Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy. Lawyer
Alexia Amesbury says it is time for Seychelles to have a President that is
“honest, compassionate and has integrity”.
Many were surprised when rumours that well-known human rights
lawyer Alexia Amesbury was going to run for elections first started. And then
Lalyans Seselwa announced its registration and took centre stage. On Monday
afternoon, the Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy led by Mrs Amesbury
obtained confirmation of its registration.
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| Lawyer Alexia Amesbury |
And yesterday she came out and said the words: “Alexia Amesbury:
Presidential candidate”. But why? Why does a woman who is known chiefly for her
uncompromising battles in court – as well as her determination to fight for the
underdog – suddenly decide to run for president? “Because it is no longer
sufficient to fight injustices through the courts”, she told TODAY. “It is no
longer sufficient to fight corruption by denying its existence. The battle must
now continue in the political arena.”
But what are her chances as a novice to the political scene?
Alexia Amesbury admits she has no money and knows that this is the reason “many
thought I would not run”. Then what has changed? What will turn her from lawyer
to politician? “I have asked myself this question, I have asked – what is a
politician? Somebody who has experience in corruption? Someone who has
experience amassing vast amounts of property? Someone who has experience making
false promises to the people? I don’t have those. But honesty, integrity and
compassion I have and I say now is the time for Seychellois to choose a leader
who has compassion”.
Does this mean that she believes that the other politicians in
the opposition don’t have the qualities she claims she has? “I am saying this
is me, I am not referring to anybody else. I don’t want to offend others”, she
says.
A video detailing her party’s manifesto (as opposed to the
manifesto for the elections) has already been posted on YouTube. She believes that
it explains why she decided to take the leap and the battles she intends to fight:
“When we need permission from the Commissioner of Police to have a picnic on
the beach, we are not free. When the wealth and riches of our nation is in the custody
and possession of all powerfully elected and unelected ruling party, we are
destitute. When State media is operated as a party political propaganda machine
for the ruling party, we are silenced. When the opposition in the National
Assembly is a lackey of the ruling party, the third branch of government is a
charade. When judicial appointments are not based on constitutional criteria,
we are denied a fair hearing by an independent and impartial judiciary.”
With Something Inside So Strong, the song written by Labi Siffre,
playing in the background, the clip goes on to affirm: “When Executive
authority is vested in the hands of one person, and that power is abused, we have
an ‘elected’ dictatorship. When state institutions are monopolized to enact
laws that benefit a select few, our institutions are dysfunctional, and
dysfunctional institutions breed corruption. When corruption becomes an
acceptable currency for doing business, our economic and fiscal policies are
shams. When democracy has been reduced to a tiresome routine that involves electing
the same rulers every five years, with the same difference and indignity, our
democracy is a façade”.
Yesterday, the leader of the Sychelles National Party (SNP),
Wavel Ramakalawan, reacted positively on social media to news of Mrs Amesbury’s
new party. “It is a pleasure to welcome another opposition party in the fight
for justice and democracy in our country. There are so many ways of skinning a
cat in a democratic manner and I have always believed that if everyone put in
his/her two cents, we would achieve the ultimate goal and make our country a
better place. All the very best Alexia and team”, Mr Ramkalawan said, adding
that the SNP had been fighting a lonely battle for too long. “I was getting a
little tired of repeating the same credo for change in the country. Now we have
Lalyans Seselwa of Ton Pat, a group that was in there telling the people what
was happening from within and Alexia, a hard fighter for human rights, taking
it from another angle”.
Mrs Amesbury said she was pleased with the SNP’s welcome. “I
feel they have accepted me as an equal or someone who will bring change. Maybe
they realize what my qualities are. I am surprised and happy”. Asked whether
she would consider allying herself at some point to one or more of the
opposition parties, Mrs Amesbury said, “it is time for us to focus on things
that unite us and forget things that divide us. This is our destination and it should
be a joint destination”.
SOURCE: Today
