US calls for electoral commission to resign during rally on Praslin |02 May 2023
A partial view of the crowd
The main opposition party, United Seychelles, held its rally on Praslin on Sunday, attracting a large crowd at the Baie Ste Anne playing field.
As is customary, several members of the party’s leadership addressed the crowd to highlight key issues impacting the country including the cost of living, health, education, youth, agriculture and business development and why their party was the ideal one for Seychelles.
Party leader, Dr Patrick Herminie, focused his address on the plight facing Praslin and La Digue and how they have been neglected under the government led by the ‘Linyon Demokratik Seselwa’.
He said after years of progress, the two islands are now experiencing regress, with the cost of living hitting sky high, and bad performance in sectors such as agriculture.
Dr Herminie said a number of issues were raised by farmers he encountered on Praslin over the course of the week, which included, a lack of veterinary service, the abattoir which was in ruin, expensive pesticides, and how the importation of fruits and vegetables were destroying their local production.
He also questioned the government’s decision to build a new hospital on La Digue that has fewer patients, and neglecting the main Seychelles Hospital on Mahé, and rushing with the Baie Ste Anne port project, which was now encountering various issues.
The party leader also questioned the salary increase which did not target all workers, and the new pension age from 63 to 65 years old.
Dr Herminie said United Seychelles was the only option for the country, and will be there at the next elections.
However, it had to address the main obstacle in its path, which is the electoral commission that it accused of not conducting a fair election in 2020.
He called on the electoral commission to resign stating it has lost credibility, citing it as “the most incompetent entity in the country since the introduction of multi-party”.
For his part, the party’s vice-president Marvin Fanny, highlighted the issues affecting the young population of the two islands which include lack of opportunities to develop and grow, unemployment, lack of housing as well as opportunities to start their own business.
He stated that those who have to flee to Mahé for employment, end up losing more due to the high cost of apartments.
He told the crowd that a US government will invest in its young people to ensure they do not have to leave their two islands but rather take part in its growth and development.
Sunday’s rally also attracted a myriad of singers including Allen Camille, Molo, Magni, Joseph Sinon and Ron Payet among others, who performed political songs and other national favourites, entertaining the crowd until late in the afternoon.