SPPF and SNP Conspire To Take Millions of The People’s Money

By: Christopher Gill

Mouvman Seselwa Rasin - Leadership Committee

SPPF and SNP Conspire To Take Millions of The People’s Money

October 2008

The Constitutional Emoluments Bill, et al of 2008 came before the National Assembly in late 2008 and the SNP was up and down State House meeting with SPPF to conspire the biggest rip off of the People of Seychelles ever, since the signing of the Constitution of the Third Republic in 1993. 

We never knew the whole story, but we have come to know what took place when the Constitutional Emoluments Act of 2008 as amended meant for the People of Seychelles. SPPF/PP and SNP conspired to pass the Bill in the National Assembly and they conspired to keep the details a secret from the People of Seychelles. 

The “Deal With The Devil” Signed, Sealed, Delivered By SBC

With the control of SBC, the SPPF barely released the information of unprecedented 38% increase in salary that they brokered with SNP in a legislative conspiracy, but they went silent on a first time ever life pension program for politicians. 

The People were outraged by the 38% salary increases and this preoccupied everyone’s mind until the 29% PUC electricity tariff increases came along later. No one knew about the extent of the understood the extent of the new pensions the SPPF and SNP voted themselves, on the eve of the country declaring national bankruptcy.

Under the new Act, a politician can now get a 70% pension for the rest of his life. Hence, the opposition has been turned into a “pensioned opposition”, the ruling party, turned into a “pensioned party” with full pensions for life like the Civil Service, but civil servants get much, much, less on retirement for an entire life’s work and sacrifice. 

No wonder none of these rascals really work for Seychelles, they have a life insurance for poor performance, voted for- themselves, and the People of

Seychelles have to pay for years to come, in spite of them doing a grossly bad job serving us and serving country.

“Sesel Pou Seselwa” Means Truth, Accountability, Transparency, Reality

The numbers are startling. The pension violates the “Sesel Pou Seselwa” principles of honest and transparent, and accountable government to the People.

In this article, we expose the rascals, all of them, SPPF and SNP alike. We shed light in darkness so no mushroom grows on our foreheads, be it SPPF/PP mushroom or an SNP mushroom. Truth, accountability , transparency applies to all and all alike.

In the next election, People of Seychelles need to throw them all out and send them back to the farm to increase agricultural industry contribution to our GDP. 

These salaries need to be reduced by 30% and pensions need to be cancelled out right. Politicians are not civil servants and are never entitled to a pension, unless it is a Head of State who serves all. 

Politicians are partisan and advance a particular political agenda for a time. Hence why the State should not be required to pension them out for life. They already receive a gratuity for end of term service that is substantial enough. 

One Person-Two or Three Ministries

One scam SPPF has perfected is the multiple salary scam. One person can run a number of constitutional offices and ministries be paid a salary and be pensioned out on retirement. It is unclear if the policy is to have the individual choose a salary or choose a pension, nor is it clear if a person can occupy more than one constitutional post. It seems they can and it appears multiple salaries, are part of the SPPF/PP game.

Example, take James Michel. He is the President of the Republic and Minister of Defence, Legal Affairs, Information and Tourism. He is entitled to the salary of President, but is also paid for each ministry he heads all for work done in one day.

If his cabinet makes each heading a different ministry, as it appears, then he takes a ministerial salary for each and pension for each. Hence, Michel as a person, will take 70% salary-pension for each heading, if his government sanctions it. His retirement package will then be: Scr 26,600.00 (Office of President) +Scr. 19,600.00 (Ministry of Defence) +Scr. 19,600.00 (Ministry of Legal Affairs) + Scr. 19,600.00 ( Ministry of Information) + Scr. 19,600.00 for (Ministry of Tourism). Adjusted total is: Scr 105,000.00. If Michel the lives for 40 years, his pension will be cost the people of Seychelles: Scr.50,400,000.00.

He is the big winner in this deal, which SNP signed off on side by side with SPPF/PP.

Bye, Bye Belmont!

Now, recently, Mr. Joseph Belmont announced his retirement from his political career. The Constitutional Emoluments Act et al, over cushions Belmont’s premature departure. Belmont has been part of the JJ Spirit Team that bankrupted Seychelles, but he is pensioned out for his failures and bad decisions or indecisions that led to our country becoming bankrupted officially. Instead of punishing failure, to discourage future failure, the Constitutional Emoluments Act rewards failure today, to encourage ongoing failure in the future.

As Vice President, his salary was Scr. 35,000.00 per month. As a retiree, Belmont will take home every month, for the rest of his life in part, Scr. 24,500.00 per month. Per year, Scr. 294,000.00. If he lives for 40 years, Scr. 11,760,000.00 for being the Vice President that lend a hand in bankrupting Seychelles, the same year, they voted for this salary-pension guarantee for life. 

