Opinion - Is it time for a government of National Unity? |07 February 2017

Let's face it, as Seychelles keeps riding on the winds of change and with a potential general election fast approaching, it is quite obvious that neither of the two major political parties will be disappearing anytime soon. Therefore, the better alternative, in my view, is a government of national unity.

Although this might not be a novel idea, it certainly is workable, as the country would have access to the best of both political parties.

Striving through this period in Seychelles’ history requires a legitimate and functioning government committed to implementing a comprehensive programme of reform to empower the Seychellois public, thereby making the values of the Constitution a daily reality for the people of Seychelles.

The national unity government is committed to ratifying and enforcing a law on the organisation of the basic organs of the state and determination of the boundaries and limits of local administration by legal means.

Under the current political system, the country’s economic success has not been stupendous, pre- or post-independence, and faces a superlative commitment towards the betterment for its citizen as a whole. Unemployment and the poverty basket are prime examples of the vast potential for continuous growth and development.

The good thing about a government of national unity is that both parties would be responsible and accountable for whether the policies fail or succeed.

They would have to put the country first and foremost and not the party. Neither would there be any sabotage for political gain. The constituents of both parties would have to be told the truth that the country cannot be run on free housing, free water, free electricity, free education and free health care. The country simply cannot afford it.

People on both sides would be more inclined to pay their fair share of taxes because there would be no advantage or disadvantage to be gained by either side.

Victimisation would be curtailed because a formula could be worked out that both sides have access to the country's limited resources and therefore would help to alleviate the garrison lifestyle and mentality that are so detrimental to the country's development.

The people would have to be reminded that because of the aggressive borrowing by the past and present governments, most of the money in the budget is earmarked to service the country's debt. So in order to have wealth and job creation the country must produce more, especially in the areas of agriculture, agro-processing, the Blue economy and manufacturing.

In time, crime and violence could be brought under control because there would be no need for the parties to be aligned to criminal gangs for political enforcement. And the squatting problem would have to be looked at in a more serious and objective fashion.

Seychelles deserves much better than the mismanagement of its affairs by successive governments.

Corruption and fraud should not be an underlying factor within the government of national unity, but rather a zero tolerance approach to the above malpractices.

Accountability, transparency and good governance should be the core principles of the government of national unity and the custodians of public funds should be made accountable for their spending, as seen in the National Assembly debates on the budget.

Conclusion: The promotion of spiritual values should remain a core undertaking of the government of National Unity, leading our people towards a common destiny: ONE SEYCHELLES – ONE NATION – ONE DESTINY.

Jacob Terence Madeleine

ACSI

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Seychelles NATION newspaper.