Up Close … with the doyen of the National Assembly, Ginette Gamatis-My firm belief in the strength of our women |15 February 2011
This is none other than 66-year-old Ginette Gamatis, née Bibi, who has spent most of her
Manman, as most people call her, comes from a poor family and grew up in Port Glaud. She was born on December 26, 1944 and has three brothers and sisters.
“Despite our hardships we managed to do very well in school, and our mother was a determined woman,” said Mrs Gamatis as she shared with me at the Maison du Peuple some of the stories of her life.
Though some neighbours advised her mother to take the young Ginette out of school so she could start working as a servant, she firmly refused.
Mrs Gamatis remembers that growing up poor was not easy, and at school one could see the big gap between the rich and the less fortunate people.
Luckily they persevered, and one of her brothers even made it to Seychelles College before going abroad for further studies.
She, on the other hand, always wanted to become a teacher – this was her dream.
During her childhood she played teacher with neighbouring children and their dolls.
“After school, when I got home, I imitated all that my teacher did in class, including lecturing my playmates and correcting them if they were wrong,” she said.
In 1961, at the young age of 16, her dream finally came true as she joined Port Glaud primary school as a supply teacher. Her salary then was only R64, she recalls very well.
“At that time many young girls started teaching at this age, but we were mature, had a great sense of responsibility and were ready to listen and learn more,” added Mrs Gamatis.
After some years as a supply teacher she got the chance to join the Teacher Training College, a two-year course.
By the time she became a fully qualified teacher the salary had increased and she was paid almost R2,000. After years of experience she reached the post of headteacher at the school.
Her fate started to change when, in 1964, former President France Albert Rene came back to Seychelles after his studies abroad.
“When he founded the Seychelles People’s United Party, I attended one of his meetings and was inspired by his words,” she said.
She saw his party as the only way forward for Seychelles and the only hope for poorer people.
Mrs Gamatis chose to dedicate her life to bringing change to the people of this country and became a very active member of the party.
Even after she married Philippe Gamatis and had 10 children – five girls and five boys – she still did not give up politics.
“My husband was an understanding man and my mother-in-law was also very supportive,” she said.
However, she admits that politics took most of her time and she sometimes neglected her children. She even had to leave the teaching profession to dedicate her life to the party.
The children were very sad when she left, but she had made up her mind and in 1983 became a member of the People’s Assembly.
In 1993, after the multiparty system was introduced in Seychelles, she stood for election as a National Assembly candidate for the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front.
Since then Mrs Gamatis has been elected to serve four consecutive mandates in her district.
When she is not involved in party activities, she enjoys cultural events, mainly dancing.
“We had our own cultural group at Port Glaud and we enjoyed dancing the moutya and other traditional dances,” she said enthusiastically.
At other times she likes reading the political history of other countries, which fascinates 
“But my greatest passion is for children – this is the reason I became a teacher,” she said.
Though she was in politics she agreed to become director of the President’s Village, which is in her district.
She remained in this post for seven years but had to quit as she felt her political life was having an impact on the children.
“The children in the village were so close to me that they were upset if people called me names; they were very defensive towards me,” she said.
To add to her workload, this senior citizen is also president of Port Glaud’s women’s football team, Olympia Coast.
The team are five times women’s league winners, have won the Women’s Cup twice and the Patron’s Cup six times.
Mrs Gamatis has also done a lot of voluntary work in her district.
She has, however, decided to call it a day in politics now she is a widow following her husband’s death four years ago. Two years before that, she lost a 32-year-old son.
“It’s time for me to retire as an MNA, but this does not mean I will not be active in the Parti Lepep,” she said.
“However, the person who replaces me must be a woman, as women are more compassionate, more understanding and are people who are willing to push forward in life.”
by Jean Ladouceur