Seychelles President James Michel calls Presidential Election

Icus to hold first national conference on January 9

07-January-2016

The Independent Conservative Union of Seychelles (Icus) is holding its first national conference on Saturday January 9 starting at 3pm at the Seychelles Trading Company’s conference room, the party said in a communiqué issued on Tuesday .
The communiqué said anyone interested in joining Icus can come along and take part in the discussions, ask any questions and “if you are happy with what you see and what you hear you may wish to become a member”.
During the conference the party will explain how it intends to have a representative in every district.
Icus says there are no pre-requisites to join the party.
“Just come with a good heart and be well-meaning and true to what we plan for Seychelles in the next five years and beyond. We do place a great deal of importance on helping others especially those who are less fortunate and need help. We are a political party with a difference and because we are new and clean, we can nurture our growth to be what we want it to be. Come and join us and be different and let us do good for our community,” the communiqué said.
It is to be recalled that Icus did not take part in the recent presidential election because the party says “it could not find the right person with presidential acumen and personality to compete with the existing challengers” but Icus put its full force behind Philippe Boulle and continues to support the Union for Change in its endeavours to bring about a change of government in Seychelles,” the communiqué explained.

Jean-Paul Adam
January 8 at 7:05am ·
Pe tande pou dir ki Wavel pe konplent akoz SBC pe pas mon interview lo bidze.

I pe al fer demonstrasyon dan lavil tou!

Selman esper en kou! Si SNP ti'n ganny eleksyon zot pa ti pou al eksplik zot bidze lo televizyon?

I devwar nenport ki Gouvernman pou li eksplik bidze ki i prezante.

Pour met sa bidze anplas nou ti konsilte en kantite dimoun, e i enportan pour nou angaz dan en konversasyon lo ki mannyer nou amelyor lavi sak Seselwa e osi reste realis baze lo nou mwayen.

Danplas taye al fer demonstrasyon, akoz SNP pa met devan en kou sa bidze alternativ ki zot ti pou met devan si zot ti ganny elekte.

Petet larealite se ki napa en plan bidzeter deryer bann promes ki'n ganny fer avan eleksyon.

I paret zot pli kontan fer demonstrasyon ki propoz solisyon pour Seselwa.

An tou ka, mon santi i enportan pour annan en deba lo bidze pandan lannen antye. Tou dimoun i byenveni, pou fer sizesyon- nenport ki afiliyasyon politik.

Facebook Comment -
La lange creole i terrible/difficile pou koz lo finance important - I bon zis pou zouret - mon bezoin apprande zoure moi ossi. BBC have broadcast a brief Presidential election coverage - 2/3 days later Minister Jean Paul was in Berlin. Back to the topic of the Budget of the government and and SNP - because you are/belong to a small Nation does not meant you must be daft. I/we have addressed a few brief threads about East Berlin - in Particular the Treuhand, reason for it set up and what took place. The reason we were in East Berlin was for the Presidential election and those who quarried the future economy of Seychelles, approach and economic concept which would included the first Budget. - East Berlin was a great place to do some rapid thinking of then Communist system, the current System and Communist Seychelles and current system. Specially the role that SIROP program had played, the Treuhand and Germany new Economy in Europe and the world which we have contributed to using both platform Project and we are correct to say in Creole language there is a great deal of restrain to communicate. We have been involved/made input in Germany Economy as the Powerhouse of Europe for 25 years almost. Surely with the many young academicians one would be mad enough to research how it is done or is something wrong with the Mind. Too much Creole. We have stressed the EU high institutions would like that that Program be reevaluated and give a proper place in our economy and Budget - had the Opposition won we would have insisted - there is also the BRICS equation to support our future economy how this can be achieved. ( Much more pressing we have covered closely the exile/refugee politic the past 12 months Germany and Austria - our addressed that that SIROP program played a vital role/link and the need to study them - The massive German resources and the Fallout for New Year. Must we always wait for the "chamber pot" to be flying before we act. ( Did anybody listen closely to President Holland speech on France economy and Mr Cameron on the British economy. Just as the situation in Germany have gone pear shape - the protest of SNP which went pear shape a few years and the broken skull and blood every where - we trust those leading and taking part will/would have learnt their lesson and be somewhat honest hare with the crowd some information/issues. Seychelles Police and he Army know a very great deal more than they let the public know.)

CUS convention did not take place

11-January-2016
A convention by the Independent Conservative Union of Seychelles (Icus) scheduled to take place on Saturday did not happen and the secretary general of the party, Mike Chadstone, said bad weather was the reason why members and the public in general did not turn up.
Mr Chadstone said the party has 4500 registered members in its data base and an hour after the meeting was to have started there was only a handful of people in the hall.
Mr Chadstone said it is unfortunate they did not attend the convention, although many of them informed the party that they were not in a position to leave their homes as heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning were pounding Mahé, especially the north region, on Saturday afternoon.
Mr Chadstone said the party is not discouraged and will organise the convention as soon as possible.
It is not the first time that bad weather causes a meeting of Icus to be postponed as a similar situation occurred last year.

Seychelles Nation

Not that SIFCO needs me to defend its action or that of Bishop Wong but I can no longer keep quiet when I see and hear the hypocrisy of some local “paper” circulating around town masquerading as a “newspaper”. Does Bishop Wong have a right to freedom of expression as contained in Article 22 “Every person has a right to freedom of expression and for the purpose of this article this right includes the freedom to hold opinions and to seek, receive and impart ideas and information without interference.” Is Bishop Wong “a person” who has the right to freedom of expression or is this right given only to Le Pep supporters and Le Pep propaganda newsprint?

The only restrictions of this right are those prescribed by law and necessary in a democratic society and the constitution goes on to categorize situations in sub-articles (a) to (f) which would permit restrictions none of which apply to Bishop Wong.

For years I personally had issues with the churches and the bishops because of their total silence in the face of widespread abuse of our human rights especially the recent enactment of the Public Order Act 2013, the over population of our prisons the disparity of our sentencing regime, the little fish get disproportionate prison terms and the big fish get all charges dropped against them. I could not be prouder of my church and our bishops for having spoken up. It is better late than never.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite the bishops to attend and speak up at my political rallies. Had the Baptist Church in America and Martin Luther King Jr. not openly defied the system and organized marches throughout the US in the Civil Rights Movement how much longer would the African Americans have had to suffer racial discrimination? Had Bishop Tutu not been openly critical of the Apartheid system in South Africa would that despicable form of government have ever ended? His efforts were recognized by the world when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

I for one congratulate the Bishops and I personally know that had there not been a lot of background work for peace and stability by the bishops and SIFCO the situation post elections could have been a lot different. I once again congratulate Bishop Wong for having spoken up in accordance with his convictions, his active conscience and his principles.

Alexia G. Amesbury

Speech by Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey at the Opening of the Supreme Court on 11 January 2016
Submitted by Jessica Kerr on Mon, 01/11/2016 - 18:50


The annual formal re-opening of the Supreme Court of Seychelles took place on 11 January 2016.

Read the speech delivered by the Honourable Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey here.

Jessica Kerr's blog Login to post comments

http://www.seylii.org/content/speech-chief-justice-mathilda-twomey-opening-supreme-court-11-january-2016

Re-opening of Supreme Court

‘Access to justice for all’ is the theme for this year’s ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court of Seychelles which took place yesterday.
Speaking at the Palais de Justice on Ile du Port following a religious service at the St Paul’s Cathedral, Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey said this theme is primarily a call to action not for the Judiciary only but also an appeal to everyone in Seychelles…to ensure that the legal system provides fair and equal treatment to all persons who access it.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248081

