VICTORIA, Seychelles — Chef by profession John Johnston has announced he will run as an independent candidate in the next presidential election, under the theme ‘Let’s Make Seychelles Unique Again’. Mr Johnston, who said the current government has failed the people, set out a wide-ranging policy platform that includes the cost of living, food security, defence reform, the legal status of cannabis and a revamp of the police.
‘Seychelles is dying and the government is not being honest about it. The very high cost of living is keeping our basic-salary workers in total poverty, a modern-day slavery,’ said Mr Johnston, who noted that the time has come to re-look at the old motto, ‘Seychelles unique by a thousand miles’. He said he would rebuild the agricultural and fishing sectors to lower reliance on foreign food imports, protect cultural heritage, raise the minimum wage and decriminalise cannabis.
On national security, he said his administration will revamp the police force to make it more professional to fight crime and corruption, and that the Seychelles Defence Forces will be scrapped in favour of a navy. ‘Seychelles needs a navy not an army,’ he said, adding that fishing, yachting and marine tourism are the country’s future. Mr Johnston said voting will be made mandatory to prevent vote buying and voter pressure, and expressed confidence that he would win the presidential election.
