[ STRAIGHTTALK |The Youth and Politics > pp. 46-47

Insert N°4 • Friday 2 APRIL 2010 [ISSUES> pp. 36-37 Road Traffi c Accidents Editorial ] A modern epidemic by Touria PRAYAG If you really love me… We can now breathe a sigh of relief! The suspense lasted for too long. For weeks, the whole country was kept on tenterhooks. Would the monstrous political and electoral juggernaut begot- ten of the consummation of the marriage between the two titans of the local political arena see the light of day? Under the best of circumstances, given the historical animosity between the pro- tagonists, the delivery was not expected to be a straightforward affair; rather, the expectant population anticipated the obste- trician (Mr. Jayen Cuttaree?) would have to use his forceps, or even resort to a caesarean section. It turns out that there was not even any betrothal, if we are to believe the spokespersons of the Labour Party who intone that Mr. Paul Bérenger was the suitor doing all the ‘soliciting’ to an impassible, unreceptive and unresponsive Prime Minister. In courtship they say, ‘a man pursues a woman until she catches him.’ In this case, one party was pursuing and it was obvious to most astute afi cionados of the local political scene, and even to many others without practised eyes, that the other was not being charmed. And just as well! Democracy has been rescued as a result of the aborted coalition negotiations, conduc- ted, if truth be told, with scant regard to the real challenges facing the country, but rather with the perversely sinister motive of avoiding the relegation of tired politicians to a fate of oblivion. The proper functioning of our Westminster type democra- cy, with its ‘fi rst past the post’ electoral system, and its attendant downside of ‘winner takes all’ landslide victories and, conversely, of a ‘hung parliament’, is founded essentially on adversarial po- liticking. This is what provides a vivifying tonic to this system of democracy through the concept of the countervailing power of a pugnaciously uncomplaisant political opposition, of a fi ercely free press and of a truly independent judiciary. If the system is amputated of any one of these vital pillars countervailing power, it becomes toxically debilitated, and our democracy is conse- quently made a mockery of and becomes moribund. But if we are relieved that the new alliance may guarantee the existence of an opposition, has democracy genuinely been saved? Are we really being given a choice? Mr. Nando Bodha said that it was the wish of the electorate to have a LP-PMSD-

Naden CHETTY Naden MSM alliance. Does he mean the electorate which spoke in Rose Belle in the last general elections or the one which would have spoken in Moka/Saint-Pierre had it been given the op- portunity to do so at the last by-election? In what forum did we express our opinion? I do not recall. Do you? As for the disproportionate number of tickets given, by the most popular politician in the country, to a party which has never faced the electorate alone and whose leader’s popularity has not yet been demonstrated, ducking the issue seems to be the answer. The attitude appears to be, “if you love me, love ELECTION TIME my-yesterday’s-enemy-today’s-best friend”. Leaders come in through the door and they acquire greatness. The others come in through the window and they are satisfi ed with power. We don’t all have the same goals in life. No legally binding The MSM leader should snuggle up to the Prime Minister and complacently smile: if he was given the leadership of the party on a silver tray, he is now being offered both legitimacy and power on a gold one. Congratulations, Sir. And three cheers code of conduct for democracy! l’express [ Friday 2 April 2010 • Insert N° 4 QUICKREAD] p. 34 The Week at a Glance] Events]

Politics operating license. So far only 45 % are paying li- Malta Guinness Fun Games censing fees. If businesses refuse to comply, the Join the beachside fun with the The Prime Minister announced the dissolu- MASA can turn to the police who may then seize Malta Guinness Fun Games, tion of parliament yesterday and the date of the the sound system and hi-fi . organised by Phoenix Beverages elections, fi nally putting an end to a number of Shortage of vegetables Ltd from March to June 2010. The speculations. Speaking to the press yesterday, games target young people aged Navin Ramgoolam said that the elections would Some of the most popular vegetables may be 15 and above, so they can enjoy a be held on Wednesday 5th May, while Nomina- fun, healthy activity and work as tion Day will take place on 17th April. The Prime unavailable over the next three months because of the heat and heavy rain. The vegetables affected a team. 4 teams of 10 candidates Minister also held a press conference later in the each will compete in each event. evening, this time with Xavier Duval, Rashid by this are mostly tomatoes, let- tuce, greens, cabbage A total of 8 events will be held either at Blue Bay Beebeejaun, and Pravind Jugnauth, to announce or Flic en Flac, the next one being on Sunday 4th April at Blue the new alliance between the Labour Party, the and carrots. Prices have started Bay, from 13.00 to 15.30. Radio One hosts Linzy and Elvis will PMSD and the MSM. Navin Ramgoolam em- be part of the event, to give people to chance to win a variety of phasized unity, equality and modernity as his prio- to go up, with tomatoes, for prizes. To register for the event, sms ‘Malta’ (space) ‘fi rst name’ rities for the elections. It has now been confi rmed to 8386. that the MSM has been given 18 seats at the forth- example, hitting coming elections, the PMSD 7, while the Labour Rs 100 a pound. Party has kept 35 seats. Another press conference Hydroponic to- Radio One Hits Party Island will be held on Saturday matoes will not be available for The hosts of Radio One’s programme DJ & Neotown a long time but Co will be at Ile aux Cerfs on 3rd April 2010 the situation should for a Radio One Hits Party Island show. improve as winter sets in. The evening will be hosted by David Jay, An ambitious project developed by Patel Henri Fleurant, D.J. Francois and D.J Realty, an Indian group, will change Port Louis Infl uenza AH1N1: Ruben and the resident D.J Luv. There as we know it in the coming years. The aim of the will also be a fashion show, with models project, appropriately called Neotown, is for a new Safe Vaccines from Final Approach agency. Tickets town to be built at Les Salines. The laying of the are available at Rs 500 (per person, in- foundation stone was carried out by the Prime A vaccination campaign against infl uenza cluding entry, the boat trip and one drink). You can make your Minister this week. The project, which includes a AH1N1 is underway. Adjuvant-free vaccines will reservations on 752 2483. dream bridge linking Les Salines to Port Louis will be used to avoid any complications. The Ministry cost a total of $ 1 billion. The town will comprise of Health has bought about 50 000 doses of the offi ces, shops and apartments. The president of vaccine, while the World Health Organisation will Peaceful March on the Diego Garcia Patel Realty says that investing in Mauritius is part donate about 125 000 doses. The chemicals added of their strategy to connect with Africa and added to enhance the vaccine present a low risk and it is Issue that the country’s economic stability and its de- advised to avoid this risk by using adjuvant-free A peaceful march on the Diego Garcia mocracy are the main reasons why Mauritius has vaccines. People who will be vacci- issue is being organised by LALIT on been chosen for this project. nated include Wednesday 7th April. The march will hospital start off at St Georges avenue in Port Congestion at St Jean staff, pre- Louis, and move towards the British gnant wo- High Commission at Edith Cavell The large number of real estate projects un- men and Street. People who wish to join in are derway in the Trianon-Ebène and Réduit- St people with expected to gather by 14.00 and set off Jean area could cause massive traffi c congestion chronic at 14.30. The purpose of the march is from St Jean to Trianon. 2500 cars go through the health pro- to denounce the British government Ebène Cyber City every hour and this fi gure will blems such for the marine park plan. The march is also rise by the time the various shopping centres start as HIV/AIDS, a chance to call once again for the base’s closure, an environ- operating. A source at the Road Development Au- asthma, cancer, mental clean-up, for the right to return home and for repara- thority (RDA) says there will be traffi c jams, but tuberculosis and tions for all Chagossians. The event will end at 15.30. the real estate projects cannot be interrupted. The heart disease. Diabe- RDA initially carried out a Traffi c Impact Assess- tics are not on the priority ment but did not fi nd any problem and recom- list but will also be considered. SLEMGP mended that construction licences be issued SLEMGP began in Panama, and was created by the wri- to the promoters. It President’s Birthday ter-composer Pascal Savanian, also leader of the group. The seems that the Terre four Mauritian artists who are part of the group have greatly Rouge- Verdun mo- The President contributed to fusion music and have worked with well known torway, once built, of the Republic, people throughout the world. At the piano is Lind- could help ease Sir Aneerood say Thomas who worked with Simply traffi c around Jugnauth, cele- Red and Emile et Images. Maurice Réduit-St Jean, brated his 80th Manancourt, who worked with while opening birthday on the late Kaya, plays the drums, other roads at Monday 29th and guitar player Gino Chantoiseau Petit-Camp March by hos- has worked in Dubai with Belingo and behind ting a dinner at Faro. The show on Satur- day Shoprite the State House 17th April is a must for could also for a number jazz/fusion lovers. Call help. of key political Otayo on 466 9999 for players, but also more information and to book your seats. friends, family and members of Bollywood Nite MASA: Paying for music the diplomatic corps. Birthday If you feel like a night out, Indigo Club in Quatre Shops, restaurants, hotels and other businesses wishes came in Bornes is organising a Sensuous Bollywood Nite will need to make sure they pay licensing fees for all day from va- on Saturday 3rd April as from 22.30. The evening the rights to play music. The Mauritius Society rious organisa- will be hosted by resident DJs Scout and Yankee, of Authors conducted a campaign to raise awa- tions. and DJ Honey from Rajasthan. Tickets are available reness on issues of copyright on music. Businesses through Rezo Otayo at Rs 250. Call on 466 9999 for Melissa Louis more information. ILLUSTRATION : Stephane BENOIT will need to pay these fees when they renew their ILLUSTRATION : POV p. 35 [QUICKREAD Insert N°4 • Friday 2 April 2010 l’express

