The unfortunate accident which occurred on the main road near the mini stadium during the United Seychelles rally there last Sunday, propelled the leader of the Opposition to place a PNQ before the Speaker of the National Assembly, asking the Minister for Internal Affairs why that stretch of road was not closed to vehicular traffic for that event. The question became even more poignant as the victim passed away on Tuesday morning just before the National Assembly sitting started.
In his efforts to defend the indefensible, Minister Fonseka hung on to his position that it was a strategic decision taken after evaluation, even when it was clear that the strategy fell short of the objective, which was public safety. Even worse, the minister was all rattled when the MNA from Port Glaud Egbert Aglae quietly pointed out that when there is the flag raising ceremony at the Peace Park along that same stretch of road, it is closed to vehicular access and alternative routes are defined.
Clearly caught out, Fonseka compounded his error by stating that the road is closed for the flag raising because that activity takes place on the road itself! The Peace Park, where the flag mast is situated, is adjacent to the road, not on the road itself, and the event evolves from the pavement into the park area.
Minister Fonseka was just unable to admit that, just like Animal Farm, where all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others, so too in the Seychelles, all lives are important, but some lives are more important than others!
It was clear that there was no justification for not doing the needful at the time, especially on the basis of adjusting to a developing situation when the crowd going to that rally kept getting bigger. All plans should have a certain level of flexibility to make them effective in an evolving situation. The police only relied on the quick action of its young constable, chapeau to her who tried to revive the victim by administering CPR. Her actions meant that at least young Joycina Adrienne did not die on the road. She fought for her life for two more days in the ICU before she breathed her last.
Yes, it was not the police who ran her over, but the police did fail in taking the best measures which would have kept her and everyone at the venue safe.
