Exclusive interview with President Danny Faure on the first-year anniversary of his presidency |16 October 2017

‘Don’t expect me to attack any politician in public’

One year since succeeding James Michel as President of Seychelles after the latter stepped down 10 months into his third five-year term, Danny Faure has said he won’t confront any politician in public.

After taking office, Mr Faure, who was the country’s vice-president from 2010 to 2016 and won election on the same ticket as outgoing President James Michel in 2011 and 2015, embarked on some radical reforms, but is not happy with the results so far, noting that they are only the start of things to come.

President Faure was willing to share with Seychelles NATION what he has been through and has accomplished during his first year as the head of state and we share the interview with you our readers.

Seychelles NATION: How was your first year as president?

President Faure: It has been an eventful and exciting year. During my first year in office, I placed a lot of emphasis on delivering on the promises I made to the people of Seychelles in my inauguration speech on October 16, 2016.

I did my best to make my contributions towards national unity and this has been one of my focus.

Seychelles NATION: As you look back on your first year in office, Mr President, has your experience in the office matched your expectations?

President Faure: I can say that most Seychellois support the idea of a united Seychelles. They have been longing to embrace the value of unity. Most Seychellois understand that if we do otherwise it won’t be good for our country.

Also I have had a very good relationship with other actors in society and it is probably the first time Seychelles experiences this. May be many people don’t realise that 24 years since the return of multi-party democracy there has never been so much consultation between a president and the opposition party. I’ve done it in the 12 months I’ve been in office. The good thing is that we always put Seychelles first before taking any decision and not our political ideology. I see it as a good foundation which I can build on.

Also, being someone who firmly believes in abiding by the Constitution of Seychelles and the laws that govern the country, I have never departed from those. When we, the leaders of the three arms of government ‒ legislative, executive and judiciary ‒ agreed to not criticise each other in public, I respected the decision to the letter. I did not criticise anyone.

Also, being a politician, myself may be some people would have expected me to do confrontational politics in public, but I have been true to myself by respecting my decision not to do so. I have not attacked any politician in public and please don’t expect me to do so during my mandate as president of Seychelles.

‘It is important to nurture a dialogue’

Seychelles NATION: People have been saying that you have quite a good working relationship with the leader of the opposition and that you discuss too much with him before making decisions. What are your thoughts?

President Faure: The fact that this dialogue did not exist over the last 24 years, it means there was a vacuum. As a country, when we talk about having a dialogue between the different branches of government, it is important that we nurture the dialogue. Many countries have been through different situations and they have attempted to have a dialogue between the different stakeholders. But at some point, the dialogue broke down because the leaders lost sight of the vision. As for Seychelles, I have been saying that our country is bigger than us all. The most important thing is to put Seychelles first and set the basis for dialogue based on mutual respect for institutions and individuals. Respect is a very important value and as a leader I truly believe in respect for others. It doesn’t mean that we need to have the same political ideology, but it’s our differences that make us stronger and this is the result of a positive dialogue. We also need to trust one another. The dialogue is good for our democracy. Remember Seychelles is a very small country with a small population of less than 100,000, therefore it is important to have a dialogue as we consult each other on many issues. For example, decisions taken by the cabinet of ministers are disseminated instantly and published. We come out with white papers on proposed bills, giving the population the opportunity to make known its views. The number of people who take part in the discussions is another thing, but we are satisfied that there is a mechanism in place for the people to make known their views about any law being passed.

Seychelles NATION: You talked earlier about the pact between the leaders not to criticise each other in public. But only recently, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Pillay, has publicly supported the call of members of his party for fresh elections. What are your thoughts?

President Faure: I am not going to remind anyone about the pact as we are all aware what we agreed upon. The fact that he (the Speaker) has stopped calling for fresh presidential election means he has come to his senses. The speaker and I don’t have any issues. We discuss a lot about National Assembly work, but for me the fact that he has chosen to join a protest for fresh presidential election is not an issue. As president I have a duty to lead the country forward.