Supreme Court formally re-opens

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248082


12-January-2016
Congratulatory messages from world leaders keep coming in
Following the victory of President James Alix Michel in the run-off presidential election in December 2015, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Transport has received and continues to receive congratulatory messages from various nations, organisations and individuals which are transmitted to the President of the Republic.
To date, from the beginning of the year, the heads of State and heads of government of the following nations have expressed their congratulations to the Republic of Seychelles and to President James Alix Michel. They are Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Federative Republic of Brazil, French Republic, Hellenic Republic (Greece), Kingdom of Morocco, Kingdom of Spain, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, People’s Republic of China, Russian Federation, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of Palau, Sovereign Military Hospitalier Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, State of Israel, and Ukraine.
The following are excerpts of some of the Note Verbal received from various foreign dignitaries:
President of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena:
“It gives me great pleasure in extending to Your Excellency my warm congratulations and sincere best wishes on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Seychelles …
“Your Excellency’s electoral victory is a clear manifestation of the confidence which the people of Seychelles have reposed in your visionary leadership and ability to steer the country to greater heights.
“Both our countries enjoy cordial relations and as island nations in the Indian Ocean, our two countries need to enhance cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral level for us to face future challenges.”
President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff:
“I congratulate you Your Excellency for your re-election to the Presidency of the Republic of Seychelles and renew my willingness to work for deepening the bilateral relations between our countries…”
President de la Republique Française, François Hollande:
“A l’occasion de votre reelection à la Présidence de la République des Seychelles, je suis heureux de vous addresser, en mon nom personnel et au nom du peuple français, mes chaleureuses félicitations, ansi que tous mes voeux de succès dans votre mission….
“Ce nouveau mandat nous donnera, à n’en pas douter, l’occasion de prolonger le dialogue si fructueux que nous avons noué lors de votre visite officielle en France l’an dernier. J’ai en particulier a Coeur d’approfondir les relations d’amitié et de coopération que nos deux pays entretiennent dans l’océan Indien..
“En ce qui concerne le changement climatique, l’accord de Paris marque une étape historique fondée sur un texte à la fois ambitieux et équilibre……je souhaite que nos deux pays continuent à travailler main dans la main à la mise en oeuvre de cet accord.”
President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokoplos V. Pavlopoulos:
“On the occasion of your re-election as President of the Republic of Seychelles, I would like to extend to Your Excellency, on behalf of the people of Greece and on my own behalf, my warmest congratulations and very best wishes for success in your high mission as well as for the progress and prosperity of the people of Seychelles.”
Government of the Kingdom of Spain:
“Spain congratulates the people and the authorities of Seychelles for the Presidential elections that were held… and especially President James Michel for his re-election.
“The government of Spain wishes to President Michel every success in his mandate for the benefit of the people and for keeping the excellent relations between Spain and the Republic of Seychelles.”
President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping:
“On the occasion of your taking office again as President of the Republic of Seychelles, I would like to extend the warmest congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency in my own name and also on behalf of the government and people of the PRC… I believe, under your leadership, the Seychelles government and the people will make bigger achievements in the process of building and developing the country…
“The traditional friendship between China and Seychelles has a long history… I will continue to work together with you to push forward the bilateral friendly cooperation in various sectors for the benefit of both our countries and two people..”
President of the Russian Federation. Vladimir Putin:
“…Please accept my sincere congratulations on your re-election as President of the Republic of Seychelles. I am convinced that the traditional friendly Russian-Seychelles relations will continue to develop for the benefit of our people and in the interest of strengthening regional stability and security…”
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi:
“My heartfelt congratulations on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Seychelles for a historic third term. This is a vindication of the faith the people of Seychelles have in your leadership. I also commend the people of Seychelles for an enthusiastic and successful conduct of the electoral process that reinforces their democratic values.
“…I admire your personal commitment to the partnership between India and Seychelles. Our deliberations and decisions during my visit to your beautiful country... have taken our engagement to an even higher level...
“I look forward to working with you on further strengthening our strategic partnership in the entire range of areas, including Blue Economy and maritime security, for the progress and prosperity of our peoples…”
President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo:
“The government and people of the Republic of Indonesia join me in conveying to you our best wishes and sincere congratulations upon your re-election as President of the Republic of Seychelles…
“I have every belief that the outstanding bilateral relationship and cooperation between Indonesia and Seychelles will be further enhanced in strength during Your Excellency’s term of office.”
Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, Anerood Jugnauth:
“I am very pleased to convey to you, on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Mauritius and in my own name, my sincere congratu

lations on your re-election as President of the Republic of Seychelles.. This is a testimony of the renewed confidence that the people of Seychelles have placed in your capacity to lead the destiny of your country.
“Seychelles has once again demonstrated its attachment to the principles of democracy through the peaceful, orderly and transparent manner in which the elections were conducted.
“Your third mandate at the helm of the government of Seychelles will be an opportunity, I am sure, to continue the work that you started and which has contributed to the political and economic stability of Seychelles.”

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248080

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248080

Date for election petitions hearing to be known this week


Date for election petitions hearing to be known this week

12-January-2016
Yesterday, Monday January 11, was the last date to file any petition contesting the results of the recent presidential election and a date for the start of the hearing is expected to be known this week, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Mathilda Twomey has said.
“Once the deadline is over, a panel of Supreme Court judges will be chosen and a date will be set as from this week to start procedures,” Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey told members of the press after the reopening ceremony of the Supreme Court at Ile Du Port yesterday morning.
“We will wait until the end of today (Monday) to see how many requests we receive and then I will sit down to consolidate the files and then I will choose three judges of the Supreme Court to hear these cases,” Chief Justice Twomey said.
“This is a very serious matter and it concerns the whole country. I will not be doing a good job as Chief Justice if I am not on the panel of judges to hear the cases,” Chief Justice Twomey added.
She pointed out that the population needs to understand that such a case will take some time as already one petition is composed of 15 pages, 158 pages of affidavit and one pen-drive.
Chief Justice Twomey explained that once the panel of judges is finalised, a date will be set to start the procedures in court.
“We will have to give time for both parties to prepare themselves and this case is being given priority,” explained Chief Justice Twomey.
She did not want to pronounce herself on the amount of time the case will take, but with its description and high importance, she said it will take over three months.
CJ Twomey said justices will remain impartial in the case and that it's neither the media nor Facebook that will make the judgement, but the court.
"I, personally, have been the subject of political diatribe, violent threats and personal abuse. I also have been the subject of subtle hints – phone calls, text messages....Your comments are contemptible and my office is above your threats and insinuations," she said.
The Seychelles National Party (SNP) has filed two petitions so far this month to contest the results of the recent presidential election.
The first petition is asking the Constitutional Court to rule whether James Michel actually received 50% of the votes as required under schedule 3 of the Constitution while the second is asking the Constitutional Court to rule on the numerous allegations of irregularities both on the part of the Electoral Commission and the candidates which the party have compiled.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248078

Facebook Comment

Mitchel J Edmond This morning as this portal project is offline - morons like President J A Michel and his Ministers who have benefited and claim important advantages their attitudes. As President Obama makes his last state of the Nation addresses a former leading NGO Executive his knowledge of such problematic, communities and nations needs. That portal project helped inform many in the USA, Canada, Latin America, Africa, China, Asia, Europe, the Arab world a very great amount of topics, history and values of our nations you will not find in library or publish by UN, EU Commonwealth, the Francophone, African Union and many other Institutions. Yet at the same time the many communities and minorities in Europe and the world the EU , UN, Commonwealth, Francophone , Vatican and other church institutions directive and policies. That portal project helped the Seychelles become known not just as a little Tourist destination, about many other aspects of their heritage and culture and other normal nations do - the world had decided to ascribe then as dumbos and subhumans. In Britain in Particular the racist and other oppressive practice which this portal project helped to overcome and address. The Seychellois are very strange - for the past 36 years our politic and they have complained - yet across the world how other nations work and interact and the vast possibilities and yet our communities their respective attitudes. It is not James Michel who has a problem it is you the people/humans. For instance over the past 36 years working in NGO, exile/voluntary issue, - those communities who will sell drugs, carry out criminal activities, prostitution you name it to support and help their community institution work - not so the Seychelleois. This portal project have helped the Democratic process, the Police and the Judiciary - Business, Job creation and Investment, development of several Industries, helped/contributed to putting food on their plates and table, church and interfaith - yet the attitude of the vast majority in that Seychelles. We want to remind everybody the battle we had on our hands 12 years ago the situation in England and Europe the massive efforts to help those ethnic communities and minorities, their migrant and exiles - the Sainsbury Trust and Evelyn Oldfield Unit. This morning in the media you have report of the coming court cases - the Justice and judiciary in Seychelles and other countries how they respect and support their diaspora and ethnic communities working and how. we have impacted this election and other election and elsewhere Justice and judiciary do take these into account not that Seychelles. That Facebook is open to any comment and discussion. For the past 25 years if somebody could do a sum up of the money the many International Institutions have pumped and invested in that country to hep democracy and had we to report our efforts for the past 15 years in Seychelles and the regional Nation and Africa the conclusion. These institutions have responsibilities they get paid big salary/donation to monitor, report and protect such topic and its communities and people where are they. Is the thieving., corruption so bad that nobody discern anything - people are dying/getting killed the only time it mean anything when it is real nasty and the main media start writing about it. Were we to be on the continent things would be have been very different this morning. The massive abuse associated with this portal project in Britain - compared to continental Europe. Just as those who have practice destroy the people of North Africa, Starve the people of Africa, Destroy the Chines, destroy the Russians, destroy the Arabs - safe themselves how long with this politic and practice prevails-go on. There have been so much blood shed associated with this portal, calamities and global issues yet the Seychelles in their view this /these mean nothing. The world is watching - as the same with that mega SIROP bust up in 1996/97 where by in Europe the Seychelleois had lost face - those who had respect for them with that SIROP program their respective attitude and approach - you went to NGO and mention Seychelles and Seychellois they would almost slam the door in your face or say they have not time for you/them. Then we have another situation those whose attitude towards Africa, Indians or the Arabs- your own manure /dung they would say you cannot look after/keep an eye on your own issues - dare come and meddle and interfere in our issues. Worse still in Reunion, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comor, Zanzibar, Srilanka, Maldive, the Illois those who know this portal and project their reaction and respond to the Seychelleois. What about the world media reaction. How about the many local councils and ethnic communities across Britain and rest of the world who have come to know of this portal and its capacity /relevancy and importance. Very important the Irish communities, the Jewish Communities who have helped and spent their resources that we can have such a portal. Do not be surprised/amazed if we dear of death and other aggravation/calamities.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248081

