Firstly, I hope you are well. I also hope you dont mind me
writing this letter to you; please know that it is written with the best
intentions, with no ill will or malice.
I simply write as one Seychellois to another. A citizen of
this country who has seen Seychelles persevere throughout the decades to the
nation we now live in. The Seychelles you and I both call home.
We are both of an age where we have witnessed great changes
in this country; some triumphant and some deplorable. In Seychelles’ short
history as a nation so much has happened and every citizen has a different view
of our past. However, as the adage goes, what is done, is done. Now it is time
to look to the future of our island nation.
Despite the presidential elections of 2015 now over, the
topic is still fervent on the minds of many of our fellow citizens. With the
Constitutional Court case over, the issues raised are widely discussed amongst
Seychellois. As a fellow Seychellois, I grew up on the streets of this country
and Seychelles is in my blood. As a member of your generation, now I often find
myself wondering how people will remember me; either as a mother, a friend, a
professional and now as a political leader. I think now, my only wish is to
have provided for those I care for, to have helped those who sought guidance
and to have shown compassion for those who needed it. And as someone who often
asks herself the same question, I felt compelled to sincerely enquire about the
legacy you wish to leave when everything is said and done.
On the first day of polling last December, there was a photo
taken of you and I (enclosed with this letter) which I'd like to bring your
attention to. Your face in that picture is a very different portrayal of you
than we've seen before and I believe it speaks volumes, because captured in
that frame shows a man who is capable of genuine and demonstrable good as a
President. It shows a more human side to you; a side which is often masked by
politics.
Seychelles has borne witness to a great deal of pain - from
the bloodshed of past decades and the subsequent hurting of our citizens, to
the poverty, sickness, victimisation and miseducation which affects so many
Seychellois if you open your eyes to their plight. There must be a time whereby
you can reminisce and see the damage done to the people of Seychelles. With the
current state of uncertainty shrouding the future of this nation, now must be
the time where we reflect and think about the future of our people.
Your presidency will be remembered no matter what, but you
need to decide how history will remember you. Leave a legacy which you can be
truly proud of, and something that all the people of Seychelles will thank you
for. You can leave a memory where you are seen as a figure of odium or one
which shows a man of genuine compassion and statesmanship.
Now is an opportunity to truly see the people and to put the
citizens of Seychelles first in everything you do. Presently the people of this
country look to you. As a woman and as a mother, the thought sometimes crosses
my mind that perhaps at times you have lost your way. Forgive me for saying
this, it is only my opinion. But there is time to make amends - start by
returning the assets of Seychelles to its people, regardless of whatever way
they were taken; whether it be land or money or whatever else.
Cleanse the land and put things right. Have a memorial
service for all those who have been lost to the violence from the Coup and it's
following years; conduct a service in one of our stadiums, with their pictures
and their families present so these souls can finally be put to rest. Give the
people a chance to grieve. Erect a monument in their honour and engrave our
lost citizens' names on it.
Have a moment with the people of Seychelles and truly
connect with them. Promise them that none of the mistakes of the past will ever
be repeated and give them a memory, something to hold on to, to rectify the
injustices that so many have suffered.
It is time to leave behind, the people who constantly shield
your eyes from the wrongdoing in this country. You need to see for yourself the
pain and the suffering of the people in Seychelles.
There is some good in the worst of us and some bad in the
best of us, and I would like to believe the same of you. All I ask in this
letter is for you to reflect, and to use the good in you to create a lasting
good legacy - something everyone will remember and thank you for. Forget the
figures, forget the politics and forget the games - truly ask yourself what
kind of legacy you would like to leave behind.
After all, when we leave this world, it does not matter the
number of jets or cars or houses or property we have acquired. We all leave
with nothing, so should we not leave some kind of positive memory instead?
Everyone thinks of their mortality; especially for those our
age, it is a thought that comes to us all. In the case of Albert Rene, we must
look back at the last years of his presidency. No one now remembers what they
were, yet the decades preceding him are forever there. You have a golden
opportunity, afforded to very few, to use your remaining time as president to
make a resounding difference and leave more than what history has shown.
Life is full of miracles and God can do wonders. It is only
possible though, by accepting the wrong done to the people of Seychelles and
bringing real change. The healing process can only truly begin with an
admission of wrong doing and a plea for forgiveness.
One of my personal aspirations when joining local politics
was to heal the nation; I would like to invite you in joining me in this vision
and to help the people bury the past in the right way and truly heal this
country.
James, our differences matter but our country matters more,
and that is why I am writing this letter to you. My destination is social
justice, democracy and the rule of law, let us make the journey together. So
let us as leaders take the first steps and start the healing process.
Kindest regards,
Alexia
