The Constitutional Posts (Special pension) Bill that was
passed by the National Assembly will cost SR7.7Million in 2015. This Bill was
supposed to extend life pension - a privilege, already enjoyed by former
politicians of the present Third Republic to those having served since
Independence.
A proviso contained
in the bill, which stipulates that such constitutional appointees must have
held office for a minimum of 48 months (4 years), however, it effectively
barred ministers and Legislative Assembly members in the coalition Government
era or those who served in the First Republic. Since they were there for less than
a year - since Independence on June 29, 1976 and were removed the by a coup
d'état on June 5 1977, they do not qualify. This is a complete disgrace and a
final nail in the coffin for national reconciliation.
Most members of the First Republic's Legislative Assembly
are no longer around. In those days, we had a parliamentary system whereby Ministers
were also members of parliament, since they were elected in a constituency. Few
of them are around today. Besides David Joubert and Gonzague D'offay, who were
both ministers. There is also Philippe Jumeau, elected for Victoria South in
the last multiparty election before the June 1977 coup; Rita Savy , nominated
member of the SDPSPUP pre-independence coalition and Holden Pierre , another
SDP member, twice elected for South Mahe. Danielle Belle was also nominated ,
like Mrs. Rita Savy, but already benefits under the Third Republic's entitlements.
Another former MP in the Second Republic still around is
Bernard Elizabeth - retired from SeyPec and now CEO of the Seychelles Credit Union.
He is also a member of the Electoral Commission and draws and salary as a
Constitutional appointee. The question of the 2 Republic is more problematical,
since members of the People's Assembly earned no salary at all during the one
party state era.
Obviously many - like Archange Michel of Anse Aux Pins, Rita
Gappy of Mont Buxton, Christie Fred and Armantal Lesperance of Praslin have
passed away. But, given that there were three elections held in 1979, 1983 and
1987, in 23 electoral districts, there are still many former MPs around that
were uncontested at elections.
Since members of the
People's Assembly did not receive a salary, it appears that their pension will
be based on the present MNA salary which is R31,000 monthly. A complete farce
and a waste of taxpayer’s money already burdened with many tax increases in the
suffocating 2015 budget.