President Obama will deliver his final State of the Union address on January 12, 2016 at 9PM ET.
Watch as he reflects on the road we've traveled in the last seven years.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sotu

http://www.whitehousehttps.gov/blog/2015/12/05/president-obama-addresses-nation-keeping-asafemerican-people-



Obama goes it alone in his last State of the Union
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/11/politics/obama-executive-action/

Immigration takes over facility for holding inadmissible persons

13-January-2016
The local civil aviation authority and the immigration have opened a two-level building which will cater for prohibited immigrants or inadmissible persons at the Seychelles International Airport.
The principal secretary (PS) for immigration and civil status Michel Marie, PS for foreign affairs Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, chief executive of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) Gilbert Faure and chairman of the SCAA board Captain David Savy yesterday unveiled a commemorative plaque to unveil the new facility.
Captain Savy then handed over the keys to the new facility to the director general of immigration Ronald Focktave.
A memorandum of agreement was signed by Mr Faure and PS Marie to provide the basic framework to ensure the effective management of the inadmissible persons holding facility.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248088

Truck drivers working with SLTA protest over pay rate

13-January-2016
Over 15 mainly tipper pick-up truck drivers hired by the Seychelles Land Transport Agency (SLTA) yesterday refused to start work in protest over hourly rate charges being paid to them.
Yesterday morning the group of drivers refused to start work and parked their trucks in a queue obstructing access to the asphalt plant at Petit Paris.
A member of the group and the vice-chairperson of the truck drivers association Jeffrey Delorie said discussions regarding an increase in the hourly rate charges paid to them as well as other improved working conditions, including written contracts for the drivers, have been going on for a long time and they are tired of waiting for a fruitful outcome.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248086

Seselwa Annou Koze… JEAN-FRANCOIS FERRARI FIRES AT SBC!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x3UFGUAqIY

Today in Seychelles
Yesterday at 5:36am · Victoria, Seychelles ·
23 years of … one-sided views

Nichole’s take…

By N.Tirant

Why is it our state media has resisted every effort to bring about the change that “We the People” promised ourselves when we adopted the Constitution of our Third Republic and its democratic ideals back in June 1993?

23 years after the Seychellois nation undertook to give itself an “independent state-owned broadcasting media” we are still being fed one-sided views of our country’s politics. Our commitment, spelt out in Article 168 of the constitution, promised that all broadcasting media ‘owned or controlled’ by the state or even one which received contributions from public funds would be “so constituted and managed that they may operate independently of the state” and of political or other influence of other bodies, persons or political parties.”

We guaranteed that our state broadcasting media would allow “opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views.” And to ensure that the law followed the intention, ourfounding fathers ordered the state to revise the 1992 Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation Act within twelve months to bring into conformity with Article 168.

It took 17 years for the letter of the law to be changed in May 2011.In its spirit though,the law remains unchanged to this day and “divergent views” still remain the stuff of utopia as the only television station remains firmly in the hands of the government of the day and the views of those in power are seemingly the only ones that matter!

International election observers have regularly pointed to the lack of plurality in our broadcast media and the state’s monopoly of the airwaves and recommended change of the prohibitive licensing fees that hampered newradio stations. It was only in 2010 that government finally reduced annual radio license fees from SCR800,000 to SCR100,000.

Before that, following the 2006 presidential elections,just weeks into President James Michel’s first mandate, whena political party moved to set up its own radio station to take its agenda to the people, his government responded witha law making it illegal for political or religious organisations to own and operate radio stations. The rationale for the law was that politically and religiously-oriented radios were potentially dangerous to the welfare of the nation.

That law was the catalyst behind “Black October”, when on 3 October 2006,a group of citizens converged on parliament where the law was being debatedto sign a petition asking the president not to sign it into law.

The outcome was repression reminiscent of the dictatorial socialist one-party state. Innocent protestors, who had sinned only in demandingtheir “radio”, were beaten and tear gassed whilst others, including the parliamentary opposition’s leadership, were rushed injured and bleeding to the hospital’s casualty department.

Ironically, our newly-elected President was in Romeon that day visiting the Pope! Upon his return he ordered an “independent inquiry”and invited Michael Reilly, a retired judge of Ireland, to investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding and leading up to the incidents as well as the source of grievance that gave rise to them. The judge’s findings and conclusions, which included 17 recommendations on the subject of broadcasting services, were submitted in a report, the Reilly Report,in October 2007.

Judge Reilly found that although our constitution guaranteed a right to freedom of expression and an “independent” state-owned broadcasting media, the reality was quite different.

He urged reforms of the SBC to make it more independent of government, more accessible to all political parties and more independent in its coverage of news. He didn’t think that any competing politically-aligned broadcasting service would serve the country as well as “a fair, impartial, politically non-aligned and balanced public broadcasting service”.

In order to beat the perception of bias, the SBC needed to provide “independent professional journalism,” he said, and rejected as “not just weak”, but “unsustainable” the claim madeby SBC that it had to “wait until issues were raised in the National Assembly” before it could report on them. SBC’snews-room journalists needed overseas training so that they could “gain experience with well-established public broadcasting organisations who operate in other democratic systems,” he added.

He recommended a review of the manner in which the SBC’s board members were chosen and how its chief executive was recruited. He called for an effective and independent complaint’s procedure to be set up and published annual reports along with an ombudsman tasked with reviewing the SBC’s decisions that became the subject of complaints.

Just three weeks before the end of the president’s first mandate on 1 May 2011 a new SBC act was passed, promising to safeguard our right to be informed “freely, truthfully and objectively on all matters of public interest, national or international”. But almost a decade after the report,as the same man starts his third mandate, little has changed in substance and many of the same complaints still stand – the political will seemingly missing. The Reilly report remains “lettre morte” – in spirit and in fact!

The promise of “a fair and balanced flow of information including contrasting views without advocating any opinion or ideology of its own” seems to still evade the SBC – unless its interpretation of “upholding the unity and integrity of the country and the values enshrined in the Constitution” is confined to maintaining the status quo and avoiding change at all cost.

