Letter to the Editor: ‘Seychelles needs more statesmen’ |10 February 2015

In an interview with Mr Wavel Ramkalawan, leader of SNP, which the TODAY newspaper published (yesterday) morning, Mr Ramkalawan is quoted as stating “Mr Mancham is not a very important factor in Seychelles politics today...” Of course, Mr Ramkalawan could be convinced that he is right but is he really and truly convinced?

Let us analyse things against the background of an historical perspective.

When I returned to Seychelles in April 1992 and revived the Democratic Party (DP), which Mr René had made “illegal” during the 15 years of One Party rule, Mr Ramkalawan never joined the DP to fight the Presidential Elections which had become due and overlooked the fact that he was thereby dividing the Opposition in the struggle against an entrenched SPPF Party. In fact, he called his first grouping ‘United Opposition’ when he was doing nothing else but dividing the Opposition. There was no ideological differences between the DP under my leadership and Mr Ramkalawan's United Opposition – except that I had adopted a policy of “national reconciliation” whereas he stood for a policy of saboule (confrontation) and revenge.

Following the first Presidential Election, when I became Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, I went out of my way to try and unite the Opposition forces, by initiating the “Seychelles First” Movement. Mr Ramkalawan was one among those leaders of political factions who turned up for the meeting which took place on Eden Island. But when a second meeting was called, he never turned up because he had the feeling that the “Seychelles First” Movement would fall under my influence and leadership.

Notwithstanding the negative attitude of Mr Ramkalawan towards me when it was obvious that Mr René was practising a policy of “plus ça vas, plus c'est la même chose” within the Constitution of the Third Republic, I decided that in order to have a ‘United Opposition’ to fight the ruling Party, I would extend my support to Mr Ramkalawan as a Presidential candidate.

We nearly won that election but although I had been very active in the pro-Ramkalawan campaign, after the election Mr Ramkalawan failed to acknowledge my participation and never invited me to attend any meeting of his Executive Committee. The reason was clear. Mr Ramkalawan believed my “rapprochement” with his Party was a threat to his leadership of the Party, feeling that I could run away with several of his members and advisers.

Campaigning alongside Mr Ramkalawan allowed me the opportunity to know what sort of a political animal he was and to be able to understand as to why several of the “bright stars” within his once constellation, have moved away from him – the brilliant Joel Morgan, who is now the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport in President Michel's government; the pro-active Alain St Ange, who is now Minister for Tourism & Culture; the energetic and charismatic Jean-François Ferrari who does not want to have anything more with party politics as he endeavours to become a successful business leader in the community; Maître Bernard Georges, a brilliant and leading lawyer in Seychelles, now serving as a member of the National Consultative Forum advising President Michel; and of course David Pierre, today's loyal Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, were all at one time strong supporters of Mr Ramkalawan.

Mr Ramkalawan has of course betrayed most of those who supported him when he decided to boycott the National Assembly and deprived the Opposition of a voice in national debate on important national issues. Thus many people have been arguing that if Mr Ramkalawan is so much opposed to the system in place, why does he accept the various monetary benefits he is enjoying under that system? Why does he not adopt the example of Saint Francis of Assisi – sell his recently-built mansion, sell his car and exchange his Italian-made shoes for a pair of flip-flops?

By getting close to Mr Ramkalawan during his election campaign, I had the opportunity to get to know him better and to realise that he had the potential of becoming a dictator, three times more ruthless than those we have known. It is for this reason that after analysing our current political scene, that I declared that “President Michel is the right man, in the right place, at the right time.” Of course, if Mr Ramkalawan believes that I am no more relevant in Seychelles politics, then he should not take my endorsement of President Michel too seriously.

Finally, I believe it is opportune for me to avail of this opportunity to once again emphasise that I have now for several years moved away from partisan politics to play the role of a statesman both locally and internationally.

The preoccupation of the politician, which Mr Ramkalawan is, is the next election. The preoccupation of the statesman, which I am, is the next generation.

The politician thinks only about getting power or staying in power and otherwise enjoying the benefits and privileges which power confers.

The statesman on the other hand, has a longer term vision. He puts national interest above partisan consideration. He does not believe in the policy of power at all costs. His ultimate desire is the transformation of a society and the emergence in our context of a greater Seychelles and of a Seychellois people who is at peace with itself.

James R. Mancham