The International Scene]

By Nad SIVARAMEN

WHITE HOUSE. US AND FRANCE UNITED ITALY. BERLUSCONI GAINS IN LOCAL includes representatives of 100 countries as well as AGAINST IRAN ELECTIONS multilateral lending institutions and charities. The Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy called for plan says Haiti will need a total of $11.5 billion to quick action on sanctions against Iran on Tuesday, The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, repair the quake’s damage. with U.S. President specifying that such penalties has made gains in the country’s regional elections, could be approved by the United Nations “in a mat- wresting four regions from the opposition while the CHINA. MC DONALD’S INVASION PLAN ter of weeks”. Speaking at a joint news conference at anti-immigration Northern League emerged as a Mc Donald’s (the world’s largest chain of fast the White House on Tuesday, both presidents insis- powerhouse in his centre-right coalition. food) aims to increase the number of its outlets in ted that Tehran avoided dialogue to tackle concerns China (the world’s biggest economy) from 1 100 to over its nuclear program. In an apparent swipe at ZIMBABWE. FARMERS SEEK COMPEN- 2 000 in three years, Dow Jones Newswires repor- China, which remains the strongest holdout among SATION IN SOUTH AFRICA ted, citing Tim Fenton, the company’s president of the fi ve permanent U.N. Security Council members, Following a South African court’s ruling last week Asia-Pacifi c, Middle East and Africa. Often referred Obama said he was “concerned” that some countries that President Robert Mugabe’s land reform pro- to as the symbol of free market US Capitalism, Mc were putting economic interests ahead of national- gram was unlawful, some farmers are trying to claim Donald’s opened its fi rst outlet in communist China security concerns “because Iran is an oil producer”. property owned by the Zimbabwean government in in Shenzhen in 1990 and now employs more than South Africa. According to BBC, the farmers’ lawyer 60,000 Chinese. NIGERIA. GADDAFI’S CONTROVERSIAL in Cape Town, Willie Spies, reported that since the RECIPE TO END TENSION properties were of a non-diplomatic nature they were Libya’s President Muammar Gaddafi said this not protected by diplomatic immunity. week that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation (with more than 130 million people), should be divided into CENTRAL AFRICA. THE DEADLY AT- several states along ethnic lines. Nigeria’s foreign mi- TACKS CONTINUE nistry said Gaddafi ’s comments were “irresponsible” New attacks by the Ugandan Lord’s Resis- and recalled its ambassador to Tripoli. Nigeria has tance Army in Central Africa have killed 26 more than 250 different ethnic groups, broadly divi- fi ghters and civilians, including a woman burnt ded into a largely Muslim north and mainly Christian alive and at least 40 people abducted. The at- south. tacks were revealed last week by Human Rights Watch, a NGO based in New York. EAST CHINA. 21 BODIES IN A RIVER Staffers at an eastern Chinese hospital have been disciplined after the bodies of 21 fe- tuses and infants were found impro- perly discarded near the Guangfu River.

SEYCHELLES. PI- RATES DEFEATED BY PORT VICTORIA COAST GUARDS. Seychelles’ coast guards managed to free six fi shermen and 21 Iranian marines from the hands of nine Somali pirates WASHINGTON DC. THE SARKOZYS’ over the weekend. According CHOICE OF LUNCH. to Seychelles’ military sources, “I have to point out that the French are properly the operation was launched on famous for their cuisine and the fact that Nicolas Sunday night after an Indian went to Ben’s Chili Bowl for lunch shows his discri- ship, the Arsu, alerted the Port minating palate (…) My understanding is he had a Victoria authorities about the half-smoke hot dog. ‘We appreciate that very much,” Somali pirates. Obama told reporters at the joint news conference, referring to the popular Washingtonian diner where COLOMBIA. A FARC Sarkozy took his wife on Tuesday.. HOSTAGE RELEASED AFTER 12 YEARS. CIGARETTES .MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF A Colombian soldier held PIG’S BLOOD. An Australian academic says with a captive for 12 years has been warning that religious groups could fi nd its undisclosed freed this week. Sgt Pablo Emi- presence “very offensive”. lio Moncayo was 19 when he University of Sydney Professor Simon Chapman was seized by Farc guerrillas in points to recent Dutch research which identifi ed 185 the southern jungle of Colombia. different industrial uses of a pig - including the use of Farc have been fi ghting the Co- its haemoglobin in cigarette fi lters. lombian state for more than four decades and currently hold some RUSSIA MOURNS ITS DEAD 20 police offi cers and soldiers. RUSSIA OBSERVED A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING on Tuesday as authorities continue HAITI. REQUEST FOR $ to search for the terrorists responsible for killing at 11,5 BILLION. least 39 people in two suicide bombings Monday At a conference in New York this in Moscow’s subway system. The country mourns week, Haitian President René Préval the victims of the worst terrorist attack in Moscow presented an “action plan”. The au- since 2004. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the dience is the biggest gathering of poten- culprits behind the bombings must be scraped “from tial donors since the Jan. 12 earthquake. It the bottom of the sewers” and exposed. l’express [ Friday 2 April 2010 • Insert N° 4 ISSUES] p. 36

Left Field] By Nicholas RAINER Instant gratifi cation

The South of the island is everyone’s favourite escape. It’s oh so picturesque. It’s also desperately poor. On Saturdays, villagers huddle together in betting houses, eager to squander their meagre resources. It’s painfully obvious that gambling is increasingly becoming an intrinsic part of Mau- ritan culture. More gallingly still, the authorities seem rather nonplussed by this perilous phenome- non. Why shouldn’t they be? They’re making a lot of money from this addiction even if it is bleeding the country dry.