Source Facebook Today

L’opposition manifeste contre la télévision des Seychelles pour "un manque d’impartialité"


http://m.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/4436/Lopposition%20manifeste%20contre%20%20la%20tlvision%20des%20Seychelles%20pour%20%22un%20manque%20dimpartialit%22


Lamars protestasyon kont SBC

15-January-2016

Lider bann parti lopozisyon ki form par Linyon Sanzman ansanm avek zot bann siporter ti organiz en lamars protestasyon kont Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) yer apremidi.
Lamars ti konmans dan car park Stad Popiler e al fini kot stasyon SBC Hermitage.
Avan ki lamars ti konmanse lider Seychelles National Party (SNP) Wavel Ramkalawan, lider Lalyans Seselwa Patrick Pillay, lider Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy Alexia Amesbury ek kandida endepandan dan dernyen eleksyon prezidansyel Philippe Boullé, ti adres bann ki ti prezan.
Msye Boullé ti dir ki bann travayer SBC zot fer bann bon travay me malerezman direksyon ki pa bon.
I ti azoute ki zot pe travay «lanmen anmare» e ki fodre «larg zot lanmen» pour zot kapab pli byen fer zot louvraz.
Madanm Amesbury lo son kote ti fer resorti ki pa zis lopozisyon ki pa pe ganny tande me osi bann madanm.
I ti dir ki bann madanm fodre ganny en lavwa lo SBC.
Msye Pillay ti dir ki sa i «konmansman en lager pour laliberte» e ki zot «pa pou reste trankil».
I ti azoute ki sa lamars ki zot ti pe al fer i en premye e ki zot pou kontinyen ziska ki zot ganny tande.
Msye Ramkalawan ti dir i byen kontan pour vwar lakantite dimoun ki’n rasanble pandan en zour lasemenn e ki sa i montre «ki zot vreman determinen pour vwar sa sanzman».
I ti azoute ki sa i konmansman en lot letap «pour nou liber nou pep».
Sete anviron 4er ki lamars ti kit car park pour al Hermitage kot stasyon televizyon SBC i baze.
Lafoul ti ariv laba dan 4er20 avek antisipasyon pour tande ki bann sef anba Linyon Sanzman ti’n ekri dan en let adrese a tyermenn bord SBC Patrick Nanty ek son sef egzekitif Antoine Onezime.
Msye Ramkalawan ti lir konteni sa let andeor baro SBC avan ki bann sef anba Linyon Sanzman ti antre anndan pour al delivre sa let.
Sete sekreter Msye Onezime ki ti resevwar sa let e asir zot ki i pou delivre li avek dimoun konsernen.
Dan en intervyou Msye Ramkawalan ti dir ki bi sa lamars ti pour vin delivre sa let konplent kont SBC ki eksprim mekontantman lopozisyon avek lafason ki SBC in fer son travay pandan peryod eleksyon.
«Nou’n vwar a plizyer repriz kot SBC in montre lapreferans anver kandida Parti Lepep Msye Michel e menm dan moman ki nou ti’n fini rantre dan peryod cooling off  nou’n vwar SBC ki’n al kont prensip e zot in fer intervyou par egzanp avek Spiker Lasanble Nasyonal Patrick Herminie,» i ti dir.
I ti azoute ki tou le swar i annan prezans en minis dan News Extra pour adres bann topik politik an faver Parti Lepep.
Zot pe swete ki dan lespas de semenn i ava annan en rankont avek bord SBC pour zot kapab partaz zot pwennvi e si zanmen napa sa rankont Msye Ramkalawan ti dir zot pou fer en lot lamars.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248106

Election petitions hearing set for February 15 to March 3

15-January-2016
February 15 to March 3 are the hearing dates the Chief Justice of the Seychelles Supreme Court, Mathilda Twomey, has set for two election petitions.
The petitions have been filed by Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party (SNP) challenging the result of the run-off presidential election of last December 2015.
The hearing was originally agreed to be from February 15 to February 26, 2016 but due to the number of witnesses, the dates were amended to the consent of both parties.
The dates were announced during a mention yesterday at Supreme Court 1 at the Palais de Justice, Ile du Port.
Other minor administrative matters relating to the hearing of the case were also mentioned.
Chief Justice Twomey was presiding with Judge McKee and Judge Akiiki-Kiiza.
The Office of the Electoral Commission is bringing in 10 to 15 witnesses and will be represented by lawyer Samantha Aglaé.
The defence for President James Michel anticipates bringing in 10-20 witnesses and will be represented by lawyers Basil Hoareau and Laura Valabhji.
The Office of the Attorney General has not yet established the number of witnesses and will be represented by lawyer Anantra Soopramaniam.

Source Seychelles Nation

Fire incidents at Beau Vallon and Anse Etoile

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248103

[size=16]‘Christmas Decoration Award’
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18-January-2016
Maison de Mahé clinches top award
The Maison de Mahé building has been judged as the best decorated business location inMayor Moustache-Belle addressing the gathering before handing out the trophies Victoria during Christmas last year.
The second prize went to Senpa/Camion Hall.
The top prize for the best decorated roundabout/traffic was awarded to Eden Island for the illuminated décor at Roche Caiman near Eden Island.
Cable & Wireless took the top award for the best decorated street (along Francis Rachel). The company’s corporate colour of white and blue was clearly visible especially the cubed Christmas trees.
The winners of the ‘Christmas Decoration Award’ received their trophies during a ceremony last week at the Seychelles Trading Company’s conference room.
During the ceremony, which was attended by the Mayor of Victoria Jacqueline Moustache-Belle and members of the ‘Christmas Decoration Award’ organising committee, sponsors and representatives of businesses which took part in dressing up Victoria for the festive season were awarded certificates of appreciation.
Mayor Moustache-Belle presented the winners with their trophies.
The judging criteria for the awards were based on elegance, festive colours, the movements and mixtures of the different lights, illumination and also remarks by members of the public in the form of comments and photos.
Addressing the winners Mrs Moustache-Belle congratulated the business community located within the Victoria parametre for their effort in putting up an “elegant and elaborate” display during last year’s festive season.
She extended her most sincere gratitude to the loyal sponsors who have once again shown their continuous support in bringing the Christmas spirit and adding more joy and happiness in the hearts of the many people who flocked to Victoria to view the decorations and take souvenir photographs.
Mrs Moustache-Belle also launched an appeal to the local business community to take part in this year’s festive season by decorating their premises.
She also pointed out that during the New Year eve celebration some lights had to be changed because there were acts of vandalism by some people.
Also during the ceremony two choirs – the Good Shepherd’s Youth Choir and the Senior Citizen’s Choir – were also rewarded for contributing to spread Christmas love through their performances in town.
During the ceremony Vijay Construction and the Seychelles Petroleum Company also received trophies from the organisers for making “very significant contributions” to the dressing up of Victoria for the festive season.
Speaking to the press after collecting the prize for Maison de Mahé, a representative said that with hard work anything is possible.
“We are really happy and proud to have won and I believe we won because we chose decorations with which the public could interact, stop by and take pictures, touch and feel. This made our decorations a little different than all the others,” she said.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248138

[size=16]23rd Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC)
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18-January-2016
Speaker Herminie addresses challenges facing the independence of the Speaker
Seychelles to host 2018 Conference


The Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) has elected Seychelles as its new chairperson for the next two years.
The National Assembly of Seychelles will thus host the next CSPOC to be held in 2018.
The election took place during the 23rd CSPOC which took place in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia from January 9-14, 2016 and at which Seychelles was represented by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Herminie.
The conference, which was officially opened by the deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, saw the participation of almost 50 Speakers from across the Commonwealth.
Held every two years, the conference aims to maintain, foster and encourage impartiality and fairness on the part of Speakers and Presiding Officers of parliaments; and to promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy through the sharing of best practices.
Speaker Herminie had the honour of addressing the conference on the topic ‘Challenges facing the independence of the Speaker’. In his expose, Dr Herminie argued that the political role of a Speaker should be clearly spelt out in the constitution, given the multifarious powers, rights and duties of the Speaker’s Office. He also made an indepth analysis of the impact that party politics may have on the independence of the speakership.
The Speaker further elaborated other factors that might compromise the Speaker as an impartial adjudicator and that, he said, include the way a Speaker is appointed, the extent of his security of tenure and the administrative and financial autonomy of the legislature.
Other topics discussed in the conference included the security of parliaments and its precincts, parliamentary privilege to allow members to perform their duties without outside threat or interference and as a mean to ensure the strict separation of powers between the three branches of government as well as capacity building and professional development of the members of parliament.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248135

Opinion - Seychelles can be a centre for promoting world peace and national reconciliation

