Consultative forum discusses national reconciliation and unity in Seychelles |14 August 2015

National reconciliation and unity were the issues discussed by the National Consultative Forum which met yesterday at State House.

President James Michel chaired the meeting and it was in full, open and frank discussions that members considered whether there was a need at this stage for focusing on greater national reconciliation, or whether the process of living together as a nation was sufficient evidence of national unity.

According to a communiqué from State House, it was agreed that events in the past had polarised the people of Seychelles, and that political diversity was at the core of the problem. It should be recognised that some citizens had still not reconciled themselves to past political history.

The forum felt that the lack of political maturity in political leaders and lack of dialogue between them had delayed the process of national reconciliation.

The forum, adds the communiqué, called for more dialogue between all political leaders.

As for the appropriate action to be taken, if any, there was a diversity of opinion between letting things run their course so as not to reopen old wounds, and taking concrete action to focus minds on the issue. It was agreed that the time was now not right for any action in view of the impending national elections.

After much debate, it was resolved that the way forward was to repeat the national theme ‘I LOVE SEYCHELLES’ in 2016 and to use that theme as a rallying point to bring the nation together.

The forum felt that the opening of a dialogue among political leaders around that theme could go a long way towards ensuring that greater unity in the nation was achieved.