Deepa Bhookhun’s interview of Awadh Balluck, a minority shareholder in Air Mauritius, on Radio One last Wednesday was hugely revealing. He like- ned the national aviation company to “The Love Boat”, the incorrigibly kitsch 1970s TV series in which everyone falls in love with each other. There is one major difference though: the Mauritian po- pulation has defi nitely fallen out of love with the airline. There are more reasons behind this disil- lusionment than you can shake a stick at.

But this one’s as good as any: management doesn’t want to share the Fact Finding Com- mittee’s report on the Ringadoo incident with the Board. Apart from being absolutely inacceptable, it also shows that good governance can’t be im- posed. It’s a culture. And the head honchos at the Paille-en-Queue building seem to know as much about it as they do about 16th century esotericism. If it’s true that those who refuse to learn from the lessons of the past are condemned to relive the

same disasters, then it’s clear that Air Mauritius NADEN CHETTTY (PHOTO ARCHIVE) Road Traffi c Accidents still has quite a few more disasters in it.

No wonder the global economy looks like it was designed by a three year-old with Attention Defi - cit Disorder. Everyone’s out to make a quick buck at the expense of everyone else. In Our Choice, his book about solving the climate crisis, Al Gore A modern makes an interesting point: good old-style invest- ment has been replaced by ravening speculation. THEY ZOOM past you, zigzagging to engage in their (NTA) to 366,520. That is an “In the 1950s and 1960s investors held stocks for zigzag on the roads, nervous- favourite sport. And they incredibly high number of vehi- an average of seven to eight years. As recently as ly changing to the left lane to would not have it that way. It is cles for our roads to cope with. 1974, the holding period was almost seven years. swiftly veer back on your side a power game of whose time is Are we worse off than other Investment has become more like speculation as without any warning while you most precious. countries? Probably. The World the average holding time has steadily decreased are patiently waiting to inch As for road courtesy, you Health Organization, a spe- over the past four decades. In 2007 the average forward at a snail’s pace and must be joking! Brazenly fl ou- cialized agency of the United length of investment fell to 11 months. As of Au- trying to keep a cool head. In ting the Highway Code in every Nations Organization, in its gust 2009, it stood at six months.” It’s doubtful their conviction that their time imaginable dangerous manner Global Status Report on Road Adam Smith ever imagined that his Invisible Hand is more precious than yours, has become our national sport. Safety 2009, states that over would become so slaphappy. that overtaking on both sides The result is that each year, 90% of the world’s fatalities on is perfectly acceptable and that according to Dharamdev Na- the roads occur in low-income And, to round-off, I simply had to share two indicators are too hard to use, thoo, Principal Engineer at the and middle-income countries, comments following an article on The Guardian they do not realize to what ex- Traffi c Management and Road which have only 48% of the about the Chagossian community’s opposition to tent they are slowing down the Safety Unit, about 140 lives are world’s registered vehicles. the proposed Marine Protected Area in the archi- traffi c, breaking the Highway lost in this country and 18.000 The report also predicts that pelago (it was interesting to note that most of the Code and endangering the lives people are injured, some by 2020, road traffi c deaths comments castigated the British government). of others. severely. and injuries will exceed HIV/ The fi rst comment is a paragon of dry realism: And they make you so ner- And the carnage conti- AIDS as a burden of death and “It’s typically British to care more about animals vous! If you try to take your nues as nearly 20 000 vehi- disability. and plants than humans (or at least the brown mind off from them and dare cles joined the roads last year, If Dharamdev Nathoo re- ones). The fate of the Chagos Islands should not look in your rear mirror, the according to Vinod Bungsy, a joices at the decrease of acci- be decided by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew”. vehicles and trucks tailgating highway code instructor from dents on our roads, from 168 The second one, on the other hand, would have you with such indecency add to the Ministry of Cooperatives, fatal accidents the previous even the most blasé of observers trying to suppress your sense of insecurity. They while nearly 5000 were put off year to 140 last year and from knowing guffaws: “Yes! And let’s make Palestine a cannot drop back to leave a two the road bringing the number 403 accidents resulting in se- national park!”. Proof that the vox populi can be second gap because that would of vehicles registered with the rious injury to 372, Vinod both incisive and witty. mean allowing those who are National Transport Authority Bungsy feels that our victory p. 37 ISSUES Insert N°4 • Friday 2 April 2010 l’express BEEKASH ROOPUN (PHOTO ARCHIVE)

*Road Transport and Road Traffi c Ac- cident Statistics for the year 2009: At the end of December 2009, 366,520 vehicles were registered at the National Transport Authority compared to 351,406 at the end of De- cember 2008, i.e. an increase of 15,114 or 4.3%. Some 19,789 vehicles joined the fl eet whilst 4,675 were put out of cir- culation during the year. The fl eet consists largely of cars and dual-purpose vehicles (165,036 or 45%) and motorized two-wheelers (152,935 or 42%). The remaining 13% comprises vans, lorries, trucks, buses and other vehicles. The number of road accidents decreased by 6.2% from 20,873 in 2008 to 19,571 in 2009. Among these accidents, 129 were fatal (caused death) compared to 162 in the preceding year, down by 20.4%. The total number of vehicles (motor and non-motorised) involved in road accidents in 2009 was 38,058, that is, 5,038 or 11.7% less than the 2008 fi gure of 43,096. The number of casualties increased by 6.4% from 3,435 in 2008 to 3,655 in 2009. Among the casualties, around 34% were riders of auto/motor cycles, 31% passengers, 18% pedestrians and 13% drivers. During the year 2009, 140 persons died as a result of road accidents compared to 168 in 2008, showing a decline of 16.7%. Motor cycle and auto cycle crashes occur at all times of the day, but they are more frequent between 14 00 hours and 20 00 hours, 58% of car accidents occur between 16 00 hours and 24 00 hours. A head-on collision leaving For buses, it has been noted that the highest number of accidents occur no chance to the passengers. on Mondays and drivers are more prone to accidents between 06 00 hours and 10 00 hours; The percentage of female drivers involved in motor cycle and car ac- cidents is less than 4%. Approximately 660,000 Mauritians hold driving licences.

*Figures obtained with the kind collaboration epidemic of Dharamdev Nathoo and Vinod Bun over accidents will be short- Although well-designed and So worth every penny, If the good news is that our lived. ‘Though there are no well-maintained vehicles, with certainly. However, drink-dri- roads have killed 20% fewer offi cial statistics yet available good brakes, tires and well-ad- ving remains a serious pro- road users last year, there is no for 2010,’ he says, ‘it has been justed suspension will be more blem on our roads. Nothing is doubt that we need more po- confi rmed by the authorities controllable in an emergency being done to curb the impu- licemen on the beat. One has that the number of accidents and thus be better equipped nity drunk drivers enjoy. Spot to acknowledge that it is im- for the fi rst quarter have in- to avoid collisions, both ex- checks are few and far between possible to post a policeman at creased compared to last year. perts agree that road users’ and there is little deterrent for every street corner to nab these Though the authorities are behaviour remains the pri- irresponsible drivers to drink dangerous criminals at the stee- doing their level best to curb mary cause of road accidents and drive. According to Vinod ring wheels of the buses and the alarming rate of accidents, and mortality. Bungsy, 58% of road accidents The main trucks who imperil our lives the negligent attitude of com- What are the measures occur between 4 p.m. and mid- all day long, every day God mon road users is still killing taken by the Ministry to pro- night. Does that ring a bell? causes gives but, in a country where healthy and productive citi- tect us from road criminals? And of course one drivers are hurt only when you zens,’ he adds. Awareness raising campaigns. should not forget those scary hit their pockets, nabbing and The main causes of road These have proved to be of monsters, the biggest culprits: of road fi ning them may prove to be deaths are the same eve- limited effect. Measures to ac- heavy vehicles. One may, howe- effi cacious. rywhere: speed and alcohol. quire fi xed speed cameras have ver, fi nd solace in the recent deaths are When one talks about dan- Studies have shown that colli- started but the estimated cost measures undertaken such as gerous road criminals, one sions at 20 mph result in a 5% of one camera is about Rs. 25 making it mandatory for them the same means males of course. Female risk of death, whilst those at m. Money well spent? Accor- to be fi tted with a speed limit drivers, in spite of all the chau- 85 mph result in an 85% risk ding to a study by the Depart- device. Similar measures taken everywhere: vinistic jokes about their dri- of death. Dharamdev Nathoo ment of Transport in 2001, in in countries like Kenya have ving skills, are responsible for and Vinod Bungsy agree. They the U.K., the introduction of greatly reduced the erstwhile less than 4% of the accidents both add to the list negligent speed cameras reduced casual- catastrophic consequences of speed and caused. So, there! driving, inattentive pedes- ties in the immediate vicinity by the reckless driving of the infa- trians and the lack of visibility 47% and in surrounding areas mous ‘matatus’ (public service alcohol Touria PRAYAG of pedestrians and wheelers. by 18%. vehicle, or ‘black taxi’). l’express [ Friday 2 April 2010 • Insert N°4 INTERVIEW] p. 40 INTERVIEW WITH Ben Buntipilly, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on road safety Compulsory refresher course for bad drivers

