Alexia Amesbury ends campaign on her home island |30 November 2015

The only female candidate contesting the forthcoming presidential election, Alexia Amesbury of the Seychellois Party for Social Justice and Democracy (SPSJD), decided to hold her last campaign meeting on her home island of Praslin.

The meeting was held at her residence at Grand Anse yesterday afternoon.

The group of supporters present was presented with the party’s executive members, including vice-presidential candidate Roy Fonseka. A one-minute silence was observed in honour of Gerard Hoareau, a deceased opposition figure who would have celebrated his birthday yesterday.

Different party executive members addressed the crowd. Flory Larue focused on how the party will improve the health system and bring a better life situation to the less fortunate.
Monique Hermitte stressed that if things continue like they are in the country today, the locals will become a minority on the verge of extinction. She compared Seychellois to aborigines, as she said foreigners are taking over the country.

“Too much are given to the Arabs,” she insisted.

She was also critical of the health system, stating that the health ministry lacks necessary resources and despite of all the technologies, the Seychelles health services used to be much better before.

She concluded that “voting for James Michel will be the worst decision for the country”.

On his part, Mr Fonseka praised the team whom he is working with. He said they will ensure that Seychelles becomes a country where people are free and have equal opportunities, with no need to support the government to get help.

He deplored too much corruption, stating that the cases Patrick Pillay of Lalyans Seselwa has brought up “is only the tip of the iceberg”.
 
The SPSJD vice-presidential candidate acknowledged that “within the existing government there are good people” but he claimed that “they are overruled by their elders”.

When she took the stand, Mrs Amesbury talked about the relevance of the number 5 in Seychelles’ politics. She talked about the events of 5th June 1977, her name appearing 5th on the ballot paper and 5th December as the date when she will become president of the Republic of Seychelles.

She affirmed having no fear in challenging Mr Michel, whom she claims being convinced to outvote by a 52% majority. This, she says, is because she has the support of the woman population and due to her programme which includes a R7,000 old age pension and R4,000 allowance for Praslin and La Digue students studying on Mahé.

She says that the money will come from R10 million which the country will be saving from a revision of salaries, allowances and gratuities for ministers and members of the National Assembly (MNA).
 
As for Praslin’s MNAs, she said the island is asking for a change of representatives as they “have not done anything”.

Mrs Amesbury thanked the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) and the Seychelles NATION newspaper for covering her party’s activities and also for helping her spread her message.

She also mentioned the huge impact of the social media on the election campaign.