What the people say |26 October 2021
A year into President Wavel Ramkalawan’s presidency, we gauge the public’s opinions on his administration’s performance so far. Has the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) administration met their expectations?
Have they seen improvements in the country?
Or are they disillusioned and disappointed with the new government?
Here is what they have to say:
Marie-Celine Mathiot: “It has been a good enough year especially given the Covid-19 and economic crisis. I have noticed some improvements compared to when Covid-19 started. I like what the government has been doing in regards to the social aspect because there were issues such as abuse in the carers and welfare system. It is true that there are people in real need but sometimes they were not the ones benefitting from the system. While some people who worked hard but still could not make ends meet were told they did not qualify, there were those who did not work at all and still benefitted. Furthermore they were not making good use of the assistance such as the STC card whereby they sold the groceries they bought with the card. The new administration is putting some order in all of this and it’s nice to see.
“At this moment, everything seems to be going well but we will observe the coming years. There are some room for improvement, there are some things that have not been fixed 100% but that is to be expected given Covid-19 and tourists that were not coming in. Business was slow but now it is picking up again.”
Daniella Fostel: “It has been a rough year but the President has done well so far and there is a lot more for him to do. People should be able to appreciate this fact instead of accusing him left and right. A lot of things that were being hidden from the people have come to light during his administration. I also admire the administration’s fight against drugs. I hope he continues in this line, that he remains transparent so that we know how much is being spent and we are not left in the dark again.”
Richard (a youth): “We know that things do not happen in one day, not everything is perfect but there were promises that they have not kept. I’ve analysed some of the things they have said and done, and it does not seem to balance out. But he has four more years to go, maybe things will improve. I am not into politics; no politician has ever given me a packet of rice or bread. I continue to hustle, wait and observe.”
Noella Barra: “This year has been a good one for everyone; we have suffered so much during the last 20-25 years. I hope they continue with what they’re doing ‒ inform people of what happened, what is happening and what will happen. Our country is developing and advancing forward thanks to transparency.”
I. A.: “My point of view is that there have been a lot of changes in the past year. Although these changes have not immediately translated to money into the wallets of Seychellois, they are some fundamental changes that the country needed. There is more order and discipline in the country. Before the new administration, the district administration office was filled with people who just sat about, gossiped all day and did not work ‒ there were seven or eight people in the DA’s office who were not delivering. Now we see only three or four people but the DA’s office is always clean and people are working.
“Furthermore, there were some abuses in the social welfare system ‒ we saw young people looking for assistance when they could very much help themselves and get a job. Now that the tap has been closed, you see a lot of people working at places such as at the IOT.”
Julie Fock-Tave: “We have a new President who is looking into the welfare of everyone and as he said we all have to work hard. Even with my age, no work is too hard for me. I might be getting my social security benefits but I am still working. I’m an artisan and make sak vakwa, purses, mats and more. President Ramkalawan is the first president elected by our votes and I congratulate him and give him my support, and I hope God keeps giving him the wisdom to keep working hard for Seychelles.”
Kirti Kumar Meghjee: “Covid-19 wrecked a lot of plans nonetheless I have to commend the Ministry of Health for its efforts up to this point to control the virus and in such a way that we have been able to welcome back visitors. If we had not done so, our economy would have collapsed and our country would have had to beg for charity. This government tackled the situation well. There were high expectations for this government but we have to understand the precarious situation we were placed in due to Covid-19. The situation we are in today is way worse than during World War II in 1944 ‒ our shop was here, my father and brother were working here. Ships were still coming in but now everything is so expensive, people have lost their jobs. Although Seychelles has seen a small number of people losing their jobs during Covid-19 compared to some countries, even developed countries.
“This government has another four years in power; let them finish their four years and then come back and ask me my opinions, and I’ll give them a full rating! For now, it is too early to criticise the government although I have to commend them for opening our ports just in time.”
Marie-Josée: «Ok dan 1-an mon’n vwar pa mal ki’n ganny fer, me selman i touzour annan bokou landrwa pour amelyore.
«Enn parmi bann keksoz ki mon vreman apresye se lalit kont drog kontrole espesyalman eroin.
Mon vwar ki ANB i pli angaze e ozordi nou vwar ki i annan en mankman eroin lo marse ki fer son pri vin pli o e sa i anpes bann adikt servi eroin e al plis lo metadonn ki pou esey ede tir zot lo sa sibstans.