● The Prime Minister, Navin learn to have self-control and courtesy. There are regulations which we I do not know yet if there will be a Ramgoolam, said two days ago They should be strict as far as discipline are preparing to deal with all those charge for the refresher courses or if that Mauritian drivers are no good is concerned. problems. they will be free. But one thing I can tell at driving because they have been you -they will be compulsory for bad taught to drive by people who do ● You mean that you will have to ● Apart from driving schools, drivers. not themselves know how to drive. change a whole mindset? many parents and friends teach Is he right? Yes, and inculcate a culture of de- young people to drive. How would ● How do you single out the bad I cannot say that he is wrong. There fensive driving. By defensive driving I you deal with these types of driving drivers? is a lot of work to be done with driving mean, amongst other things, that a dri- instructors? We will soon have driving licences instructors. I will not say that they are ver should always be in a position to face The regulations we are preparing with the penalty points system. This is bad, but there is room for improvement. the unforeseeable, to predict the unpre- in fact a good way of singling out good We should strive towards a security dictable. drivers from bad drivers. culture on our roads. He should make allowances for mis- takes that could be committed by others. ● We have been talking about ● What are in fact the biggest the penalty point driving licence problems concerning our drivers? ● Apart from that mindset that system for years. How do you ac- You will surely agree with me you would like driving ins- count for the fact that this system is that driving is not simply taking tructors to inculcate One death in a taking so long to be implemented? a vehicle from point A and in all would-be dri- We have some constraints. All the getting it to point B. Dri- vers, do you not road accident departments at the traffi c branch will vers should have a precise think that driving have to be computerized before we attitude on the road. They classes should is one can implement the penalty points sys- should learn how to be- have a syllabus tem. But do not worry; it will soon be have towards other road and teach people death too many. a reality. users, drivers, motorcy- how to drive clists and pedestrians. at night, for ● You have been talking about They should have a example. and which are in draft form, will also mindset and discipline. Don’t you given attitude towards Many young cater for these types of driving instruc- think that a policy of laissez-faire the environment and drivers sim- tors. There will be a whole syllabus that by the police has contributed to the towards the limited ply do not know all instructors will have to abide by. Not situation? For example, Mauritian space which they share when to use full every parent or friend will be allowed drivers have taken up the habit of on the road with others. lights and when to be a driving instructor. Their age, the keeping to the right lane on the mo- They should have or to use dimmed number of accidents and contraventions torway, even when they are driving lights … they have had will be taken into account. at 30 km per hour on a motorway where the speed limit is 110 km ● You are catering for drivers per hour. who will be in driving schools to- We have been booking drivers who morrow. keep to the right lane when they are not But what about the bulk of overtaking. Perhaps we will have to beef drivers who are on the roads and up our repression of such behaviour who, according to the Prime Mi- which is becoming chronic with some nister, have learned from driving drivers. monitors who do not know how to drive? ● So you are banking on edu- There will be refresher cation and repression at the same courses for those old hands time? who have been driving for Of course. Road users should feel PHOTO ARCHIVE : Vikash NARAINSAMY ARCHIVE : PHOTO years and who think that safe. Road safety should be felt and seen they know how to drive in Mauritius. I think that we are getting when in fact they should results. We have fewer and fewer road learn a little more in accidents. A human life is priceless. One order to be good dri- death in a road accident is one death too vers. many. One person maimed in an acci- dent is too much. I am very thankful to ● Will your the Prime Minister for the efforts he is refresher courses making to improve road safety in Mau- be compulsory ritius. and will we have to pay for them? Raj JUGERNAUTH p. 41 BUSINESS Insert N°4 • Friday 2 April 2010 l’express In brief ] New monthly petrol Irish bank looks beyond recession Once a bustling econo- prices announced today my driven by a booming building sector, Ireland is now battling with re- The Automatic Price Me- cession. The two major chanism committee is going banks, Bank of Ireland public tonight on the new pe- & AIB, crippled under trol prices. When calculating non-performing loans, the new prices, the members needed fresh capital in- take into account the fl uctua- jections from the State. tions of petrol prices on the Today, Bank of Ireland world market and the behavior is leading the way by of the dollar. On the commo- raising funds from dities market, the petrol barrel private sources, poten- was trading fi rmly over the tially becoming the only 80-dollar mark on the New- member of Ireland’s York Mercantile Exchange. “bad bank” scheme to And on the local front, the dol- escape a fresh bailout. lar seems slightly to be on an The bank’s statement upward trend. on Wednesday that it Front-month crude fu- was in fundraising talks tures on the New York Mer- with investment banks cantile Exchange rose as high is a relief for the Irish as $83.76 after U.S. jobs data, government, which but edged back to trade up faces years of scrim- 40 cents at $82.77 a barrel at ping to plug a black 1530 GMT after inventory hole created by the pro- data from the Energy Infor- Price of crude oil is on the rise. fl igate fi nancial sector. mation Administration. Brent The heaviest losses crude for May rose 47 cents to The U.S. shed 23,000 jobs ned growth for the world’s top of many goods such as base of all stem from now $81.75. in March, against expectations two oil users. metals and food staples. nationalized Anglo U.S. crude oil stocks rose for a rise of 40,000 private-sec- After the biggest annual Oil prices this quarter have Irish Bank, which on by 2.9 million barrels to 354.2 tor jobs, a report by private em- rise in 36 years in 2009, most traded from a peak of $83.95 Wednesday confi rmed million barrels last week, more ployment service ADP showed commodities continued to re- in January, the highest since weeks of speculation than the 421,000 barrel build on Wednesday. bound on general optimism October 2008 at the height of by announcing a loss reported by the American Pe- Following the ADP data, that the economy is recovering the fi nancial crisis, to a low of of 12.7 billion in the 15 troleum Institute on Tuesday, the dollar pared gains from a and demand for raw materials $69.50 a barrel in February. months to December, while gasoline inventories three-month high against the will continue to improve. That sub-$15 range is the deepest shortfall in logged a modest but surprise yen, European shares turned In addition, many commo- more stable than the wide Irish corporate history. gain, the EIA data showed on negative and copper eased to dities have posted strong sales price swings in the previous The bank needs up to Wednesday. $7,800 a tonne. to China, the largest consumer two years. Implied volatility for 18 billion euros of fresh “On the surface you would “The dollar dropped a little U.S. crude is now at its lowest state capital, almost as think this is a bearish report, es- on those ADP numbers. That’s level since prices surged to a re- much as Dublin bor- pecially with gasoline showing bad news for markets, so the dol- cord $147.27 a barrel on July rows in a year to fund an unexpected build”, Mike lar drops, equities drop, commo- 11, 2008, before plummeting its budget defi cit. Zarembski, senior commodi- dities drop,” said James Hughes, to $32.40 in December of that ties analyst at Optionsxpress analyst at CMC Markets. A year. in Chicago, said. “But traders weakening dollar normally The weak OPEC offi cials meeting in are focusing on the weakness in tends to make commodities Cancun, Mexico will complete Sudan needs the U.S. dollar today, which is priced in the U.S. currency dollar is a two-day meeting against a 100,000 tonnes keeping commodity prices in ge- cheaper for investors holding backdrop of price stabiliza- of sugar neral up”. The dollar fell against other currencies. keeping tion around $80 per barrel, the euro and retreated from a U.S. oil demand in the but showed no signs of clear Sudan’s state sugar three-month high against the past few weeks has posted its commodity consensus on how to respond company on Wednes- yen after data showed the Uni- fi rst year-on-year gain in 18 if prices were to rise further. day said it was plan- ted States shed private sector months, while Chinese imports prices up ning to buy between jobs this month. are surging, refl ecting sustai- 80,000 and 100,000 tonnes of white sugar to fi ll a gap in the local market. The Sudanese Sugar Company (SSC) EU urges responsible farmland told Reuters that recent reports in Sudanese investments in Africa state media that it had already bought 100,000 oreign investors in rea to lease farmland abroad -- development of internatio- increasing food production by tonnes referred to agricultural land in often in Africa -- to secure food nally agreed principles for small-scale farmers in countries old contracts closed developing regions for their populations. responsible investments in at risk, particularly in Africa in 2009/2010. “The Fsuch as Africa must But critics including the EU agricultural land,” said the po- and South Asia, it said. It called company decided to respect local human rights, live- have warned that such deals, licy document on food security for an “ecologically effi cient in- buy some white su- lihoods and resources, the Eu- described by some as land- drawn up by the EU’s executive tensifi cation” of food produc- gar in order to cover ropean Union said in a policy grabbing, are often not trans- European Commission. The tion by smallholder producers, the gap ... Something paper released earlier this week. parent and can compromise paper proposes a new EU po- especially women farmers, like 80,000 to 100,000 Sharp rises in global food the livelihoods of local farmers licy framework for combating by providing better access to not more than that,” prices in 2008 prompted major in developing countries. food security problems in de- resources including land, water, Babiker Rhubshawi, a food importers such as Saudi “The EU and its mem- veloping countries. credit and other agricultural procurement manager Arabia, China and South Ko- ber states should support the Support should focus on inputs. with SSC said. p. 45 [L’EXPRESSYOURSELF Insert N°4 • Friday 2 April 2010 l’express