18-January-2016
James R. ManchamI have just returned to Seychelles after an absence of ten days spent mostly in Belgrade, Serbia where I also found a lot of time for thoughts and reflections. Before I left the country I had written an opinion piece converging on my conviction that perhaps it is timely for me to consider the creation and promotion of a centre for world peace that will also focus on promoting national reconciliation in our country.
If Seychelles can be the centre of the Vanilla Islands tourism concept, if we can be the centre of the Blue Economy philosophy, why not also offer ourselves as a centre for peace and national reconciliation studies? As a matter of fact we have already been involved in the national reconciliation process when President James Alix Michel and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa hosted the feuding leaders of Madagascar on the island of Desroches in an endeavour to promote Malagasy unity and reconciliation in the large island. As for national reconciliation in Seychelles there is no doubt that this subject must be taken very seriously and very significantly if we are to discover our fraternity, our conviviality, our joie de vivre and protect our national interest.
At this moment in time I note that the controversial presidential election issue is being Constitutionally dealt with, with the Supreme Court of Seychelles having accepted to adjudicate and pronounce over the contentions. Whatever the outcome of the case there’s no doubt that the need for national reconciliation would remain outstanding.
The centre I wish to promote in the interest of a better world order is certainly an idea whose time has come and nothing makes this more obvious than the presidential campaign which is ongoing today in the most powerful nation of the world – the United States of America. One has just to analyse President Barack Obama’s recent State of the Union address to realise that the US is at the moment deeply divided by vicious partisan politics.
“It is one of the few regrets of my presidency that the rancour and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better,” President Obama stated.
Without specifically making reference to the Republican contender Donald Trump, who has aggressively projected a policy of ‘might is right’ as opposed to Obama’s policy of ‘right is might’, President Obama rightly points to the damage that Trump’s policy is actually causing to the US national image internationally.
In every democratic society, one can expect any crank or extremist to have the right to their views but what is deeply disturbing about the situation in the US today is that Trump is able to attract the support of such a large number of the Republican community.
“When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalised or a kid is bullied, that doesn’t make us safer. That’s not telling it like it is. It’s just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals and it betrays who we are as a country,” a tearful Obama told the US Congress.
Listening to Obama and fully supporting his honest speaking, I remembered the book I had published in London in December 1991 under the title ‘Adages of an Exile’. One of these adages reads: “Trump Tower in New York is a magnificent symbol of man’s achievement – but the green creepers which have been planted to adorn its tall wall remain a perpetual reminder of nature’s greater force and of God’s overriding power.”
Room for thoughts!

James R. Mancham

Source Seychelles Nation

Voters urged to verify their details on registers made last year

20-January-2016
The Office of the Electoral Commission is inviting all citizens of Seychelles to inspect the registers and verify their details as per their application made from January to December 31, 2015.
Citizens are requested to inspect and verify the registers for their applications made to be on the register of voters, any claims or objections, applications to transfer from one electoral area to another, and applications for changes in demographic information on the register of voters.
Verification should be done in registration centres on week days (except public holidays) from 9am to 3pm at the registration centres on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue (Inner Islands) from January 25, 2016 to February 5, 2016.
The Office of the Electoral Commission is also inviting all citizens of Seychelles who qualify to be on the register of voters, all persons who are 18 years old, all persons who are no longer serving a prison sentence, and all Seychellois citizens living overseas now returned and who are residents in an electoral area for more than three months to apply for registration in the registration centres on week days (except public holidays) from 9am to 3pm at the following places on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue (Inner Islands): Electoral Commission's Office
(National Library), Beau Vallon district administration office, Anse Aux Pins district administration office, Anse Royale district administration office, Anse Boileau district administration office, Baie St Anne district administration office, and La Digue district administration office.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248150

Letter to Editor - ECPD keen to contribute to realisation of peace centre in Seychelles

21-January-2016
It has been with profound interest that we have read on your website the opinion page by Sir James R. Mancham who has been a highly respected member of our Academic council for over 20 years entitled ‘Seychelles can be a centre for promoting world peace and national reconciliation’.
We would like to inform you that this innovative idea is of great interest to the European Center for Peace and Development (ECPD) and that considering Seychelles’ geographic situation and past history we would be interested to contribute towards the realisation of such project in your country against the background of our many years of experience in the promotion of peace studies and the resolution of conflicts. We take the view that out of a little seed could grow a big oak tree.
European Centre for Peace and Development of the University for Peace established by the United Nations is an international, intergovernmental education research organisation founded in 1983 with its headquarters in Belgrade, based on the agreement concluded between the University for Peace established by the United Nations and the government of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, as a unique organisation for postgraduate education and other forms of learning and research aimed at promotion of peace, development and international cooperation.
For more information, visit the website: www.ecpd.org.rs or www.ecpdorg.net

Prof. Dr. Negoslav Ostojić
ECPD executive director


Eligible voters urged to inspect register

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248158

Today in SeychellesLike Page
Yesterday at 5:44am · Victoria, Seychelles ·
Letter to the Editor

Electoral observers gave Seychellois a raw deal

Dear Editor,

Seychelles held it Presidential election on 3, 4 and 5 December 2015 but no party won the required majority and therefore the election went into a second round on 16, 17 and 18 December 2015 in accordance with Seychelles’ Constitution. When the second round election results were announced, one of the contestants, the SNP, contested the results and they said they would lodge a petition with the Constitutional Court claiming violation of our Constitution, which they did after the incumbent President was sworn in. The Seychellois electorate is grateful, I am sure, for the hard work the electoral observers have done during the two rounds of our Presidential election. We also appreciate the overseas observers had to leave their home and family to be with us during the unexpected extended period especially leading up to the festive season. I have one concern however which I would like to share with you on a professional level. Some confusion has arisen because it would appear there is a misunderstanding of the process of observing and reporting. The confusion has been created by the observers themselves in their press briefings, released statements and on their websites. Most people expect the Electoral Observers to be present at polling stations on Election Day to observe the process of our elections and to record what they observe. During their presence at the polling stations and elsewhere, they witnessed several irregularities and shortcomings which they have recorded. Observers are engaged to act as a deterrent to possible fraud and illegal activities by the contesting parties, their activists and supporters. Their presence, which is absolutely necessary, has reduced the number of violations. In addition, inviting stakeholders to meet with the observers and give presentations ahead of Election Day has enabled the observers to have a better understanding of our situation and concerns.

The stakeholders and the public at large expect the observers to render a report of their observations no later than 24 hours following Election Day. In my mind and those of several people I have spoken to, the observers were not engaged to make recommendations, this comes after they have reported on their observations. If they have experience that certain areas of the process we use can be improved then we would benefit from their experience and we would take heed of their recommendations - after all we are a new democracy and we have a great deal to learn.

But analysing the various press releases and attending various press briefings, I cannot help but believe that the role of the observers has been thrown into a quagmire of confusion and misunderstanding. To me once the observers have recorded what they observed then the next thing is that they deliver a report so the electorate of Seychelles has an idea of what was observed. In fact the observers have no mandate to make recommendations if they choose not to do so following the issue of their report. Their recommendations clearly will help us.

When observers at polling stations witness irregularities taking place, they may bring them to the attention of the polling station Presiding Officer or they may keep quiet and just record what they have observed. They are not here to police the event or interfere in the polling process, just to observe and report. Therefore when observers say that they are withholding their report because the opposition parties have filed a petition with the Constitutional Court, I begin to wonder why because the court case is a separate issue, even if related, to the content and timing of their respective report. What they have witnessed and reported may have great value to the court in arriving at their judgment in the petitioner’s case and therefore to say that they are holding back publishing their report is not easy to comprehend. I do not believe that reporting what they have observed could possibly be prejudicial to the case nor can the content of their report be subjudice. They will no doubt report the truth and we have to give them credit for doing so because we invited them to be the observers of our election - unless of course they fear that if they report exactly what they observed then their life would be in danger. This is not the case because they said the 2015 election in Seychelles was peaceful; they were not threatened or made to feel uncomfortable, so what is holding them back? I wonder whether they obtained legal advice prior to making their decision.

As far as the court is concerned, if there is doubt about the affidavits presented by the petitioner and the court has copies of reports from the bona fide observers then this gives the judges some room to use their power of judgment and experience to weigh up the credibility of the affidavits based on the observers’ credible reports. It is therefore poppy cock and balderdash in my view for the observers to withhold the publication of their reports, citing likely prejudice. If the observers aver that the information they hold, if put into a report and published, would prejudice the case then it goes without saying that the information must be pretty serious and damaging for them to want to withhold the information from the court. So you see it doesn’t make sense, in my view.