Seychelles NATION: You have more than once said the cohabitation is working well, when some people think differently. Do you think it will last the next four years?

President Faure: Those who say that the cohabitation is not working, we need to understand their real intention which is to create what is termed as l’impasse in politics. Seychelles does not need to fall into an impasse (political deadlock). It needs a system that proves to the world that there is peace, stability, a government which is working for its people, there is dialogue between the different partners, there is consultation between the different stakeholders. Cohabitation is a system in which the party that is governing the country is different from the party in the opposition. For me to run the country as president, I need the National Assembly to approve the people I nominate for the different positions. In the last 12 months, the opposition was against some of the candidates I proposed and they made known their reasons, but on the other hand it voted for the majority of candidates I proposed. This proves that the cohabitation is working because the opposition understands that we need the candidates to serve in the different positions. Only recently, the candidate for the post of police commissioner got the support of the National Assembly. If the cohabitation was not working, the opposition would have blocked the nomination and bring instability to the country as the former police commissioner had already resigned. The fact it gave the nod for the new police commissioner shows that it wants stability.

Some people want to fuel extremism to achieve their own agenda, but let me be clear that Seychellois will reject this move as they want to be united.

Seychelles NATION: Mr Pillay wrote in Today in Seychelles about dysfunctional establishments and took as example the police and even said that Kishnan Labonté should replace Reginald Elizabeth. And less than a week later you appointed Mr Labonté as the new commissioner of police. Isn’t there collusion?

President Faure: Former police commissioner Reginald Elizabeth’s resignation letter sent to me was dated September 7, 2017 and in a political rally on Sunday September 10, 2017 Mr Pillay spoke about the police. You see, I didn’t have to make any publicity about Mr Elizabeth resigning the same day I received his letter. We follow a certain protocol in line with the country’s democratic institutions. Mr Pillay’s observation had nothing to do with what has happened.

‘We need the right governmental structure’

Seychelles NATION: You immediately embarked on some radical reforms upon your appointment as president. Are you satisfied with the results to date?

President Faure: No. This is only the start of things to come. Good governance, accountability and transparency are the three key words that people at home and even school children are talking about. We now need the right governmental structure to give these three key values their importance. It is like a triangle and the minute one side is broken we can’t catch the tune. These three values are important for the country’s future, otherwise all we’ve worked hard to acquire over the years will get eroded over time. It is not the president who preserves the wealth of a country but the different institutions. We are living in a different Seychelles and a different world. We no longer need strong men, but strong institutions. But these institutions should be governed by laws and we need to have sound policies which have meanings to all. There is a need for transparency, so when someone drafts a policy there is a need for consultation for people to share their ideas and be accountable.

The reason I said no at first is because we have a mindset problem. We need a mindset change and when this does not happen people do not see the bigger picture. Some leaders are not ready to effect changes while their subordinates are ready to make the move because they understand what is happening.

I went to church in Baie Ste Anne in June and the priest read out the amount of money collected. This is called being accountable and they have been doing this for a long time.

Take for example the National Assembly, the Constitution clearly writes that the National Assembly really works hard in the standing orders committee and finance and public accounts committee (FPAC). The FPAC has been part of the National Assembly for 24 years and although the FPAC of the sixth cohort consists of more members from the opposition, it is doing its work according to the Constitution. When the FPAC does a public hearing I am blamed for it as people say it is the president who has ordered the hearing. This is not the case. The FPAC is doing its work according to the Constitution which was approved through a referendum 24 years back. Perhaps when we approved the Constitution we did not bother about the power of the FPAC. But now, it is not a question of perhaps, we do things according to the Constitution.  As president I cannot interfere in a public hearing done by the FPAC which, on the other hand, cannot interfere in the work of the Cabinet which I chair.

As president I also cannot interfere when the Office of the Auditor General is auditing any organisation.

People must get this right as these are institutions that fall under the Constitution and they make sure the people’s money is accounted for. You see, I am now being blamed for things I don’t have control over. What I am doing is creating the right environment for these institutions to be able to do their work properly and according to the supreme law of the land.

