Lights Bright at State House

The Presidential Election challenge before the Constitutional Court is over. Justice Twomey and her team labored three (3) hours to deliver the written judgment. Case dismissed, each party to near their own cost. The Respondent, keeps his post, and the Petitioner will be recommended to be struck off the Voters List for writing to the Tamil Community, asking that they support him, in exchange he will offer them ministerial posts and make Tamil an official language.

State House Celebrates

State House will celebrate. The fate of James Michel' s election bid has been sealed. He will retire when he wants within the next Four and a half years. An appeal will be risky, risking the Petitioners name from being struck from the Voters List. A harsh conclusion to a political career of Wavel Ramkalawan. Though I have had issues with him and his style, this is a bit like shooting the messenger because the message was not convenient. The decisions leaves Seychelles with much to ponder, and the question begs, is the democratic process really a fair process for the Opposition.

Win Convincingly

The Judgement tells us to beat PL, one must win convincingly, without a burp. If you come close, it's not enough. If you win by 1% or 2% it will not be enough.

Flaking on Agency Law

The Judges relied on Seychelles Agency Law as the basis to not establish any liability on part of the Respondent James Michel, of any liability of agents that solicited others to influence the outcome of the elections, improperly. The Seychelles Law covers proxies and strict expressed agency. It does not cover Implied or Imputed agencies. In such cases, the Justices should have referred to UK law, and not rely on the limited Proxy agency laws from an archaic era. Implied agency laws are clearly lacking. If applied, any acts that were accepted or ratified by the Principal, would be imputed to being acts of the Principal.
This single error, has prevented the Petitioner from pressing his case.

Pass It On SBC

The decision has left Seychelles hanging like a piñata on a ceiling. The judgement was passed on SBC as if to teach the whole country a lesson. Numerous PL agents, or supporters were named and called to report to court to answer charges as to why they should not be charged with crimes.
The Director of Elections Charlie Morin's conduct was cited as being appalling and unprofessional. His resignation is in order for lack of competence, as per the judicial decision. The whole election process was mishandled, as the Judges went on and on, one started to suffer from overloading. Yet , the outcome was a dismissal.

Michel Rules With Slight Mandate
Clearly, Michel now rules with a very slight mandate. If the opposition galvanizes, and takes to protest, it will be a tough slog for Seychelles. If Michel opens the door for dialogue, and the opposition responds in a serious manner, perhaps Seychelles can be saved. The time to act responsibly, is now. The burden and challenge rests on every single Seychellois, particularly the national leadership.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom loving Seychellios!

Letter of Apology

I am writing to apologize for the article written on the death of James Denis. Sometimes in the heat of the moment we get things wrong.
The suspect IS NOT Kurt Loizeau.
We regret any inconvenience this may have cause Kurt and his family, I know how it can feel to be the name behind a false or mistaken statement.
The article has been amended and all comments deleted.


Cordially,

Christopher Gill

Minister St. Ange Attacked By Colonel Ernesta!

I heard about this incredible allegation of Minister Alain St. Ange stealing RS. 100,000.00 as some sort of corruption and I was immediately taken aback by the allegation. I have known St. Ange for many years, I have openly criticized him on many occasions when I felt he had made a wrong decision, I have supported him, when I have felt he was on the right track, focusing on the right vision. All the years, I have known this friendly man from La Digue, he has not once cause me to believe he is a low life who will steal RS. 100,000.00  (€6,000.00, one night stay on North Island) as a Minister of Tourism.

Weekly Loses It As Usual

The Weekly is edited by Colonel Robert Ernesta. He is a ex- military man holding numerous high posts in Rene's Army during one arty state and after. He made it to the top fast because he took initiative , he was smarter then everyone else around him. At one point he was Chief of Staff and Commissioner of Police. Colonel Ernesta was a very powerful man in Seychelles. When marijuana was getting prolific in Praslin, Colonel Ernesta would round up 100 soldiers, camp out, and sweep the island of marijuana, they would cut a few dread locks, seize and smoke what leaf they could get their hands on. 

Colonel as a professional was notorious for double standards, and being quick to draw the gun, at times, without ever thinking out clearly what he was doing. He could stage set a full panic mode nationally, if you started to believe his hocus Pocus.  At times, State House under James Michel fell for it, until enough was enough, he got his packing orders while on a staged course for officers in Ireland.

E-Turbo Payments

Why would someone steal money by cheque? Cheques have a record, and the expense is tax deductible. Simple there is no theft of funds. The payment by Beachcomber Hotel was a simple payment to St. Ange, who is the E-Turbo Agent for Seychelles since 2007.

Larger hotels can afford to subscribe to E- Turbo promotions on an annual basis. This works out to € 500.00 per month to keep the hotel in the news, and € 250.00 per year on two years. No big deal. This payment would have to be shared with E-Turbo. I imagine as the Seychelles Branch Agent, St. Ange will net about 25% commission for handling the transaction. I am sure he will give better details.

Private Funds Not Corruption

Colonel Ernesta knows just like you do, a private cheque drawn on a company does not give an inference that corruption rest at the bottom of the trial. He is not as dumb ass as the people he replaced in the Seychelles Defense Forces  and the Commissioner of Police from 2002-2005.

I suspect Colonel Ernesta is playing Ramkalawan's fiddle to the pleasure of his ears.

Independent has written about numerous payments Ramkalawan has received in the last election. Colonel Ernesta has remain silent on the matter. Worse, beyond money, everyone knows today, St. Ange is a viable contender to State House. Worse yet, the political mill is ripe with allegations that Ramkalawan will give Colonel Ernesta a proportional seat in the National Assembly for his loyal and timely albeit false allegations.