Analysis of press briefings and press releases by various groups of observers

Citizens for Democratic Watch Seychelles (CDWS) in its press briefing and on its website relating to our 2015 Presidential election, would not say whether the election was transparent, free and fair. They claim that it is because the SNP was contesting the results of the election and the fact that they wish to allow the legal process to take its due course. This is unfathomable because they were supposed to report on what they observed, nothing less and nothing more. Did they seek legal advice before they came to this conclusion because no one expected them to make recommendations when they had not reported on what they observed. They go on to recommend a more accurate, inclusive and credible Voters Register that will not disenfranchise voters. So what did they observe was wrong with the Voters Register? How did they come to this conclusion and on what grounds do they feel compelled to make such a recommendation ahead of their report? Anyone who has taken on a professional assignment of any kind knows that you first of all present your report then you follow your report with your recommendation, if any. I have never known it to be any other way in all my working life as a consultant overseas.

They recommended a date closer to the election date for the Voters Register to close and advance registration for young people reaching the age of voting up to election date. This is good. They recommended in future that Presidential election should take place on a fixed date every five years and that polling should be on one day only, which makes sense. They recommended improved counting and management of the results. So what did they observe that was wrong with the counting process? Did they witness any shenanigans? They said in some instances that the votes of the disabled and the elderly “continued to be compromised” citing North East Point special voting station as an example where ID cards were withheld and said that some voters were not brought out of their wards to vote and that voting was not carried out autonomously and in secret. They further recommended voters’ education to prevent intimidation, threats, coercion and vote buying. Again if CDWS are making these recommendations they must have observed these misdemeanours taking place otherwise why else would they make these recommendations. The norm is these items should feature in their report before their recommendations.

CDWS said they deployed a team to investigate and the team witnessed incidents of vote buying involving 15 ID cards and they also witnessed the use of state resources and disbursement of public funds by the Social Welfare Agency and they said that phone calls and text messages were made, urging recipients to vote for a particular party. Then they deployed eight regional teams at the polling stations and they witnessed these infringements therefore again the question must be, was Mrs Moses delivering CDWS’s observational report or CDWS’s recommendations? They did a very good job but when they reversed the process it created unnecessary confusion.

The Association for Rights Information and Democracy (ARID) deployed a team of 25 to observe our Presidential election and ARID delivered their “Preliminary Statement” to the press. Why was this not deemed as “their report” and then follow up with their recommendations, I fail to understand. Notwithstanding, I must congratulate ARID for the very good job they did on voters’ education on TV and radio, very well done. They are correct in stating that we do not have a process of how the outgoing President hands over the affairs of the State to the incoming President. Other countries have this process written into their Constitution. Clearly, we do not have one because Parti Lepep thought they would remain in power forever and ever. I covered this in one of my articles sometime ago. ARID makes a further good point when they say that an invalid vote is still a vote cast, a legal vote according to our Constitution because when a person gets out of bed, travels to the polling station and cast a protest vote, it is still a vote cast. This person has exercised his/her basic human rights to vote and he/she may choose to cast a valid or invalid vote. Then ARID noted that they witnessed gross inconsistencies at polling stations during the voting process. What is the point of keeping this information secret for three months? What if the court case is not completed in three months, will the electorate be kept waiting forever?

ARID also said that they registered numerous complaints relating to vote buying, distribution of goods and gifts to voters and even reports of illegal substances/drugs being given for free to drug addict voters in the districts of Mont Fleuri, Mont Bixton and Les Mamelles. They also had complaints of some activists paying electors up to SCR500 presumably for them to vote for a particular party. ARID went on to say that they noted numerous discrepancies with the Voters Register including first time voters who previously were registered but whose names were not on the Voters Register on polling day. They said that some voters who received confirmation on the 9600 Electoral Commission text service found that they were registered but when they turned up to vote they were not on the Voters Register. I can testify to this because my wife and I both called the 9600 Text Service and we were both informed that we were not registered voters, but lucky for us we still went to vote and we were on the Voters Register at the polling station. It makes me wonder when are we going to get anything right. ARID said this caused several voters to be refused to vote hence impacting on the fairness and credibility of the current Voters Register. They went on to say that “these and other related incidents place a question mark on the credibility of the Voters Register and violate the constitutional rights of citizens”. Is this a report?

I must however disagree with ARID when they say that they noted with satisfaction the coverage by SBC on Election Day. We all know SBC gave Parti Lepep numerous advantages over the opposition parties during the whole process of these election and on the night of the announcement of the results, the SBC transmitted three hours of stupid comedy. I do not understand why ARID is making this statement. They are however correct when they said that some media houses compromised their legitimacy and credibility by carrying out character assassinations of certain Presidential contestants which I presume they meant Patrick Pillay and Wavel Ramkalawan. Most people would agree with ARID that this was despicable and “gutter journalism” and a sign of desperation. ARID then goes on to list ten observations on polling day, which included the fact that International Observers were sitting inside the polling station while local observers were outside at Glacis polling station; incorrect placement of the polling booth which compromised secrecy of ballot; voters being crossed out twice on the Voters Register which would indicate double voting; Presiding Officers declaring ballot papers with ink stains as invalid votes.

ARID then goes on to make 17 recommendations and some of their recommendations are very beneficial. For example they recommend transparent ballot boxes which makes sense; blank ballot papers cast should not be deemed invalid votes; allowing Seychellois living overseas to vote not just those who come here and get their ID cards; accuracy and precision when announcing results; inter alia. The question now is why does ARID need two months to publish their final report?

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COI-SG) consisted of nine people who came to observe our Presidential election. They held a press briefing at the Savoy Hotel Resort with Lord Sevele as the group’s chairman. They said that they would not divulge their observations of the events during the election period stating that it would be premature and not in accordance with international standards. Which international standards? They said that their findings on the 2011 elections are on their website since it is public information. I looked up their website and could only find a brief statement that their full report was completed and distributed to all stakeholders before they left Seychelles in 2011. I have asked around and no one appears to have a copy. Lord Sevele said that for the 2015 elections, nine of them would cover all the 25 Electoral Districts and the Outer Islands and he said that the way this was going to be managed was decided by their Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma. Does that mean if this feat of human endeavour was not accomplished then we could blame his Secretary General?

One of the group’s members, Martin Kasirye said that they were in Seychelles for the 2006 and 2011 elections and that they know where to go and they were here to observe a broad sample of this election. He said they will visit some polling stations for the openings and closings and they will witness the counting of votes but clearly they could not be at every polling station the whole day. He went on to say that they would not share their work with any other group and that they will prepare and release their independent report. Asked when can the electorate expect to receive their report, they could not say for sure but Lord Sevele said the report would be released soon, which seemed a bit strange.

Martin Kasirye went on to explain that they have to write their report, send it to their Secretary General for authorisation and then the Secretary General will send it to the Seychelles Electoral Commission who will then publish it. On that note I went to the offices of the Seychelles Electoral Commission at National Library and they asked me to go to the ministry of Home Affairs because they are the ones that deal with the observers. I went to the ministry of Foreign Affairs and they were very helpful with some contacts I needed. I kept wondering why can’t the observers who have done the job, write their report and issue it to the public 24 hours after our election has taken place? Why introduce all this unnecessary bureaucracy when dealing with important public information?

The Commonwealth Observers released their Interim Statement on 7 December 2015 following the first round and their statement merely congratulated everyone and the only broad recommendation they made was that more polling stations should be created to minimise the queue. I have not seen anything else from them.

The African Union Electoral Election Observation Mission (AUEEOM) sent 14 observers to the 3, 4 and 5 December 2015 Presidential election and at a briefing in Savoy Hotel, their Mission Leader said that they had a meeting with Minister Morgan (Parti Lepep’s appointed Minister), one of the contesting parties, at Foreign Affairs. Is this a good idea I wonder, and what does that have to do with their report? She said that following the election they will write a report and hand it over to the local authorities but she did not specify which local authorities. She said that their report would be their recommendation. Perhaps she meant their report would also contain their recommendations and that would make sense. She could not say when their report would be ready because they have to submit it to their chairperson first, to obtain authorisation and then he would send it to various sectors of the AU, their assembly, their Executive Council and when all this has been accomplished, their recommendations would be sent to the Seychelles authorities. This is what I call unnecessary bureaucracy. She went on to say that our 2015 was the first real multi-party election and she said this is democracy at work. Does that mean that our 2006 and 2011 elections were not democratic, I wonder? Their website says they will report within two months. They noted inconsistencies in ballot papers which did not tally with the number of people who voted and the elderly and invalid voters were deprived secrecy of ballot, inter alia.

