Following the boycott of the last parliamentary elections by
the main opposition parties, politics in Seychelles had reached a stalemate.
President James Michel, humiliated in the eyes of the international community
after more than 30% of the electorate had spoilt their ballot papers, promised
electoral reforms and vowed to modernise the laws in accordance with best practices.
His dilemma was how to get the main opposition parties to participate in the
process. He turned to his chief diplomat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.
Jean Paul Adam who established informal contacts with the main opposition
parties.
Foreign diplomats, namely the former French Ambassador Delacroix
and British High Commissioner Forbes added their goodwill to the effort and
engaged the political leaders. Initially, the informal meetings were held at the
National Library building where several undertakings were given by Minister
Jean Paul Adam on behalf of government. The undertakings were straightforward
and simple. Parliamentary elections will be held once the reforms are complete
and the commitment of government to the process would be total.
As a result of a series of meetings between the foreign
diplomats, government and the political leaders, the Electoral Reform
Commission (ERC) came into being and started deliberations at the National
House. The Electoral Commission received the expert advice of Earl Simpson, the
Commonwealth representative who assisted in drafting the recommendations. The
first series of recommendations was the Public Assemblies Bill. At the end of
the deliberations of the ERC, the Commonwealth representative, in an interview on
SBC commented that the set of recommended laws were in accordance with
international norms and should be implemented by government without amendment
and in case of amendment, it should be returned to the ERC for further
discussion.
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The photo depicts President James Michel of Seychelles protesting and demonstrating
during the Cable and Wireless strike in 1971. The question one must ask; would
this type of protest and demonstration be able to take place under the new
public order act today?
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All the
recommendations received the unanimous approval of all political parties including
Parti Lepep represented by Lawyer William Herminie, Mr. Simon Gill and Ralph
Agrippine.
The repealed Public
Order Act assented to by the President has come as a blow to the Electoral
Reform process; an affront to the international partners and all those who have
given the best of themselves to provide Seychelles with the best laws. It is
deception of the highest order.
Source: Seyweekly.com