St. Ange The Man

St. Ange has kept his independence while a Minister. He has kept his cool. He is not a member of PL, he is excluded from their inner circle of chaos. He was hired to run Tourism, he did such a good job, PL now, cannot get rid of him.  They have no viable replacement. He controls 200,000 plus addresses that makes Seychelles tick the numbers each year. They have learnt to live with him, and this has forced PL to also change it culture of " ek nou pa ek nou" to make Tourism work. 

Today, St. Ange can leave PL with his head held up high. He has save Tourism in Seychelles, he has delivered astronomical numbers beyond our imagination. We complain only that they drink too much water, not enough wine at times, but our planes are full, extra flights have been signed up. Interest in Seychelles has peaked and remains peaked. For this St. Ange and his team we owe thanks and gratitude.

Unify Behind St. Ange

St. Ange has proven his metal for Seychelles. He has not sit around, collecting a fat pension doing nothing, but just talking a lot. Nor has he professed politics of division. To the contrary he has made appeal upon appeal for Seychellois to accept one Seychelles, one Seychellois people, and has appeal that we live together in harmony, work together in harmony, give the results to our children. This is what I call leadership.

If and when St. Ange leaves government and forms his own party, we should all rally behind him to save Seychelles from the chaos Ramkalawan will bring to us. Weekly is pushing St. Ange to hit the campaign trail. Be careful Weekly, you might get just what you wanted: " St. Ange hitting the campaign traill". Then Weekly, will become " Yearly".

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

The Lights Start To Dim At State House

The situation room at a State House is in a downturn for the worse. Panic is setting in amongst the most Loyal supporters of James Michel ( President Elect Under Contest). While fall out becomes the order of the day, and the President loses control over his people, the ministries are non responsive to the day to day problems, and bureaucrats are declaring themselves "King in Absentia".

Election Petition Judgment

The election petition judgment is due to be released this week.
The case against the the Office of the Election commissioner is potent, enough to render the results of the last election Null and Void. The key issue is the : low burden of proof Election petitions have under Commonwealth laws. A petition has to show only a few cases of misconduct, and the court will legally impute a compound of cases as being misconduct, because the nature of fraud, is to deceive in the first place.

Null and Void Means New Elections

The pressure at State House is bearing down because of the anxiety over the election petition decision. This judgment is bending the nerves of Michel's inner circle. Some are applying for exile papers in Australia. The whole situation is unravelling fast. Two (2) ministers it is leaked have submitted resignations already, a third is on the way. The resignations are being held, until the judgment, or next elections. Mr. Michel cannot afford to give the Public any impression that people are leaving his inner circle at this time, even if they may be there in body, but in spirit they have long departed.

Problem Is lack of Effective Management

James Michel has had an incredible political career, when you span his career since 1977. Some will say his career has been infamous. From the coup run in 1977, to his era as minister in a one party state that ushered in Communism into Seychelles, to the multiparty era in 1992 onwards, that had the window dressing of Democracy, but the back rooms hung signs of oligarchy. Twenty five years of cronyism has taken its toll on the PL regime image.

Islands sold for SCR. 1.0. Fast food restaurants built over a river for the family of the Lands minister, selective and preferable leases and tax concessions for the oligarchy families for mega hotels and resorts. Public islands, becoming private islands, the abuse has been incredible and even fantastic. No country in the World could compare the level of pillage that has taken place in Seychelles by comparison to population size.

Michel has suffered on and on, like a wounded lion, trekking through the jungles with his Pharaohic inability to manage the government ministries effectively. Letters are written to State House and they go unanswered. Mr. Michel has handlers that make sure he does not receive all mail, but only some mail. Emails are sent to State House and not acknowledged. This practice is similar in numerous ministries. Phone calls to Principal Secretaries are made and not replied. Email between Minister of Lands to CEO of Planning are claimed not to be received. Yet when the mail is forwarded again, the CEO replies, " I know nothing about this", but the mail stares at him.

Consequently, problems are being resolved on crisis resolution basis only. For this, you have to fall back on the Vice President's office, who slogs it out every day, like a dedicated soldier, thrashing through the chaos on and on, as it arises.

Will he be able to treat the dry rot at this stage, only time will tell.

Master of Ceremony and Stages

In spite of this mountain of chaos in the background, Mr. Michel has remained loyal to the stage and the presidential ceremonies at all cost to retain presidential air and flare.
After the contested Presidential a Elections, he rushed the swearing in ceremony on a Sunday, electing not to do it on Monday. He dragged the Chief Justice out from her Sunday picnic and had her attest to the Oath.
Michel invited UN Secretary General Ban kik Moon to Seychelles, all expense paid, no expenditure spared. He rolled out the Rolls Royce for him, and whisked him about for 24 hours.
He called the National Assembly to session for the photo prop on a Sunday again. This seems to be his version of work for his rank and file. Unfortunately, they do little more then fill seats and offer plates of Kankan for SBC.

The level of debate in the National Assembly has reached an all time historical low. It is sad to watch.

Door To Door
Who can miss the door to door. For a man of Michel's age trekking door to door,even if it is staged, it is incredible, but it is also very sad. Michel is hanging on to dear political life, to the most remote straws he can place his hands on. His time is spent, his best days gone, there is no other stage set to play, they have all been played. He can only beg the people for mercy and beg The Lord for the same........in his political hour of his...........

Plato: " Yee, Yee, you self loving leaders of Greece, be mindful, all power emanates from the People, and all power goes back to the people".

Sesel Pou Seselwa!


May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!