Spice Garden Hotel : Physical embellishment of the environment. FD Paradise lost - Mark Twain disabused

Every time I drive down in question is squarely adjacent Without them, surely we’d be myriad public institutions, or from Plaines Wilhems towards and juxtaposed to this most surrounded & invaded by now rather the legion of ‘professio- Plaisance Airport, I cannot help important north-south tho- by ugly & squalid slum-like Essential nals’ they employ, really plan being offended by the noisome roughfare. Worse still, the new dystopia! with so much as a scintilla of eyesores, which the long-haul hideously ghastly Rose Belle What is the point I am infrastruc- foresight? The land bordering tourists who paid handsome covered market, which looks making here, apart from the this part of the north-south money to sojourn in Mauri- more like a high-security mili- obvious one of unsightly ‘ru- tural deve- corridor at Rose Belle-New tius for a taste of paradise must tary installation than anything ral concrete sprawl’? We hear Grove belongs to state-owned also gawk at (after landing else, within mere metres of the often that road projects which lopment is entities. Is there any thought at our Third World airport), hard shoulder & guardrail, sets are crucial to alleviating moto- that one day, and at current whilst being driven in the op- another example not to follow. rists’ daily plight of abominable held up for rates of development in all like- posite direction to destination What can you expect of private congestion on mostly all our lihood not so far off, this land to their fi ve-star resorts (now developers when a government roads are delayed for months, years until may be required to enlarge the there’s talk of 7-star opulence & sponsored trust company and if not years, whilst the govern- dual carriageway by adding pampering for those comman- custodian of a huge land bank, ment prosecutes the legal pro- the Courts more lanes to accommodate ding a monthly salary of US$ SIT, sets such examples? For- cess of compulsory acquisition an ever increasing traffi c fl ow, 400,000 & more!). I mean, of tunately for us and for the mil- of the necessary land. The ine- adjudicate. or more aptly described traffi c course, the immodest dwellings lion or so who visit us from vitable disputes and litigation stasis?! Quite clearly & ironi- all along the very edge of the overseas every year, better. which ensue mean that essen- cally, when that day comes, dual carriageway at Rose Belle- Hugely thankful we should be tial infrastructural develop- the government will have to New Grove, which are at best, to our private sugar industry, ment is held up for years until example. The point is that compulsorily acquire the land inchoate, unplastered, unpain- especially the large estates, to the Courts adjudicate. Cases in there is an institution called the which it erstwhile either owned ted, and at worst, decrepit, the gated communities sprou- point are the Phoenix-Beaux Road Development Authority or controlled, directly or indi- distempered & ramshackled. ting everywhere, to the IRS, Songes link road to bypass the (or is it also ‘Company’ now?!), rectly! So much for the effi cient Recently, to my shock & hor- to the high-end coastal resorts bottlenecks of Quatre Bornes- and there are still other institu- Civil Service the incumbent ror, I noticed a billboard the- and to the ecotourism estates La Louise, and the Port Louis tions responsible for planning, Head of the Civil Service and reabouts advertising residential now peppering our landscape, Ring Road to enable north- building and development, Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr. plots of land for sale in the vici- for what they do for physical south traffi c circumventing such as the Ministry of Town & Suresh Seebaluck, referred to nity – I was gobsmacked when embellishment, architectu- the waterfront stricture. The Country Planning, Ministry of in an interview published in I found out that the developer ral coherence & aesthetics, & long-overdue widening of the Works, National Development l’express recently. is the Sugar Investment Trust for environmental upliftment, M1 dual carriageway between Unit, Municipalities & District (SIT) & that the development maintenance & preservation. Trianon & Caudan is another Councils, etc. Does any of these NAP l’express [ Friday 2 April h 2010 • Insert N°4 STRAIGHTTALK] p. 46 The Youth and Politics The young of different political parties share with us their hopes, expectations and analysis of how things are and/or how they should be.

