, be compromised, circumvented, to please a sovereign of another land without exception.

Mr. Michel, in case you did not know, or you forgot, you are duty bound to defend Article One of the Constitution. This article forms part of our Constitution. Perhaps you were not there when we debated this section in the Constitutional Commission debates. I recall very well, while your seat was empty, you were busy handling the arrival of the Maria, or MALO ship, loaded with arms and weapons, that made its way to Rwanda eventually by airfreight through the Seychelles International Airport.  Lest you forget, this little event of history under your command led to the massacre of thousands of innocent Tutsi people in the Rwanda genocide. The United Nations seems to have overlooked this slight detail of your involvement in the sale-shipment of arms. Sheik Khalifa should be wary of the company he keeps in paradise.

Intentional Legal Oversights for Trinkets

No amount of money tendered, no amount of BMWs gifted to State House, no amount of free tickets to a Ferrari Grand Prix, no medical scanner or building to house our hospital radiology department, should suffice to allow a President of the Republic of Seychelles to go to his knees like a lowly beggar, to please the ruler of another land, no matter how rich that ruler may be.

To us educated who boot-strapped ourselves from the fall and exodus out of June 5^th 1977, and have succeeded in life in spite of SPPF, we know that money does not make men. James Michel, it is men who make money. For that, you need good ideas, which you do not seem to have, as you have conclusively proven to the People of Seychelles, year after year, decade after decade.

In fact, because you lack any good ideas, you even stifle debate on the national radio and national television station. That kind of leadership will never make Seychelles successful. That kind of leader will bury Seychelles. And as you know, we are being buried now not only in debt but in other stinking things too.

Michel, resorting to corruption and stealing do not replace the good ideas to make money and create wealth. This is a house of cards you have dealt yourself under your own administration. It will come down with the first wind. And the winds of change will blow!

Our Constitution’s Preamble, foresaw, that Seychelles is a Country created by God, of unsurpassed natural beauty, and that many will come with gifts and tidings to compromise her territorial integrity and independence of her simple, but very special people who are the true owners of this special land which is truly the most special islands in the World.

People of Seychelles, James Michel has compromised our sovereignty and violated Article One (1) of our Constitution. He has sold land that belongs to our National Heritage to meet the personal requirements of the ruler of UAE, to meet his pleasurable requirements in the realm of Eros. Today, even our Coco De Mer stamp on our passport has been sacrificed by Michel and PP to please the ruler of another land. This is an unacceptable atrocity upon the dignity of the People of Seychelles.

Sheik Khalifa Has Promised $30Million To Finish The Highly Political Project of Ile Perseverans

This project is intended to garner enough votes for PP to win an election as keys will be handed out just before the election. As a non-Seychellois, Sheik Khalifa has no right to invest in a political project or to participate in our politics in any form.  A foreign head of state of another nation does not interfere in the day to day operations of another sovereign country. As a head of state a conflict of Interest arises when Sheik Khalifa invests in Seychelles for business purposes. This conflict of interest will breed great discontent over the years as they unfold.

People of Seychelles, we have troubled waters ahead. We need serious leadership to navigate through these rough seas and bring Seychellois Rasin to safety. We are facing the destruction of a People under PP. It is not right for Sheik Khalifa to interfere in the internal affairs of our country when he is only a mere guest. As he interferes in Seychelles politics, Sheik Khalifa will become a political issue in Seychelles.

As this plays itself out, it will play itself out on the World stage. There will be no cover ups. If anything, we will uncover all that there is to uncover. We will not rest, we will not despair, and we will not be deterred. The word will spread until it is understood. The world does not look favourably on rich Arab leaders who use their money as a form of bribery.

I urge Sheik Khalifa to withdraw support for this request from PP to fund the Ile Perseverans Project. Such a withdrawal of funding will go a long way to make amends with the People of Seychelles. It will be a start.

But it will not be enough.

I suggest Sheik Khalifa appropriate the $30 Million to infrastructure development at PUC.

While I understand Sheik Khalifa does not change his mind often, this is one time, where it may be best to change course.  Mr. Khalifa, save face while you can as you have been misguided by a gang of criminal opportunists, who have been Communists, arms dealers, mafia associates and even importers of soldiers from other lands to kill their own people. Their reputation, Sheik Khalifa, precedes your arrival to these shores. Your presence does not efface their bad deeds.

As your father fought hard to protect your people’s interests in your state and bring about unity of all your people, you will appreciate our noble and justified effort in our own land to do the same.

We will not accept less for the Seselwa Rasin People.

I propose to Sheik Khalifa, commit to fix the road and sewer line and drinking water line at La Misere, which your agents destroyed. Pay all the residents of La Misere and Grand Anse Mahe, Cascade, Plaisance, five (5) times the amount each, of what they ask. Pay them directly and do not pay the PP government. Solve this problem as a real King and Ruler would. Disassociate yourself from this criminal gang you seem to have mixed up with in the middle of paradise.

Additionally Sheik Khalifa, I propose you commit to upgrading the electricity grids not just for your personal homes, but all of Mahe, which is operating at capacity and can overloads very often! Commit to invest in sufficient water catchments to solve the water problems in Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. These infrastructural investments will benefit all Seychellois, and not just the sell out government of James Michel and P.P. Such development investment will allow Seychelles to grow exponentially and allow her to restore her dignity as a Country, by creating more wealth and repaying the unsustainable debt obligation the James Michel government has created.

Yes, Sheik Khalifa, your guardian angel is a dead beat national debtor of world standard! This is why he routinely calls on you, begging for money, and giving every sorry excuse that is unbecoming of a leader, to encourage you to fork out more money to keep him floating. No sooner than you can write a cheque, he has spent the money and is asking for more. This is a bad investment at best.

Sheik Khalifa, you are on notice, that you are associating yourself with a man who passed on all the debts he created to the next generation - MY children and ALL the children of Seychelles. This is something that you Sheik Khalifa would never consider doing to your own people. You will be regarded as a wiser Sheik, to know Mr. Michel intends that you settle his bills of failure.

We the People of Seychelles, will refuse to cover the balance left by Mr. Michel owed to you, we will not accept liability for Michel’s actions borne out of corruption, greed, and flagrant disregard for our Constitution.

Even in royal family circles, you are, the company you keep... by association. Hence, why life of the royals is ever so lonely.... even in Paradise.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

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

Christopher Gill