As Finance Minister in 1990 James Michel was interviewed by Dr
Denis Venter, Chief Researcher in Politics and International Relations at the Africa
Institute. So for 25 years James Michel has been talking about the blue economy
and the possibility of Seychelles having oil; nobody is fooled any more. The
man just goes round in circles. James Michel talks a lot and rarely delivers;
back then blue economy was called marine resources.
James Michel talks about the blue economy as if he invented
it. However, blue economics had its
origin in the original manuscript submitted to the Department of Geography,
University of Cambridge, as early as 1987 (Gonzales, Ernesto R.). This research
document became the basis of the Proposed Magna Carta for a Comprehensive
Development of Island Resources of the Philippines.
The Ex-Communist now turned capitalist in the interview shockingly
stated that “a limit of 100 000 tourists per annum has been set to protect the
environment and to ensure that societal strains are kept to a minimum.” So what happened? Is he no longer a protector
of the environment?
Further on in the interview he indicates that “In this
regard we are very much encouraged by the results of oil exploration on the
shelf south-east of Mahe, which includes the Topaze, Constant, Coetivy, and
Fortune banks. Three oil companies have already shown interest and one will
start test –drilling later this year. So we hope that during the next ten years
or so the oil exploration project will eventually produce an industry strong
enough to counterbalance the dependence on the fragile tourist trade.”
James Michel will say anything to stay in power; talking big
and never delivering.
By A.Pierre