Now, Belmont was also Minister of Administration and Minister of Tourism, Two(2) separate ministerial headings. As such, he may and could well be entitled to pensions for each heading, based on a 70% of total salary of Scr. 28,000.00 for each or pensioned out at Scr. 19,600.00 for Ministry of Tourism and Scr. 19,600.00 for Ministry of Administration. Total with Vice President pension could possibly be: Scr. 63,700.00 for the rest of his life. If he lives for 40 years more, Scr. 30,576,000.00 will be paid to Belmont as pension, unless he disqualifies for a ministerial heading, which is unlikely.

Minister Marie Pierre Lloyd

Ex – Minister Lloyd had a short spout as Minister. Towards the end of her run which was cut short, the Ministry of Health had collapsed, they do not even pay their PUC electricity bills these days. The irony of this situation, is that we will now pay Minister Lloyd a pension for a job badly done. She is a one term minister and entitled to 40% of salary as a pension. She will receive a pension of Scr. About Scr. 11,200.00 for the rest of her life. Per annum we will pay her now, Scr. 134,400.00 for doing nothing all year, just breath ie, inhale and exhale. If she lives for 40 years, her term of failure at the Ministry of Health will now cost us the People of Seychelles another Scr.5,376,000.00, over and above the cost of a failing Ministry of Health. Her payout is more frugal than the LO and LGB, see below.

Leader of Opposition and Leader of Government Business Salary & Pensions

In the National Assembly, where this legislative conspiracy between SPPF and SNP took place and SBC helped fool us all by nodding their heads like the extinct Dodo birds, the Two (2) leaders from opposite sides come out as big winners in their own right. 

With a pension in place for life, politicians no longer become answerable to the voters. They can send us all to hell, they believe, don’t answer phones, ignore emails, block chats on Facebook, do not reply to written letters. 

Now, you know why the SNP stop opposing the SPPF/PP, aside from the occasional copy and paste of articles from Star or Weekly.

Previously the Leader of Government Business (Marie-Lise Potter, SPPF/PP)and Leader of Opposition (Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, SNP) were paid each Scr. 19,000.00 base pay excluding gratuities, allowances and other perks. They increased their salaries to Scr. 28,000.00, an increment of Scr. 9,000.00 per month, on the eve of Seychelles being declared a bankrupt state. Their pension for the rest of their lives is 70% of their salary or 19,600.00, more then their past salary of Scr. 19,000.00 before the 38% increase. 

Per annum, on pension for the rest of their lives, both Mrs. Marie Lise Potter and Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan will each earn Scr. 235,000.00. 

If both Mrs. Marie –Lise Potter and Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan live for 40 years, which is highly likely, they will each cost the People of Seychelles Scr. 9,408,000.00 for doing nothing, ever again, just breathe, inhale, exhale. 

Collectively, they both will cost us: Scr. 18,816,000.00, for doing nothing, ever again for the People of Seychelles, just breath, inhale, exhale. 

People of Seychelles, SPPF/PP and SNP have taken us for fools!!!!!!

The Members of the National Assembly (MNA’s)

MNA’s that do Three(3) terms in the National Assembly are entitled to 70% of their salary as pension for the rest of their lives. Past salary was Scr. 8,000.00 per month. The new salary is Scr.14,000.00 per month, increase of 6,000.00. On pension for Three (3) terms, the pension payout per month will be Scr. 9,800.00. 

In 12 months after they leave the National Assembly, each MNA will cost the People of Seychelles, Scr. 117,600.00. If all 34 MNA’s make it to Three (3) terms and retire, it will cost per annum: Scr. 3,998,400.00. If they live for 40 years, than that will cost us Scr. 159,936,000.00 for them to remain on pension and do nothing, ever again, except breath, inhale, exhale.

Adding Scr. 159,936,000.00 MNA pensions to the pensions of the Two (2) Leaders in the National Assembly will give us: Scr. 178,752,000.00 just for National Assembly pensions, excluding the Mr. Speaker guy, His Excellency, The Right, Honourable Dr. Patrick Hermine.

If you add his Scr.34,000.00 per month package excluding allowances, gratuity, perks, at 70% it is Scr. 23,800.00 per month pension, or Scr.285,600.00 per annum. 

Over 40 years, His Excellency The Right Honourable, Dr. Patrick Hermine, pension will cost us Scr. 11,424,000.00. In total, Scr.190,176,000.00, excluding the pensions of past MNA’s to serve in the National Assembly. Over time, the pensions will wipe out progress for the Nation, unless revoked by legislation. 

SPPF/PP and SNP, voted themselves a golden parachute for life.

Shame, Shame, Shame, Shame on all who raised their hands!

Now the People of Seychelles, know, why, neither party listens to them.