The South African Development Community (SADC) sent four teams of observers to our 2015 elections and they were: the South African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission (SADC-SEOM), the Electoral Commission Forum of SADC Countries (SADC-ECF), the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) and together with the African Union (AU) they gave a press briefing at Avani Hotel in Barbaron on Sunday 20 December morning. They said that they have deferred issuing their report because the SNP intends to lodge petitions in the court and they maintained that the election process was still in progress. I do not subscribe to this because the observation exercise cannot in a anyway be prejudicial to the petition and this is why Bishop James Wong and Judge Renaud challenged them on the lack of reports on the observation exercise and they too felt that the Seychellois electorate was not being given a fair deal. They protested that once the election was over, the observers should have no reason and no excuse not to release their reports on what they observed. They are right to ask for the reports and bearing in mind the huge cost of the election, we have a right to expect these reports within hours and not months or years of the election taking place. We have not yet received the 2011 election report from SADC, can you believe this? Talk about human rights this is our human right to have access to timely information and we should not be denied it by any observer, local or from overseas, regardless of the circumstances surrounding our elections, court case or not. The Panel said that they will wait 90 days but SADC-SEOM said they would release their report in 30 days. If one team can do it in 30 days then why can’t all the observers do it in 30 days or less? Does it take that long to prepare and type a report after all they brought their secretariat with them?

The panel said that their recommendations include, inter alia, that election takes place in one day; they noted inaccuracies in the Voters Register; the AU asked for vote buying and illegal inducements to be curtailed; a better tabulation system for the results; they recommend the swearing-in is delayed until the court case is settled. These are common recommendations by all the local and overseas observers which would indicate they all witnessed these misdemeanours so why can’t they report before they make their recommendations? Seychellois are extremely grateful for their participation but at the same time some of us are angry and disappointed that the observers have not seen it fit to deliver their reports immediately following the election and that they are all hanging on to a misconception of judicial prejudice due to lack of understanding of the laws of Seychelles. I am a lay person and I would be glad to learn from someone with legal knowledge as to which law and/or precedent prevents the observers from reporting what they observed while a petition is in the process of being lodged?

Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). I have not managed to obtain their press release or attend their press briefing but according to Seychelles News Agency, the IOC noted the involvement of the different religious faiths which helped to make the elections peaceful. Most people would agree with this.

The legal argument

In order to satisfy my curiosity as to why most of the observers withheld their reports but gave recommendations, I did some research. I found that in the US Rule 403 permits a court to exclude evidence which may be prejudicial to a case. Under the Laws of Seychelles (English Law) admissible evidence must be relevant therefore if the observers released their reports straight after the Election Day then the court have ways to decide whether the electoral reports are relevant and if not then they would just not take them into consideration. The court has the power to subpoena any report if it is material to the case. The definition of “Prejudicial Evidence” is evidence introduced with the sole role of wrongfully influencing the court which neither the observers’ reports nor their recommendations set out to do. A further consideration is the Election Days and the alleged irregularities occurred before the petitions were filed. Therefore I fail to see why the idea of the observers releasing their reports on time would be prejudicial to the court case. May be someone with a sharp legal mind can come back to me and shed some light on my short sightedness.

Conclusion

In addition to attending the various press briefings, on 30 November 2015, I gave a presentation to SADC-ECF team, on behalf of ICUS, at Coral Strand hotel and all the contesting parties including Presidential candidates Wavel Ramkalawan and Mrs Amesbury took part and gave their presentations. The SADC-ECF team paid great attention to what was being presented. A translator was used to translate for the French speaking observers. The atmosphere was very cordial and professional and I noticed that the SADC team brought along their secretariat to help them accomplish their job properly and efficiently. I would not have believed that after all the hard work and high cost of staging our 2015 election, that the observers, local and international, would not deliver their respective reports as soon as the elections were concluded. It is really unacceptable to use bureaucracy or a pending legal case to delay the way forward in our fight to leave the age of the dinosaurs behind us, despite the fact that we still have some specimens in our midst, and move our democracy forward. As a young man I protested in Trafalgar Square in London against Apartheid and I nearly got arrested for my belief that all men and women should enjoy freedom from oppression, victimisation and character assassinations and we should be free to express our opinions in a democratic way.

What has happened is bureaucracy has replaced common sense and the observers should have obtained legal advice before depriving the Seychellois electorate with the end product which is a well prepared and delivered report immediately following the Election Day. If the observers did their job well and they observed with impunity and impartiality, which I believe they did, then they should be trusted by their superiors to write and publish their report the next day following Election Day. That’s their job done and they go home to their family. The observers were not engaged on the basis that if there was a contest of the results that they have the right to withhold their reports. This is doing the people of Seychelles a disservice and it is not right and acceptable. Under the circumstances, I maintain that the people of Seychelles have received a raw deal.

Recommendation

For the purpose of transparency and impartiality, I recommend that in future all observers should report to and be handled by the Seychelles Electoral Commission and not by the ministry of Foreign Affairs because the ministry of Foreign Affairs is headed by a Minister of Parti Lepep, one of the contesting parties. This is not proper and acceptable.

Barry Laine FCIM, FInst SMM, MCMI, MBSCH
Barrylaine@hpcgroup.sc
www.academyofhighperformance.sc

Source Facebook Seychelles News Now


Comment -
We thank Mr Barry Laine for this in-depth assessment and point of view. For once some light shining.

Walking to create a better Seychelles

by Alexia G. Amesbury
Leader – Seychelles Party for Social Justice & Democracy



“We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”

Alexia AmesburyMartin Luther King Jr. spoke these immortal words for the first time on August 28th 1963 – 53 years later, the phrase speaks truer than it ever has for the people of Seychelles.

On Monday, the world celebrated the life and work of one of it’s most illustrious freedom fighters; a man who preached for peace and understanding, despite the desperation of those he represented. Pleading for equality, liberty and for those in power to hear the calls of the Black community, the American civil rights movement of the 1960s is remembered most vividly by the March on Washington – a walk of protest in the country’s capital. A walk that ultimately brought change. A walk towards freedom for all.

http://seychellesweekly.com/2016/January%2018,%202016/pol1aaa_walking_to_create.html

Walking to create a better Seychelles

by  Alexia G. Amesbury
Leader – Seychelles Party for Social Justice & Democracy



“We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”

Alexia AmesburyMartin Luther King Jr. spoke these immortal words for the first time on August 28th 1963 – 53 years later, the phrase speaks truer than it ever has for the people of Seychelles.

On Monday, the world celebrated the life and work of one of it’s most illustrious freedom fighters; a man who preached for peace and understanding, despite the desperation of those he represented. Pleading for equality, liberty and for those in power to hear the calls of the Black community, the American civil rights movement of the 1960s is remembered most vividly by the March on Washington – a walk of protest in the country’s capital. A walk that ultimately brought change. A walk towards freedom for all.

http://seychellesweekly.com/2016/January%2018,%202016/pol1aaa_walking_to_create.html

Seselwa Annou Koze… TON PAT STILL FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwqLJL3_nZE

US asks Seychelles to “fully investigate alleged election irregularities”

This recommendation was included in the United States’ statement at the Universal Periodic Review of Seychelles in Geneva on Monday.

People queueing up to cast their votes.

On Monday, Seychelles’ human rights record was examined by the UN Human Rights Council’s Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The review, which was based on three documents – a national report compiled by government, a compilation of information contained in the reports of independent human rights groups, and a summary of stakeholders’ information – will culminate in the publication of an outcome report by the Working Group later today. As part of the process, statements were delivered by around 50 countries in which they appraised the country’s progress and set forth their recommendations for future action.