«Nou’n ouver nou lafrontyer ki’n ede refer nou lekonomi, parey dan ka to lesanz kot nou’n vwar ki nou roupi i apresye e sa in ede pour pri lavi pa vin pli o vi ki nou dan en pandemik.
«Nou’n ganny akse avek vaksen avan larestan pei Lafrik e nou menm annan boosters pour sa ki bezwen parey bann ki annan maladi kronik.
«Mon vwar bokou zenn osi in deside al dan en lanplwa dan plas depan lo lasistans sosyal, e koumsa nou ava annan plis kontribisyon dan nou pei.
«I annan ankor enta keksoz pour li delivre dapre son manifesto e son mandan i 5-an, alor nou ava gete ki mannyer i ale.»
Yhoni: “Honestly since the new government has been elected there has been a lot of changes in terms of law and life.
“Nowadays people are waking up and facing reality and the country is restructuring. This will be beneficial to our country.
“The government is also working hard to facilitate investors and businesses for our country’s benefit.
“It’s the first year that President Wavel Ramkalawan has been in the office and he is doing a fantastic job alongside his Vice-President and Cabinet of Ministers.
“I believe he is the right person to lead this country in the right direction.”
Julia: «I pa’n en travay fasil. Premyerman in esey remet enpe keksoz annord , me i ankor reste en kantite pour fer.
«I bezwen bokou sipor ek lankourazman avek son ladministrayon ki pa fasil akoz i ankor annan ki pe met retar sa gouvernman e manm piblik dan serten lofis.
«Mon prezimen pri lavi a amelyore par lannen prosen ler lekonomi in komans stab. Sa i enn bann pwen for pour li konsantre lo la.
«Bokou in travay pour fer sir sa gouvernman in vin opouvwar, e fodre i pa oubliy sa bann dimoun ki’n lager lizour ek lannwit.
«Reponn zot lapel telefonn, mesaz teks. Sa pou ede soulaz zot akoz bokou in met antet ki keksoz pou diferan.
«Nouvo gouvernman fodre reorganiz bann minister. Tro bokou dan sa bann ansyen pos ankor pe trenn lipye e Seselwa pe fristre. Anmenn nouvo dimoun kapab e ki determinen pour travay. Anmenn osi bann nouvo lide, akoz bokou zenn talante pe ganny kit ater.
«Mon espere ki i reget son manifesto e met an pratik tou sa bann rekonmandasyon pour en Sesel pli meyer e pour tou son zanfan.
«Andotmo, pandan sa 4-an ki reste, fodre i met anfors sa bann pwen dan son manifesto. 1-an restriksyon e 4-an pour delivre.»
Fabien: “I believe the President is doing his best with the resources he has at the moment.
“He does not do everything by himself alone. He has a team that works with him to run the country.
“I believe that he is doing well with the current situation in the country and the world.”
Allen : «Dan mon lopinyon, okenn dimoun ki pran lofis apre 43-an, e dan milye en pandemik son latas pou definitivman double.
I pou tre difisil osi pour esey entegre tou kalite lopinyon politik dan ou gouvernman, me selman mon krwar ki Bondye in swazir ‘the best available’ pour met ansarz sa travay.
«Mirakilezman nou’n konmans vwar bokou rezilta, tel ki touris ki pe kontinyelman kas rikord, drog pe vin pli rar, plis dimoun pe sorti lo lasistans sosyal, e roupi pe ganny lafors kont dolar.
«Mwan mon zis demann Bondye lagras ki mon a kapab get sa 4-an ki reste ki kantite i pou fer ankor e mon priye ki Bondye Papa i beni li ek bokou lasante ki i kapab diriz nou pour sa prosen 4-an e menm 9-an ki pe vini.»
Raymond: “In some areas it has been good, while in some others disappointing, but we need to give more time. Time will tell.
“I am disappointed to see that we have not made important changes in key positions like all governments do to bring about the real change and implement the party policies, while failing to deliver on some of the election promises.
“The declaration of assets is controversial and raises questions in mind.
“Otherwise it has been good so far and Minister (Jean-François) Ferrari has been exceptional.
“Some changes take time and some will bear fruits in time.
“Overall it's good.”
Compiled by Roland Duval and Elsie Pointe