In the last three decades, we as a nation have been living
in fear. We are coming of age. We will not give in to victimization tactics. We
are following our hearts, to be guided by our hearts, to steer us in the right direction,
the bottom line is to ensure that we treat others the way we want to be
treated.
A lot of blood, sweat and tears from our fathers, mothers
and other compatriots got us to where we are at today. We cannot take lightly
what they sacrificed to make us what we are today as a nation.
One of our principles
in Lalyans Seselwa is to encourage our citizens to be more active and engaged
in the affairs (in all spheres) of the nation, especially where it concerns a
government which treats us as morons. It is for this reason that I am this week
writing about the Baie Lazare MNA saga.
It is a fact that the
petition asking the MNA to resign emanated from two lead activists from Lalyans
Seselwa in Baie Lazare. Before they went around with the petition, the issue
was discussed in our weekly meetings of district representatives. We all felt
that they should go ahead and get the inhabitants of Baie Lazare to sign the
petition.
There are different ways of making one’s concerns heard, as
in a protest march and other tools. A petition is probably the tool that is
most likely to not to end up with silence, arrest or even incarceration. The
bottom line is that we have to speak up when it comes to our rights and
freedoms.
We in Lalyans Seselwa have taken a pledge that we will not
be silent when we see and witness gross violation of our rights and freedoms by
the ruling party. I have been asked why are we targeting Wilby Lucas? As leader
of Lalyans Seselwa I have to categorically state that it was never our intention
to target Wilby personally, or his immediate family! In my time as a member of
the SPPF, I got to know Wilby well. Both he and his wife served the country as
true professionals in Anse Boileau and Baie Lazare.
I am well aware that Mr. Lucas has helped many a client and
common person in legal matter, where and when said clients were unable to
afford usual legal fees. In that sense he must be commended for putting his
professional creed and his Christian compassion before his own financial gain
or self-agrandisement. In that sense he is quite different from many in the
legal fraternity.
I am also aware that
Mr. Lucas is currently facing grave health challenges and on that aspect, both
on my personal behalf and on that of all activists and supporters of Lalyans Seselwa,
we wish him God Speed and a full recovery to normalcy.
That said I would like to explain that the aim of the
petition was more importantly to awaken the ruling party (to which Mr. Lucas
belongs), the executive and the legislative to the plight of the Baie Lazare residents
who have not had any representation in the National Assembly for more than two
years!
Surely this cannot go on indefinitely. Normally, when a
Seychellois worker goes on medical leave for more than 15 days, does he
continue to get paid by the government or the private sector indefinitely? What
is good for the goose must also be good for the gander!
Furthermore it is obvious that the ruling party did not see
it fit and fair to assist Mr. Lucas and get him to vacate the National Assembly
seat and hold a bi-election as was the case in Anse Aux Pins two or three years
ago. After all Mr. Lucas has been a conscientious and devoted supporter of the
SPPF for many years. This is one example of the ruling party abandoning its
generals in their most dire hours of need!
It is surely a good sign that committed and engaged citizens
are now standing up for their own rights and freedom and also boldly taking the
executive and the legislature to task, where they are seen as failing in
serving the very people they are being paid to serve!
This is particularly significant for a district in the South
of Mahé which has traditionally been SPPF/Lepep. A sure sign that the winds of
change are blowing in the south and the once mighty and fearsome ruling party,
may be crumbling. 2016 is surely going to be a year of change. The time for
fear of victimization and intimidation may well be behind us. We in Lalyans
Seselwa will continue to fight and bring enlightenment and freedom for all the
people of Seychelles.
In conclusion, may I once again wish Mr. Wilby Lucas and his
family every good and God’s blessings for a full recovery.