Dead Poets Society

In examining the subject of tech-savvy world as mere ‘mi- twined with a healthy dose of also have young people who are politics and the young, we must grants’. Essentially this means idealism. It is also clear to me, tech-savvy but whose online keep in mind that the youth is as that more and more, today’s that those politicians whose behaviour belongs to the Stone heterogeneous a group as any. youth go through a socialization souls don’t sparkle with idealism Age. One has only to peruse Not surprisingly then, our so- experience almost totally un- are there for the wrong reasons. various social networking sites ciety is characterised by young known to their parents and to If a politician has been there to see that dissent, instead of people who come in a mosaic most politicians of the latter’s ge- long enough to be unable (or being decent and civilized, is of shapes and colours. There neration. Electronic game gad- unwilling) to see the difference expressed in offensive language, are the progressive ones who gets, Facebook, and MSN chats between how things are and how disparaging comments and de- understand what engaged citi- as well as Twitter are uncharted they might be, then it is time to humanizing labeling. Needless zenship means, who know that territory for the elders. The im- make room for more rebellious to say that this is paradoxically at their birth environment does not plication here is not only about souls. It is noteworthy that all odds with the change they wish Nita Deerpalsing necessarily tie them to a pre-cast, a mastery of technology. Many human progress has stemmed to see in the world. stifl ing identity straightjacket, politicians often believe that me- from the unfl inching belief and One of my all time favourite Labour Party there are conservative ones, there rely being at the cutting edge of ability to see “the way things movies is Dead Poets Society. are those who are open-minded technology will engage a young might be”. Mandela, Luther I’ve often thought that if I was and those who are terminally audience. I believe this is a limi- King, Rosa Parks, Gandhi are a school teacher I would have prejudiced, those who are aller- ted view. In my opinion, what the more inspiring examples. a mandatory screening of this gic to politicians as well as those is also important is the ‘unders- In this respect, the youth are movie at the beginning of each who are actively engaged in po- tanding’ of that particular kind a natural fodder for political semester. It encapsulates the litical parties; amongst others. of socialization and a connec- engagement. fundamental stuff of life: who We must therefore be careful tedness with the sub-culture that However, as mentioned we are, how we forge our iden- not to generalise opinions about this socialization entails. above, we must not generalize. tity, how we organize ourselves the youth, the more so when it The other major differentia- It is unfortunately true that we in society, what it means to be pertains to the world of politics. ting factor is a time-immemorial a young Mauritian at a parti- That being said, there are classic: rebellion. Young people cular junction of our nation’s clearly at least two major aspects normally (mildly or strongly) history, how we should and can in which the youth differentiate rebel against the status quo. resist being cardboard cutouts themselves from older genera- Their idealism is charmingly The youth of people’s imagined a-priori. tions. And each of these have yet-untouched by compromises Hmmm… I wonder if I were to important implications in the and they are endowed with a are a natural suggest this in parliament, how way they engage (or not) with refreshing optimism for huma- many would think I’m crazy? politicians. nity. This is where the youth have Too many, probably, would not First is the fact that today’s something to teach all politicians; fodder for be able to appreciate the lear- young, regardless of social class, young or old. And it is also why ning value of being a member are more often than not, ‘natives’ any group – specially politicians political of the Dead Poets Society. Yet in the sphere of technology com- – need to welcome in their midst, Poets, according to Shelley, are pared to their elders who, with those with a natural tendency to engagement. the unacknowledged legislators some effort, are accepted in the dissent. To me, politics is inter- of the world. p. 47 [STRAIGHTTALK Insert N°4 • Friday 2 April 2010 l’express What politics means to me as a young person

We need to differentiate other words, our whole lives. It houses, we are not solving the idealists do. We begin where between the populist and op- is through politics that we can problem that society is produ- young people understand. We portunist politics practiced by change the world. So, we can- cing 50 families that cannot gather people behind what we other parties and the politics not remain indifferent to po- buy a house because their jobs call “transitional” demands, of a party like LALIT. Because litics, especially us, youth. On have been closed down. that means specifi c immediate of the demagogy of these other the contrary, if we are not satis- By contrast, politics can demands that we can see are parties, many young people fi ed with the way we are being look at reality as a whole while realizable today, but that also believe that politics is “dirty”. governed, we must engage in at the same time looking at open up a road map to a bet- They are not totally wrong politics. We must become ac- specifi c problems one by one. ter world tomorrow. Perhaps when you see the corrupt re- tive, and not remain spectators. This is how a political party like the world will never be perfect, lationships many Ministers When enough people become LALIT is challenging the sys- but we can certainly imagine and Members of Parliament conscious actors, then society tem as a whole, while addres- a better world than the night- have with the private sector. can be changed. People need sing day-to-day problems. And mare we are living today. To- Komisyon Zenn There are also political deals to know, to understand how we are not just dreaming like day, we work under oppressive LALIT made with socio-religious or- things work, and why we need conditions, in precariousness. ganizations that lead to com- change. The youth who think Poverty is on the increase. Big munalism. And then there are politics is dirty have an addi- multinational fi rms and private repressive and oppressive laws tional reason to commit them- sector companies pillage the like the Employment Rela- selves to change this. Young globe and are prepared to risk tions Act and the Employment people can bring in more vision ruining mother earth and wrec- Rights Act. But this does not and dynamism through our king human society in their mean that all politics is rotten. participation in understanding quest for profi t, just as they It is only this kind of dema- and getting together to change exploit our bodies and minds gogy that is bad, when before society, to make it more equal. at work putting profi t and pro- elections, they stand on lorries We need to know which forces ductivity before human dignity. and say they are anti-capitalist, will be on the side of change Through politics, through a while as soon as the election is and work with them. program that we together un- forgotten, they act in favour of Why is politics the best way derstand, we can put the pre- the bosses. to change the world? There are sent system into question, while In any case, politics is not some young people who think also developing ideas as to how just in Parliament. Nor is it just that “civil society” is the best We must society can be organized in around the First May meetings, way but, “civil society” really the future in a way that gives which are due soon. Nor is it only works by a means of lob- become us all control over the place we just in an electoral campaign, bying. It is inside the system work and over the resources of like the one coming up. Poli- itself. It aims to rectify one or active and the planet. tics is, in fact, the best way to two wrongs at a time, not put This is the kind of politics change the world. Why? Politics the system itself into ques- LALIT stands for, and that is is what decides on everything, tion. For example, the present not remain why I as a young person am be it the economy, the educa- system generates poverty, it a member. tion system, health care, the en- creates it, just as it creates ine- spectators. vironment, work conditions, in quality. If we give 10 families

For a united and just Mauritius The MMM was born by a main points in our manifesto quick look, there are thousands whether they are from a rich group of young people with a for the coming election is the of school leavers who are wor- or poor family. It will be from youthful vigour tainted with a issue “Law and Order”. king there. It is shocking to see there that knowledge hub will more than healthy dose of ro- Like all the youth in deve- the dramatic brain drain which become a reality. In fact, the manticism. Forty years later, loped countries, we would like our country is facing at the solution is bringing back the the same vigour for a better to have decent jobs with good moment. The operation “leve Obeegadoo Educational re- Mauritius is still well present. career prospects. A lot criti- paké alé” has been a catalyst to form instead of proceeding in The structure of the party is cism was made on cyber city, that. However, the MMM has an untidy piece-meal way like such that we can voice out our “Elephant Blanc”, but after a given a strong positive signal the actual government is doing. expectations to the decision to the youth by allowing young The social and cultural va- makers. This is where the party competent people to stand as lues are fading away among the draws its strength and remains candidates for the coming ge- youth. It is very obvious, ado- in context after decades. neral elections. Together we lescents have satanic tattoos on During the past recent will bring more transparency their bodies their behavior is Jenito Seedoo years, the youth has been ex- so that youth can trust our ins- highly infl uenced in the wrong MMM posed to new scourges like titutions and believe in their way in the absence of pro- gambling, teenage pregnancy, opportunities in our country. per guidance. That is why the rape and the list goes on. One Who we will be tomorrow Obeegadoo reform needs to be quick action will be the closing is what we are learning today. back on track where education down of the gaming houses. As compared to free schoo- is not purely academic but ra- Gambling has become a can- ling, academic education is ther a whole package for a good cer particularly among ado- very costly. The youth wants and responsible citizen. lescents. It is appalling that the an education where they are The youth is looking for a word “Subutex” has become The youth prepared for decision -making Mauritius which is “Uni, Juste, our Mauritian good morning. and facing life safely. We need Propre, Discipliné et démocra- Nothing has been done so far want a safer an educational system where tique”. The MMM is the only and no serious action plan can the word ‘drop-out’ does not party which has the compe- be expected. The youth want fi t, a system where all children tence to give such a Mauritius a safer Mauritius. One of the Mauritius. are equal at the starting block to the growing generation. p. 43 WE MARK THE SPOT] Insert N°4 • Friday 2 April 2010 l’express Living the good life at La Dolce Vita a Dolce Vita is perhaps Do- La Dolce Vita is also a favourite spot maine Les Pailles’ best kept for celebrations, such as birthdays and secret. The idyllic Italian weddings. Many companies choose to Lrestaurant is tucked away celebrate their end of year parties there, in a quiet spot, next to a sparkling particularly because the restaurant is so blue swimming pool framed by trees close to Port Louis. The place can ac- and shrubs. La Dolce Vita (Italian commodate up to 120 guests à la carte for ‘the good life‘) was opened in and up to 250 guests for parties set up 1993 and remains to this day one around the swimming pool. Today, the of the most unique restaurants in restaurant is owned by the State Invest- the Port Louis area. Azam Nasimo- ment Corporation (SIC) and there are hamed, the manager, explains that plans for renovation in the future. on most days their main clientele So what’s on the menu at La Dolce consists of ‘businessmen looking for Vita? A quick look reveals a variety of a break from the concrete jungle of salads, pasta, pizzas and desserts, all ap- the city.’ propriately listed in Italian, English and French. The restaurant’s speciality is the freshly made pasta, like tagliatelle and fettucine, which are prepared each day. Azam Nasimohamed, Manager at La Dolce Vita.