This also shows that there has been a void in educating the population about the Constitution and some people use this to their advantage to create all sorts of division. I am sure the people of Seychelles will not tolerate such behaviour and ideology.

Seychelles NATION: How does a president go about making a decision for example?

President Faure: I am always calm when taking decisions. I think a lot. I read all the files that come to my attention before signing them. I look for further information without people realising what I am looking for. I always take decisions after a lot of reflection.

Seychelles NATION: People have been critical about the progressive income tax and business tax reforms. What are your thoughts?

President Faure: Finance, Trade and Economic Planning Minister, Dr Peter Larose, will be presenting the 2018 budget in the National Assembly on October 31, 2017. But let me explain something. Our present income tax system does not address the equity issue in the country. Therefore the government decided to introduce the progressive income tax. Employers and the Seychelles Revenue Commission were all happy with the old system which was easier as there was a 15% deduction on all incomes.

Under the progressive income tax system, some phases have been introduced, meaning employers and the Seychelles Revenue Commission will have to do some additional work. The progressive income tax system will address the issue of equity in the country.

Seychelles NATION: Will you stand as candidate in the next presidential election?

President Faure: If I only think about election, it is as if I am going mad. I’ve made a promise to the people of Seychelles and on May 27, 2017 I told them that being the country’s president I won’t head a political party. I have to take care of the whole country and I’m guided by my desire to work for Seychelles, its people and the health of the nation. I don’t look to see if and where I am scoring points. If I think of the next election now I am not doing justice to what I promised the nation. In my first year as president I am interested in the welfare of the people. When I go to bed at night I always think of how best I could serve the people of Seychelles and I do the same when I wake up in the morning and during the day.

‘I have divorced myself from the leadership of Parti Lepep’

Seychelles NATION: Does this mean that you have divorced yourself from Parti Lepep?

President Faure: Yes, I have divorced myself from the leadership of a certain political party. I have nothing to do with the decisions taken by Parti Lepep and I don’t expect them to consult me when they plan to do something, especially in terms of direction and decisions taken. I made it clear in my inauguration speech that I believe in certain principles which are very important to me. I don’t need anyone else to explain anything else to me as I’m guided by these principles. And if I feel that these principles are being challenged, I will speak out. I carry these same principles in the work of my government.

Seychelles NATION: The fact that you need the National Assembly to approve the nominations you put forward, is it easy to work with members of the Parti Lepep when you have divorced yourself from the party?

President Faure: As head of state I will not let myself get politicised on subjects that should not be politicised. For example, if a minister presents a policy which reflects a political ideology, as head of state I analyse if the policy is in line with the principles I believe in. If the policy is not in line with these principles, I will throw it out. I won’t be able to implement a policy that goes against the principles I believe in. It has happened that the minority party in the National Assembly has said they will talk to me as president not to assent laws, but I have done it. This is because what they are saying does not make sense. The opposition was right. Not because they are from the same party which is in government will I as president listen to them. We need laws that are in the interest of everyone. I have assented  two private members bills and there was opposition for me not to do it. I always ask myself do we only want the opposition not to table a private members’ bill for the president to assent.

I am guided by the Constitution. I listened, I asked questions to the leader of government business (Charles Decommarmond) and through his answer I understood that they did not grasp the essence of the bill as they did not discuss the subject in its entirety. They only discussed it partially and I said hold on. I take decisions on issues that have been discussed in its entirety.

The Parti Lepep leadership does not need to consult me or ask me for permission to organise their congress or other meetings. If during the meetings they decide to discuss the work of the government, there is no need to ask me for permission, they can do it. It has got nothing to do with me as president. If an individual decides to criticise the work I am doing, he/she is free to do so. And if the vice-president (Vincent Meriton) reasons the individual, this has got nothing to do with me. The vice-president understands my working style.

I also believe people want to see me attend the Parti Lepep meetings, but it won’t happen. This is because once I attend a meeting I will go against what I said on May 27, 2017.