Now, the People of Seychelles know, why, they are so frustrated with inaction and there is never enough money for anything, but yet, we are suppose to be rich.

Now, the People of Seychelles need to wake up to the biggest political scam in our history in cash- money terms.

People of Seychelles, when these politicians have sat in their big leather chairs Communist China gave them, we thought they were sleeping and their hair and beards were getting white as time passed. We were right! 

But what we did not realize, while we worried about our future as a people, their future was already guaranteed, in the greatest legislative conspiracy of Seychelles history, and they could careless if their hair and beards were getting white. They even fell asleep in their chairs.

I have this to say to SPPF and SNP: “Sesel Pou Seselwa”....and Seselwa pou deal ek zot pareye zot inn deal ek Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

Breaking Vienna Convention Rules To Please Sheik Khalifa of UAE

By: Christopher Gill

Mouvman Seselwa Rasin - Leadership Committee

After all the speeches of the month of June, James Michel has come across as a President that will say anything, do anything, to justify his policy of “Sell Baby Sell”. Under his administration, we have heard every excuse to justify the entry of goods by the plane loads daily, and containers daily, tax free for the residence of Sheik Khalifa. Sheik Khalifa was tendered a large parcel on La Misere for Scr. 1.00 as a gift and we were told, it is necessary to do so. Subsequently, numerous plots have been sold to the same person, we are told it is necessary. As the monstrosity project goes up at La Misere, all materials are brought in tax free and no Customs inspection even takes place. I have personally witness dozens of incidents wherein the large Antonov cargo planes unload cargo uninspected, no taxes paid.

SPPF/PP Says Vienna Convention Gives Sheik Khalifa Tax Free Imports on All Goods

To head this frontal assault on the minds of the People of Seychelles, Mr. James Michel sent Mr. Barry Faure Two (2) months ago to tell us that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, compels the Government of Seychelles to allow Sheik Khalifa to import all goods, tax free into Seychelles. This is completely false and could not be farther from the truth. Even the last IMF delegation to Seychelles was perplexed over the matter, but they had not yet been briefed on the Vienna Convention.

$300 Million Customs Taxes To Be Lost in One Year

It is estimated that by now, the People of Seychelles have lost over $200 Million in lost customs and tax revenue and this number will reach $300 Million by the year’s end, if Sheik Khalifa continues to import into Seychelles, at the rate he is currently.

That amount of money represents ¾ of Republic of Seychelles commercial debt. Had the administration of James Michel, collected this revenue, Seychelles would have been able to pay off the commercial bond debts that bankrupted us in October 2008 and restructured any existing debt to more favourable conditions, and moved on as country, instead of being stuck in limbo as we are now. With that money, James Michel would not have to ask the commercial banks to drop interest rates and make money available to jump start the Seychelles economy. With that money, and the precedence set from collecting it, Seychelles would be on its way to becoming a rich nation as it should be with a fractional population of merely 85,000 inhabitants.

With $300 Million in paid taxes, we would not be facing a collapsing health and medical system. We would have the best medical system $300 Million could pay for with the best medical health managers we could pay to do SPPF/PP’s work. With that kind of money in the coffers we would not need to beg Sheik Khalifa for a medical ambulance for treating patients from the bus accident on Praslin. With that money, we would buy our own generators to provide electricity to Mahe.

Vienna Convention Applies to Diplomatic Missions Not Individuals

In the preamble of the Vienna Convention, it is clearly stated that the Conventions rights are applicable to diplomatic missions, and are not intended to benefit individuals....”Realizing that the purpose of such privileges and immunities is not to benefit individuals but to ensure the efficient performance of the functions of diplomatic missions as representing States” .

The tax free privileges granted to Sheik Khalifa as an individual contradict the very spirit of the Vienna Convention. The Convention is intended to benefit diplomatic missions. The UAE has not even set up a diplomatic mission in Seychelles. 

The Seychelles has been primarily a private second residence for Sheik Khalifa among many others around the world. He comes and goes occasionally.

Additionally, the benefits of tax free concessions under the Vienna Convention, under Article 1 apply to the mission itself. This is clearly restricted to key posts, which includes the 1. Head of Mission, 2. the person in charge of a mission, by a sending State, it does not apply to the Head of State and is in fact, restricted to the diplomatic staff who are agents of the principal Head of State. 

Under Article 14, Heads of Missions are divided into three classes, namely:

(a) ...ambassadors or nuncios accredited to Heads of State...”

(b) Envoys, ministers,....accredited to a Head of State;

(c) Charges d’ áffaires accredited to Ministers for Foreign Affairs.

There are no expressed circumstances under the Vienna Convention that applies to Head of States or private residence of Heads of State where a mission is not already established as in the case of Sheik Khalifa in Seychelles.