Mr.Nasimohamed points out one of the Prakash RUNJEET favourites on the menu, the ‘Fettucine famous ‘poisson salé’! Azam Nasimoha- life. “La Dolce Vita has a relaxing atmos- verdi spinaci con spada affumicate, pori med explains that all recipes need a per- phere. That for me is the highlight of the e fungi‘. Translation: Spinach pasta with sonal touch and are therefore adapted to place. Where else can you fi nd a restau- smoked marlin, leeks, mushrooms and suit the local context. The restaurant also rant near Port Louis with a swimming creamy sauce. This is just one of many does some Spanish dishes and can pro- pool and trees all around?” says Azam such appetising dishes, and yes, the res- vide other types of European cuisine on Nasimohamed. taurant caters for vegetarians and non- request. The delicious smell of tomatoes, La Dolce Vita is really about living vegetarians alike. cheese and basil wafting through the air the good life. So step out of the routine The menu also holds a few surprises, at La Dolce Vita says volumes about the into a different world for a great meal

P. R like the Pizza Mauriziana. No transla- preparations underway in the kitchen. and maybe a lesson on the history of tion required here. This is the Mauritian Aside from the mouth-watering pizza. And as they say in Italy, Buon pizza, with an unusual local ingredient: food, the restaurant also attracts people Appetito! Fresh pizza and pasta are prepared tomatoes, mozzarella, mushrooms, chilli, because of its beautiful surroundings, everyday. onions, coriander and…salted fi sh, or the which make you feel far away from city Melissa LOUIS

PHOTO OF THE WEEK Naden CHETTY Naden

Xavier Duval, Navin Ramgoolam, Rashid Beebeejaun and Pravind Jugnauth held a press conference on Wednesday to announce the Labour Party-PMSD-MSM alliance. l’express [ Friday 2 April 2010 • Insert N° 4 COVERSTORY] p. 38 Why there will be no legally binding code of conduct

Government has always remained vague on the matter of a legally binding code of conduct. It’s now too late. We explain why it was never in the interest of politicians to vote such a law PHOTO ARCHIVE PHOTO

Voters cast their ballot at an election.

he cat is out of the characterizes elections, where gnauth was simply “unlucky” bag- there will be “sweetening up” potential vo- to have been caught. Every no legally binding ters, is a culture in itself? In a politician knows electoral pro- Tcode of conduct country where the candidates mises are essential rules of the for the elections. who fi nd the most creative electoral game.Outlawing those And no, there has been no ways and means to butter vo- explicitly would have been a statement from “the competent ters up are the ones who would matter of cutting off the nose authorities” to announce the most likely be elected with the to spite the face. news- bad for us, good for po- most votes? But the hints that a code liticians, it goes without saying; In fact, if a referendum of conduct was not to be it’s just rather obvious. were made about a code of were here all along. The Elec- With Parliament standing conduct, it would most likely toral Supervisory Commis- dissolved, there will be no op- be rejected! sion (ESC) and the Electoral portunity to pass an act of Politicians- Prime Minister Commission (EC) have been parliament, as an amendment included- know very well that supposedly working on the to the Representation of the every act done during the elec- elaboration of this code of People Act that will enforce a toral campaign- and viewed conduct for a while now. This code of conduct among candi- with indulgence by the public, is what the Prime Minister an- dates running for offi ce. like giving presents to children nounced in Parliament in July Should this surprise one? the way Honourable Nita Dee- last year and it was still the of- Absolutely not. In fact, it is the rpalsing did recently, could ve- fi cial stand of the ESC a few thought that politicians wanted ry well fall into the defi nition of days ago. to vote a law that would poten- a violation of the code. Hence How come this exercise tially incriminate most of them, the diffi culty. took so long when in March in the fi rst place that should That’s why Ashock Ju- 2008, the ESC was able to “Sweetening have surprised us. gnauth’s condemnation by come up with a relatively de- No code of conduct was the Supreme Court- fur- cent code of ethics in a matter up” poten- introduced in Parliament and ther confi rmed by the Privy of weeks- the minute in fact subsequently voted for the Council- in fact unsettled most that Prime Minister Ramgoo- tial voters, simple reason that it benefi ted politicians, regardless of what lam announced the date of the no politician, least of all, the might have been said publicly by-elections? Prime Minister. by Jugnauth’s political oppo- The difference of course is a culture Where does corruption be- nents. In truth, privately most lies in the very nature of the gin and where does it end in a admitted that the ruling was code- or rather that it’s a code in itself country where “labous dou” “unfair” and that Ashock Ju- and not part of a law. p. 39 [COVERSTORY Insert N°4 • Friday 2 April 2010 l’express