‘People must always take responsibility for what they say’

Seychelles NATION: Free speech is en vogue lately. But don’t you feel people are not taking their responsibility when expressing themselves?

President Faure: Many people have been practicing free speech and it is enshrined in the Constitution. We often misunderstood it when people expressed themselves. We knocked them on their heads and said ‘you are not allowed to speak’. Instead, we should have created the right environment to get the people to express themselves. This is what I’ve done since becoming president. I’ve put myself in the line of fire and await criticism.

But people must always take responsibility as to what they say. Most of the time, we speak but we don’t consider the responsibility part. It is a two-way traffic and although it’s good for people to enjoy the freedom of expression, they must make sure they don’t offend others with what they say. Again, there has been a lack of education, but we can’t stop people from expressing themselves as it is their right to do so.

For example, you might hear that a group of workers want to organise a strike as they want a salary increase. This is part of a modern society and as president I can’t tell the police to interfere and stop a strike. What the president will say is follow all the legal procedures. Exhaust all the channels before going on strike in search of justice. We all want justice and when we fight for justice we fight for what is best for the country. May be people expect State House to react, but the only thing I will say as president is that we should do things in line with the Constitution. It is our right to express ourselves, but right rhymes with responsibility.

Seychelles NATION: You’ve concluded your visits in districts. What are the strong and weak points you’ve seen, how have been your interactions with MNAs on the visits and what is the real extent of poverty in the country?

President Faure: We became so comfortable and lost track of the plight of our people. When leaders become so comfortable they take the people as furniture in a living room. This is what I’ve seen during my visits. These people have lost the right to express themselves and they have waited for years to get what they deserve. For too long we have politicised the policies in place and this has affected the people’s dignity. We forgot that people’s dignity is the basis of our work as politicians. Politicians ruled the country and I want to reverse the situation. No one should be judged on his father’s, mother’s or grandparents’ names or even which political party he/she supports. People should be judged based on their current situations. We must be objectives when making decisions. A lot of people have been waiting for someone to listen to their concerns. This is true for people who have supported the opposition and those who have supported the party in power. They have been told to wait for their turn, but have we gone to them to see in what condition they are living in? No, we didn’t and this is what we must deal with now. We were too comfortable and lost the human touch. Remember the heart of all human beings in on the left side, but our heart has moved to the right side and as a result we lost the human feeling.

Seychelles NATION: Mr President are you telling me that the country’s leadership had lost touch with the people or were the subordinates not delivering to the level expected of them?

President Faure: The country’s leadership committed some grave mistakes. This is because as the country was developing at a fast pace, some people were left behind and we told ourselves that they would catch up with the leading group. But it did not happen. We speak a lot about putting people at the centre of development, but from what I’ve seen in the districts, this is not the case. These people don’t come from another planet. I am even told that I was in government when all these things happened, but people need to see the portfolios I had under my responsibility. Under my presidency these issues will be something of the past as I will put in place mechanisms to deal with these issues. A file must reach the minister’s office for approval but before that it could have been stuck somewhere. We need checks and balances, meaning people must leave the comfort of their offices to visit people and understand the problems they are encountering. There has also been a lack of communication between the different ministries. It is the party in power that introduced bedsitters here, but how come a couple have spent 14 years in a bedsitter and have since had three children? Furthermore, the government has given houses to many people who never got to stay in bedsitters. Is this right? The answer is no as there has been some injustice. People have lived for 21 years in emergency homes and everyone knew about it but did nothing. Living in an emergency home is supposed to be temporary but in the end, it became permanent. I can’t accept this in my administration, and I will eradicate these problems.

Seychelles NATION: Finally, Mr President, when do we expect to see a solution to these problems?

President Faure: We have already started solving some of these problems, but we are not giving it publicity. This is because we are doing what is good for the people of Seychelles. When someone sends me a thank you card it warms my heart and I feel happy. It gives me strength to wake up the next morning and tell myself “you can work even harder for your people”. I think of us all when I do my job and I don’t look for publicity when I do something good. If someone we have helped decides to help someone else that’s even better.

Interview conducted by G. G.