Why Seychelles Elections won’t be spared from foreign intervention

With the United States Presidential Elections coming up in November there is already growing speculation about Russian interference in favour of the sitting Republican President Donald Trump and against the Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

With the Seychelles Presidential and Assembly Elections due a month earlier in October how safe can Seychelles claim to be from foreign and inside interference?

The Russian presence in Seychelles occupies a varied landscape –from lavish homes and yachts to hoteliers which are part of wider Russian power brokers in Moscow, and who are even as we write, causing hardships to our local hotel workers.

The Indians are slowly colonizing our islands, from the rather lowly hoards of Construction workers, to the mushrooming shop-keeping community to the elites the likes of which have been seen this week to raise a huge loan to try to buy Espace Building.

Let’s not forget the Indian government which has its eyes not only on Assumption Island but on the wider Indian Ocean chess game, in which Seychelles has been a longtime advocate for Peace.

The Chinese share both interest in our internal situation being one of the biggest donator to our Housing and Infrastructure programme as well as a growing Indian Ocean influence.

The Arabs, last but not least, have a huge stake in their continued comfort and ability to rest and play in our islands.

To the average Seychellois living the simple island life of “karang friy ek pwason sale” they represent the glitter and the bling, the rich and opulent residences, the fantasy trips to Dubai, the flashy cars and the good life.Already our current leaders have been known to assist some of these social luminaries and businessmen with ease of passport processing, and the favours have been returned manifold.

Although the new Elections guidelines passed last week in the National Assembly stipulate that political donations of 50,000 Rupees need to be declared, how many times can you divide 1million by 49,999?

The world over it is always the small people who suffer –the ones whose vote makes a difference.

Seychellois Voters, be wise, open your eyes. Don’t be among the “small people” of this world.