This latest development sion report.” Yet, another report On a practical level, this spells speaks volumes about the se- that will not be implemented nightmares. riousness with which the ESC because its implications are Short of assigning one High-Heeled] and EC were actually working “complex”, according to Navin policeman to each and every By Deepa BHOOKHUN on the code as well as the im- Ramgoolam. candidate who takes part in portance government gave to To be fair, there was no the elections, a legally binding the idea of a code of conduct. express promise made that code of conduct would be vio- Who Already in July last the code of ethics would be lated every minute the electoral year, Prime Minister Navin adopted. In fact, Prime Mi- campaign lasted. Ramgoolam, suitably vague, nister Ramgoolam expressed Last but certainly not prevails on said in Parliament that the ESC doubts about the implementa- least, a legally binding code and the EC were “giving fur- tion of a legally binding code of of conduct would have had to the P.M.? ther consideration to the code conduct. He was not the only address the issue of political fi - of conduct and its application”. one to say this- it’s also Elec- nancing and restrain it. The devil, they say, is in the detail. When pressed with questions toral Commissioner Irfan Rah- And nobody wants that, do A small detail from Wednesday’s events- the by Paul Bérenger, Ramgoolam man’s stand on the matter. they? Prime Minister who often prides himself on keeping said in the defense of the ESC, Had a code of conduct his word- and it’s generally true bearing in mind “it was a part-time commission been voted into a law, it would he’s a politician- says at eight o’clock on Wednesday and it had to give priority to the have meant that the police night that he will take questions from the press after Electoral Boundaries Commis- would have had to enforce it. Deepa BHOOKHUN his press conference held at the Labourdonnais. When the much awaited time comes, the Prime Minister, slightly apologetic, says that on second Ways to strengthen a democracy and alienate politicians thoughts, he won’t be taking any questions but he will be very happy to oblige on Saturday when he The country regularly holds The MSM, on the other hand, illegal or unethical behaviour will hold another press conference with his allies. free and fair elections. Ergo, it’s has been refreshingly candid and it punishes those who have Obviously somebody has prevailed on Navin a vibrant, healthy democracy, about its opposition to change. broken the law. An atmosphere Ramgoolam; it could in fact be any one of his three right? Wrong! A summary pe- Whichever approach you es- of impunity and a lack of enfor- “colleagues”, as he referred to them Wednesday rusal of the Africa Governance pouse, it’s glaringly obvious cement encourage a climate of night. Report shows just how depre- that electoral reform is far from corruption and mediocre per- ciative this assumption is. Ac- being at the top of anyone’s list formance. Rashid Beebeejaun, although he appealed to the cording to the report produced of priorities. In a climate such as this, there “honesty” of journalists- whatever that means- I by the United Nations Econo- Another way of reinforcing the is little incentive for electoral mean it’s a weird feeling, receiving lessons in ho- mic Commission for Africa democratic process is to intro- administrators, election offi cers nesty from a politician- is a man who will refuse (UNECA) in 2004, “There duce a legally-binding electoral or candidates to follow rules to speak to you if you dare say or write one word are concerns that some of the code of conduct guiding “elec- or play fair. Ongoing enforce- against him, who thinks that a good journalist is a countries under review will toral administrators, election ment is an important priority journalist who is unquestionably in awe of him. retain the outward semblance offi cers, candidates, parties in rooting out corruption from The same is true for Xavier Duval even if he of democracy (such as regular and all participants”. To get an the election process, bringing expresses his displeasure with journalists diffe- elections) without deepening idea of what such a code entails those responsible to swift and rently- he will smile at you but will consistently re- and strengthening the contents we need look no further than sure justice and maintaining a fuse to submit himself to an interview and answer and practices of a democratic South Africa. Its electoral code sense of trust in the system.” your questions- questions of national interest, I system”. of conduct stipulates, amongst Naturally, different countries might add. The document also illustrates other things, that “no person have different ways of enforcing Pravind Jugnauth is another ballgame altogether. just how averse the Mauritius may induce or reward a per- the rules. In New Zealand, for This is a man who while he is not even an elected political class is to the idea of son: to join or not join a part; instance, the police are entrus- member of Parliament, decides to boycott the most “deepening and strengthe- to attend or not to attend a ted with investigating breaches read newspaper in the country because he’s unhappy ning” our democracy. Two is- public meeting […]; to vote or of the code of conduct, whereas with the newspaper’s estimate of his political crowd, sues exemplify this. Firstly, let’s not to vote in a particular way”. in Mexico, a special prosecutor whose men demonstrate in front of Radio One, bur- take electoral reform. Despite In Mauritius, such rules would fulfi lls this task. The question ning a copy of l’express while others throw stones at paying an immense amount seem distinctly anathema. begs: if Mauritius does ever de- the window of the radio, cursing and threatening. of lip service to the need to do Yet, as the Electoral Knowledge cide to create a code of conduct So, the million-dollar question- who prevailed on away with the arcane Best Lo- Network rightly notes, laws are who will enforce it? These ques- Navin Ramgoolam? ser System, neither the MMM worth nothing if they are not tions concern us all. Perhaps it’s nor Labour has actually walked enforced. “Enforcement is a de- time we began asking them. Hard to tell. In fact, since Wednesday’s an- the walk of electoral reform. terrent to those contemplating Nicholas RAINER nouncement that the Labour Party has ceded 18 of its tickets to the MSM, it’s been hard to deci- pher anything. Ramgoolam’s strategy seems at fi rst sight to be one of self-fl agellation but what is he punishing him- self for? Otherwise why would a man who was easily the most popular politician in the country and who would most likely have won the elections if he had gone alone, accept a deal that makes of him the loser and of his newest ally, the winner? Why give legitimacy to a politician who had none, who couldn’t even get elected without the Labour party’s support? Why accept a deal that gives the Labour party in the unlikely probability that all of his 35 candidates are returned, not even a majority in Parliament? Why would a clever and intelligent person like Ramgoolam decide to set the scene for fi ve years of having to constantly look behind his back? Somebody prevailed on him, obviously. Unless of course, Ramgoolam has a secret strategy that none of us so far has been able to comprehend. But the Prime minister said he would answer all PHOTO ARCHIVE PHOTO those questions on Saturday. Unless of course, he is A strong police presence on polling day. prevailed upon once again! l’express [ Friday 2 April 2010 • Insert N° 4 p. 48 [Book review Disturbing Questions The Pact, a brilliant psycho- was with her at the time, claims Jodi Picoult has been logical drama by Jodi Picoult, is that he killed her as part of a sui- writing since 1992, andd The one of those books that can chill cide pact and the next bullet was Pact (1998) was her fi fth you to your very soul, without any meant for him… novel. On her website,, sshehe horror, or supernatural beings. It But why is Chris still alive? This describes it as ‘the bbookook is simply the story of human re- very fact destroys the friendship that put me on the literaryrary lationships and how they can go between their parents. Meanwhile, map as a writer.’ The book horribly wrong when faced with the police refuse to believe Chris’s has a little bonus at the the ultimate tragedy. story and the young man is impri- end, in the form of an iin-n- Those who have read other soned and put on trial in a riveting terview with Jodi Picoultoult books by the best-selling American and powerful courtroom scene that on her inspiration for the author, will know that she weaves leads to an astonishing end. book, and the researchrch her stories around relationships, From start to fi nish, the reader she conducted, whichch particularly the bonds between is taken through a series of fl ash- took her from group dis-is- parents and their children. In The backs that help us discover Emily cussions with teenagers,rs, CHETTY :Naden Photo Pact, Picoult raises the disturbing (who is already dead when the no- to a minimum securityty question that no parent ever wants vel begins) and her relationships jail, to a court. The de-e- to ask: do we ever really know our with Chris and her parents. The tails of Chris’s impris-s- children at all? clarity with which Picoult manages onment, such as gettingg The novel focuses on the Hartes to show us the world through the a jail tattoo, are all thee and the Golds, two families who eyes of this troubled young girl is result of Picoult’s one-- have been neighbours and best impressive. Her portrayal of Chris to-one conversationss friends for 18 years. Their children, makes it impossible for the rea- with inmates. This, and Chris and Emily have grown up to- der to decide whether he is telling countless other detailsls gether, and when their friendship the truth. Jodi Picoult never gives make The Pact a vivid anandd bebeliev-liev- andand as dde-e- turns into romance, their parents too much information right away, able story. scribedib d bby the h DDaily il MMail, il ‘Y‘You will ill are thrilled. Then one night a call ensuring that the suspense builds The Pact is a must for anyone fi nd this novel impossible to put comes from the hospital saying up throughout the course of the who loves to immerse themselves down.’ that Emily is dead from a gunshot book, and never drops until the last in an amazing book. It is intensely wound to the head, and Chris, who few pages. moving and thought provoking, Melissa LOUIS.

Kreol korner]

Pena kata-kata = there’s no fuss This evocative expression owes its fame to the President of the Republic, Anerood Jugnauth, who was fond of using it when he was Prime minister to convey a sense of fi rmness and decisiveness on whichever issue was the order of the day. And it worked. His leadership style was refreshing in that he wasn’t one to fuss over things and all his decisions were fi nal. “Ar mwa pena kata-kata”(I’m not one to fuss) he was known to say in his uniquely melodic lilt. N.R