Article 23 states:

1. The sending State and the head of the mission shall be exempt from all national, regional, or municipal dues and taxes in respect of the premises of the mission, whether owned or leased, other than such as represent payment for specific services rendered

2. The exemption from taxation referred to in this article shall not apply to such dues and taxes payable under the law of the receiving State, by persons contracting with the sending State or head of mission.

Under the Vienna Convention, tax exemption applies to the premises of the mission. It would not apply to the exemption of goods that are used by a contracting party, if they were building a mission. 

Even if Sheik Khalifa’s residence at La Misere and Barbaron were to be registered as diplomatic missions which they are not, Sheik Khalifa would still be obligated to pay taxes for the works done and materials used by third parties such as ASCON construction company, in spite of the slight detail that ASCON is an illegal company in Seychelles, not registered to do business or conduct any construction works. Ascon would have to pay GOP permit fees, and could not apply for exemption under Sheik Khalifa’s name. It is a violation of our sovereignty . The fact that Minister of Finance approves the GOP permits for 2000 workers does not make it right. It has no authority to approve work permits. That is the domain of Minister of Employment, statutorily.

Sheik Khalifa cannot assert that the goods brought into Seychelles are by diplomatic bag either. Under Article 27, diplomatic bag status is intended for communication purposes, not the building of three huge buildings on top of a La Misere that are over 5 levels high each.

Article 30 says “private residence of a diplomatic agent shall enjoy the same inviolability and protection as the premises mission. Sheik Khalifa is not a diplomatic agent, he is a diplomatic principal, as such the Vienna Convention would not apply to him or his residence, he has to pay his way.

Article 34...

details wherein taxes are due, by missions, as this is not a carte blanche privilege intended to allow someone to walk into a country and have thousands of Antanov flights follow with tax free goods and construction materials, right down to toilet pipes and water tanks, tax free.

Article 34

A diplomatic agent (not diplomatic principal) shall be exempt from all dues and taxes, personal, or real, regional or municipal, except:

(a) Indirect taxes of a kind that are normally incorporated in the price of goods or services;

(b) Dues and Taxes on private immovable property situated in the territory;

This means, a diplomatic agent, has to pay taxes on goods normally incorporated in the price of goods and services. On landing that would mean Customs would have to assess the tax mark up and retail mark up and assess a tax bill for Sheik Khalifa’s goods.

Sheik Khalifa also has to pay taxes on land. Sheik Khalifa is not even a diplomatic agent, he is a principal Head of State. Hence, he would have to pay taxes on all land sales, and taxes on all goods imported into Seychelles for personal use as opposed to mission use, which would be subjected to tax exemption if a mission had already been officially established.

Exemptions may apply to : (a) taxes on goods for official use of a mission, (b) for personal use of a diplomatic agent, which could apply to UAE diplomatic agents, if a mission was set up, but not to a diplomatic Principal for his private residence.

Article 42 says: “A diplomatic agent shall not in the receiving State practise for personal profit any professional or commercial activity”.

Now if Sheik Khalifa and SPPF/PP insist that the Vienna Convention does apply to the Sheik, and he does not have to pay taxes on his goods he imports, than the Convention says under Article 42, he would then not be able to do any business in Seychelles. 

Hence, buying land at Beau Vallon, buying Four Seasons, Buying out Raffles, and Cueriesse Island for example, would violate the Articles of the Vienna Convention. Basically, the Convention envisioned that one cannot enjoy diplomat status and be in business at the same time in a receiving State. The Convention uses the bar words: a diplomat “shall not”...practise for personal profit any professional or commercial activity”. 

A Proposal To Table

Instead of going on and on about this matter as a citizen of Seychelles, as it appears the President of Seychelles cannot ask for reasons unknown to me, I ask that Sheik Khalifa please, with due respect worthy of a Head of State, to pay the back taxes on all goods imported to Seychelles for his private residence which, I reasonably believe has exceeded $200 Million, unless proven otherwise.

We are not against Sheik Khalifa or anyone, and welcome him and everyone to Seychelles, if they pay their way. If Seychellois can pay their way, the rich and well heeled of the world can pay their way as well. To make Seychelles work well, there must not be any exceptions to this rule. 

A little gift here and there is not paying your way, nor is making little cozy deals, paying your way. Paying your way, means paying, every step of the way. Now I do believe the People of Seychelles can give Sheik Khalifa a little credit as follows to be applied to his bill: 1. $8 Million, medical health scanner center,2. Two (2) 8 megawatt generators worth $1 million per megawatt or $16 Million. If there is anything else missing, please mention in comments section. We can leave the interest calculations for the timbering, if the bill is settled soon.

Please pay directly to our creditors holding our bonds and not to the Government of Seychelles. 

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!