Interview with the secretary general of United Seychelles, Dick Esparon   ‘I think LDS has cause to worry, after one year in office’ |26 October 2021

Mr Esparon

Seychelles NATION: One year since the LDS has been leading the administration and your party has said it has not accomplished anything. Is that not too harsh a statement?

Dick Esparon: The truth is never too harsh. One year in office and LDS has not accomplished anything, let alone start implementing their manifesto. They have done an about turn on what they promised the people who voted blindly for them. LDS was not prepared to lead this nation. They settled comfortably into government and carried on with the work of the previous administration in some cases, while in others undoing the good that has taken Seychelles to great heights.

Seychelles NATION: The removal of social schemes is causing some concerns among the population, what is your party's take on that?

Dick Esparon: There is a big difference between United Seychelles, its predecessors, and LDS. Whatever policies or schemes that we developed and put in place were people-centred. We believe that the people, especially the less fortunate, have to benefit. It is clear that, after one year, LDS doesn’t care about the people, but only about big businesses. This is something that became apparent just a few months after they took office. LDS is dismantling schemes that my party put in place for the benefit of the people.

Seychelles NATION: What are the other major concerns of your party vis-à-vis the LDS administration?

Dick Esparon: We are concerned about the future of the rule of law in this country, with unlawful arrest for Facebook posts, threatening citizens at gunpoint, blatant disregard of health regulations by the executive. One major concern is the drive by the LDS government to purge the civil service of US supporters and sympathisers, not because of incompetence but because of their political affiliation. Fear and victimisation have never been so apparent than now.

Seychelles NATION: One year since the US has been in the opposition, what have you accomplished and what is your plan?

Dick Esparon: I think that we’ve surprised everyone. With their unprecedented victory last year, LDS thought that they had delivered the coup de grâce and that United Seychelles would cease to exist. The supposedly weak opposition has turned out to be a big pain, despite the attempt to financially squeeze us. We are calling out the government on everything that we believe is wrong. We are very vocal; we are using every means at our disposal to ensure that the people see LDS for what it is. And believe me, this is a battle that we will win.

Seychelles NATION: If there was to be an election today, do you think US would unseat LDS?

Dick Esparon: Disgruntled LDS supporters are saying that they would be the first in line should there be an election today, and they would not be voting for LDS. I think that’s a good enough answer to your question.

Seychelles NATION: Judging from Sunday's rally, the LDS seems to still have a big following compared to US. What have you got to say about that?

Dick Esparon: There’s nothing to compare because US hasn’t come out in a rally for a few years now. Sunday’s ‘rally’, if you can call it that, was a far cry from what we witnessed from LDS supporters during the months leading to the elections. This tells us one thing: the big following is fast dwindling. One year in office should have been an occasion for a big celebration, a rallying cry. There was no such thing because I’m sure the LDS leaders knew what would have happened. The districts also were unusually quiet for such an occasion, with the die-hards choosing to stay home. I think LDS has cause to worry, after one year in office.

Vidya Gappy