Presidential Election 2011-Five present papers to run for presidency |28 April 2011

The candidates presented their papers to electoral commissioner Hendrick Gappy in the morning when scrutiny started and by 4pm he declared all their papers were in order except those of Mr Dhanjee, who said he will appeal the commissioner’s decision in court.

The candidates were accompanied by their vice-presidential running mates and in most cases, their parties’ liaison officers, who now become election committee members.

First to hand in his papers was Parti Lepep candidate James Michel, who was accompanied by his running mate Danny Faure.

Private candidate Philippe Boullé and his running mate Henry Naiken were next, followed by Ralph Volcère of the New Democratic Party (NDP), and his vice-presidential candidate Georges Bibi.

Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party (SNP) was next, accompanied by his running mate Nicholas Prea.

Mr Dhanjee arrived last – by himself – and nearly completed filing his papers before his running mate, Mike Chadstone, joined him.

Each candidate had a list of well over the 500 supporters needed in case some turned out not to be registered voters, which would have nullified their candidature.

They also presented hard copies of their pictures and electronic copies for use when printing ballot papers.

They needed their running mates’ written consent of their designation as co-runners and authorisation from their organisations in the case of those being fielded by political parties.

They also named their colours thus: Parti Lepep - red; the SNP - green; the NDP - blue; Mr Boullé - yellow; Mr Dhanjee - orange.

Mr Michel said he is confident the people will give him another mandate for him to continue the work he has started.

“Mr Faure and I represent an experienced team with a lot of knowledge and we have been working very hard and will continue to do so,” he said.

He hoped the electoral process will continue on a peaceful atmosphere with respect for one another and the opinions of other people.

“The candidates need to present their plans and programmes to the people and let the people in their wisdom judge who is the best candidate to lead their country forward,” he said, as his party representatives gave media reps copies of the Parti Lepep manifesto.

Mr Boullé said he joined the race to fulfill his aim to “enlarge and evolve democracy in Seychelles”.

“I stood as a presidential candidate in the first multi-party election then as the first independent candidate, in an effort to enlarge democracy.

“This time my aim is to enlarge it further by putting in power a government through an election.

Mr Volcère said the NDP is taking part to give voters a wider choice as they express their opinion on what has happened in the last five years politically in Seychelles.

“We feel we need a situation where no party gets more 50%. We want to put power firmly in the hands of the people, he said, adding he hopes there will be a run-off election.

He said politicians need to sit down and listen to the people and the way to make that happen is to ensure no party gets more than 50% in the coming election, “and the NDP is there to see that happens”.

Mr Ramkalawan said Seychellois have seen and had enough of the same government that has been in power for 34 years.

“The people of Seychelles today need a new vision with unity and no political interference. We need to establish real democracy and the prosperity that this country will build has to be shared by everyone.

 “The reason I have presented myself is that I believe those principles have not yet been achieved, so I’ve put my candidature forward for the people, having seen the things that have happened in the last five years, with promises that have not been fulfilled to decide after realising in 2006 I spoke the truth. Now I am giving them the chance to vote for that truth and not empty promises,” he said.

Mr Dhanjee had said he came as an independent candidate knowing the other independent candidates would not have the confidence to go through with their candidature.

He said he has always been in the opposition “and I still am and my aim is to help the elections to go to the second round.

There are 69,480 registered voters, who can check validity of their status as voters by texting their identity card numbers to 9600.

Meanwhile the four candidates who qualified were each given a certified copy of the voters’ register.