Opinion - The amazing energy within our small nation |22 April 2016

Small we may be – times may be difficult – the people may be confused – democracy could be in question – justice could be in suspense – but when reading the leading newspapers in Seychelles (Seychelles NATION, TODAY in Seychelles, The Times of Seychelles, Seychelles Weekly, Seychelles Independent, The People, Le Seychellois Hebdo), quite an accumulation of news reporting for a population of less than 100,000 – one cannot help being impressed by the high-level of energy which the Nation is projecting at this time.

According to TODAY in Seychelles, one of the leaders of the council of Linyon Demokratik Seselwa which yesterday was known as ‘Linyon Sanzman’, (Seychelles National Party, Lalyans Seselwa, Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy, and independent candidate Philippe Boulle), Mr Wavel Ramkalawan, has called on President James Michel to honour Cabinet’s commitment to declare Ile Perseverance an electoral area. This move would of course be related to the National Assembly Election which is on tomorrow’s horizon.

There is an article in Seychelles NATION about Farquhar Island being declared a “disaster zone” after being hit by cyclone ‘Fantala’. But make no mistake, there is no ill-wind that does not blow somebody good …. The disaster will enable government to assist the Islands Development Company (IDC) and to seek international assistance. No wonder, Minister Didier Dogley of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change; Mr Glenny Savy of IDC and Mr Wills Agricole, principal secretary for Climate Change and Energy in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Energy, have all packed their bags since yesterday waiting for better weather to visit Farquhar and to estimate what capital benefit could accrue from the disaster.

According to TODAY in Seychelles, the debate on homosexuality is not about to close. Now for the first time I am reading about LGBTI Seychelles group. What is this new movement about? Well, it is the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Intersex group – and TODAY’s article is focused on decriminalising the act of ‘sodomy’. “We want to decriminalise the law that prohibits sodomy. This will not only benefit the gay community but also the heterosexuals who are known to practice this as well,” states Fabianna Bonne, chairperson of the group.

Well, well, well, well – it appears a lot is going on in paradise at this modern time and if ‘bestiality’ was going to be decriminalised, the question could be posed – “Will the tortoises be safe?” And of course speaking about tortoises, the ‘breaking news’ today is about the 3D-Film on Aldabra entitled ‘Aldadra Once Upon An Island’. It made me wonder whether there is homosexuality among the tortoises? This is certainly an interesting question to pose as we begin the 6th Carnaval International de Victoria.

Certainly our Nation is on the move and luckily the atmosphere is more positive than negative. This is not surprising because whilst, according to Seychelles NATION, Minister Jean-Paul Adam of the Ministry of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy is impressing the world’s community with the Seychelles Blue Economy Development Framework in Washington DC – his ministry has found it fit, proper and justifiable to announce an increase in social security cheque that will benefit 10,000 pensioners.

We are certainly a lucky Nation on the move and as Mr Christopher Gill of Praslin once put it – “It is through the fair and open battle of ideas that a country grows.”

Food for thoughts.

James R. Mancham