Whereas many recommendations, especially those of developed countries, centred on the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships, the US government had another message altogether.

http://seychelles-enews.com/2016/January%2025,%202016/pol1_us_asks_seychelles.html

Today in Seychelles
5 hrs · Victoria, Seychelles ·
Letter to the Editor,
Clarity on the constitution of the First Republic
Dear Editor,
Please allow me to comment on the two letters in your issue of 26January by William McAteer and Delphi Oracle.
In his letter Mr McAteer quotes lawyer Mr Frank Ally that the Constitution of 1976 was framed by a small group behind closed doors. So did the Constitution of the United States of America. Like in the USA in 1776, the delegates to the constitutional conference held in London in 1975 were elected in an open election on the platform that we would seek independence from the Uk. They represented a majority of the electorate at the time.
Mr McAteer did not entirely explain the process when he said the President was to be elected at the same time as the National Assembly election. The method of electing the president was to aggregate the votes obtained by the various candidates for the National Assembly and allocating them to the candidates for election to the office of president in accordance with the previously declared support of the candidates for election to the National Assembly. The decision to name Mr Mancham president by the delegates, was in accordance with the constitution adopted by the delegates which included Mr Rene. Consequently Mr Mancham is right to say he was the legally elected President of Seychelles at the time of Independence.
Interestingly enough, it was not so different from the Federal Constitution of the United States, where the citizen doesn't vote directly for a president but rather vote for delegates who in turn pledge their support for a person who is to be subsequently elected as president by the delegates sitting in forum called the electoral college.
It is true there was no plebiscite before independence was declared in 1976. The was no plebiscite equally when the one-party state constitution was declared in 1979. It was imposed thorough presidential decree by an unelected president who had taken power by the barrel of a gun in a coup d’etat. Ironically he was also a signatory to the independence constitution.
The House of Lords resolution was the legal declaration under British law, that Britain no longer enjoyed sovereignty over Seychelles, which meant we were from that moment on a separate state. That was to regularize the law in Britain, not to make us independent. We became independent when we declared it for all the world to see on 29 June 1976. Hence there was no objection by Britain when we applied to be a full member of the UN after we had declared independence on 29 June 1976.
Paul Chow,
Member of the Constitutional Commission 1992-93.

Linyon Sanzman ek SBC i eksprim satisfaksyon apre rankont

28-January-2016


Reprezantan Linyon Sanzman osi ki bord SBC (Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation) in tou le de kote eksprim satisfaksyon apre ki zot ti rankontre kot stasyon televizyon SBC Hermitage yer bomaten.
Sa rankont ki ti’n organize par SBC ti’n vin apre ki sa linyon ki reini trwa parti lopozisyon – Parti Nasyonal Seselwa (SNP), Lalyans Seselwa, Parti pour Lazistis Sosyal ek Lademokrasi (SPSJD) osi ki kandida endepandan dan dernyen eleksyon Philippe Boullé, ti’n proteste kont sa ki zot in apel lapreferans SBC pour parti opouvwar dan son bann progranm ek reportaz. Sa protestasyon ti’n vin dan laform en lamars ki bann siporter sa linyon ti fer ziska Hermitage le 14 sa mwan, kot zot ti osi remet en let avek direksyon SBC.
Dirizan SNP Wavel Ramkalawan ek direkter bord SBC Patrick Nanty in tou le de dir ki sa miting ti deroul dan en latmosfer kordyal e positif, e ki SBC in rekonnet ki i annan lespas pour amelyorasyon.
Kandida SNP dan dernyen eleksyon prezidansyel in azoute ki konplent Linyon Sanzman ti’n sirtou konsern konpozisyon bord SBC e lafason ki bann zournalis i travay, kot i santi ki sa televizyon ek radio nasyonal pa pe azir dapre son manda anba Konstitisyon, me pe plito eksprim pwennvi zis en kote.
«Nou pa’n dir SBC ekout lopozisyon. Nou’n demann li pour pas tou le de pwennvi. Nou anvi vwar reportaz rezonnab,» i ti dir.
Konman legzanp favoritizm SBC anver Parti Lepep, Msye Ramkalawan ti sit progranm ‘News Extra’ kot tou le swar en minis i vin prezant progranm gouvernman.
Msye Nanty in lo son kote dir ki SBC pe pran demann Linyon Sanzman “tre o serye” e ki an rezilta sa rankont, son bord pou zwenn pour vwar konman pour reazir.
In azoute ki SBC i konsyan lendepandans ki i devret garde dan kad son manda e dapre bann lalwa, prensip e standar ki egziste.
« SBC i bezwen al an avan e sa i dan son benefis osi. SBC i selman kapab reste relevan e kredib si i donn lenformasyon ki balanse. I bezwen annan en fason pour al an avan. Nou swete ki nou pa bezwen kontinyen koze, me azir pour fer SBC al pli devan,» i ti dir.
Le de parti in dakor pour rezwenn dan en lot miting Zedi le 3 Mars.
Linyon Sanzman in eksprim lespwar ki apre sa dezyenm miting zot a kapab vwar sanzman pozitif dan fonksyonnman SBC.
Apard Msye Ramkalawan, son bann lezot reprezantan dan sa rankont ti Madanm Alexia Amesbury, Msye Ahmed Afif, Msye Peter Roselie, Madanm Ina Laporte ek Msye Wavel Woodcock.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248231

Corruption Perceptions Index

28-January-2016

Seychelles’ ranking improves

Not one single country, anywhere in the world, is corruption-free and in the latest report released by Transparency International Seychelles’ ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2015 has improved.
Seychelles’ CPI score is 55 out of 100 and the country is ranked 40th along with Cape Verde, Costa Rica and Latvia among 168 countries and territories included in the index.
Seychelles should be congratulated for making a great improvement as it moved three places up from the year 2014 when it was ranked 43rd out of 175 countries and is also the second least corrupt in Africa together with Cape Verde.
Seychelles went up four places in the rankings from 47th place and a score of 54 out of 100 in 2013 and in 2012, it scored 52 out of 100 and placed 51st on the list.
This is a very steady progress and we should note that President James Michel said in his presidential campaign last December that he will put in place an anti-corruption commission to fight against all corruption issues in the country.
According to Finance, Trade and The Blue Economy Minister Jean-Paul Adam, the commission will have the power to investigate and bring to justice corruption cases.
“It will function as per the United Nations convention on anti-corruption of which Seychelles is already a member,” he added when delivering the 2016 budget address.
Transparency International, a Berlin-based non-profit organisation, is committed to promoting accountability, integrity and transparency.
A country or territory’s score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Its rank indicates its position relative to the other countries in the index.
Mauritius’ score of 53% puts it at 45th position, Madagascar is 123rd with a score of 28% while the Comoros are ranked 136rd with a sore of 26%.
Denmark leads the ranking with a score of 91%, followed in second and third places by Finland (90%) and Sweden (89%).
Canada is ninth (83%), United Kingdom, Germany and Luxembourg are joint 10th (81%), while the United States of America is 16th (76%).
The bottom two countries are North Korea and Somalia with identical score of 8% to be ranked joint 167th.
Although northern Europe emerges well in the index and is home to four of the top five countries, the report says this doesn’t mean it isn’t linked to corruption elsewhere.
“Just because a country has a clean public sector at home, doesn’t mean it isn’t linked to corruption elsewhere. Take Sweden for instance. It comes third in the index, yet the Swedish-Finnish firm TeliaSonera – 37% owned by the Swedish state – is facing allegations that it paid millions of dollars in bribes to secure business in Uzbekistan, which comes in at 153rd in the index. The company is now pulling out of business in Central Asia, but Sweden isn’t the only ‘clean’ country to be linked to dodgy behaviour overseas. As our research shows, half of all OECD countries are violating their international obligations to crack down on bribery by their companies abroad,” writes the report.
The biggest improvers in 2015 were Austria, Czech Republic, Jordan and Kuwait, while the biggest decliners were Brazil, Guatemala and Lesotho.
According to the CPI, corruption generally comprises illegal activities, which are deliberately hidden and only come to light through scandals, investigations or prosecutions. It adds that there is no meaningful way to assess absolute levels of corruption in countries or territories on the basis of hard empirical data. Possible attempts to do so, such as by comparing bribes reported, the number of prosecutions brought or studying court cases directly linked to corruption, cannot be taken as definitive indicators of corruption levels.
Instead, they show how effective prosecutors, the courts or the media are in investigating and exposing corruption. Capturing perceptions of corruption of those in a position to offer assessments of public sector corruption is the most reliable method of comparing relative corruption levels across countries.
For a country/territory to be included in the ranking, it must be included in a minimum of three of the CPI sources. If a country is not featured in the ranking, then this is solely because of insufficient survey information and not an indication that corruption does not exist in the country. This year, 168 countries and territories are included in the index compared to 175 in 2014. Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Puerto Rico, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Samoa and Swaziland are not included in the CPI 2015.
The CPI 2015 draws on data sources from independent institutions specialising in governance and business climate analysis. The sources of information used for the CPI 2015 are based on data gathered in the past 24 months. The CPI includes only sources that provide a score for a set of countries/territories and that measure perceptions of corruption in the public sector. Transparency International reviews the methodology of each data source in detail to ensure that the sources used meet quality standards.