15 August 2007
opinion
Port Louis — "I love Mauritius and was very proud to wear the colours of this country in the mountain city of Pavullo, south of Modena, August 7, as my navigating wife Mary-Rose Easton and I went on the podium of the "Wheels and Wings"-Classic Car competition there, ranking second overall!
In Mauritius, I found very friendly people, good food and my wife. It is a beautiful island, with nice smiling inhabitants. I have established links with this country as far as 20 years back. In that span I have seen many improvements. But everything has not evolved for the best. While I think the greatest asset here is the gentleness of people, I witness fewer smiles around, more stress. To maintain that high spirit, there should be more opportunities for everyone.
For me, Mauritius has been, and still remains a land of opportunities. We should not miss them. For example, we have got the perfect conditions to build a car race track for Formula one teams that want to test their equipment during the off season (October to January): wherever climate, geography (flat land almost at sea level). This is what Malaysia does and what South Africa did. This would also attract plenty of people.
I do think that Mauritius' potential towards tourists does not only reside in beaches. The island by large should be seen as an asset. One thing I regret is the relative scarcity of places where tourists can mix with locals. Though the situation has improved, we still hardly have places were "Mauritians hang out".
"I also spent 30 years in the ceramic trade. I can say that I have a little idea of the subject. I can give advice for the choice of goods of what is or not reliable. If the only products that reach us are chosen by improvised traders without the know how, we are taking the risk to end like the yard in which everything is being dumped. If a company wants exclusivity, and is prepared to make a big investment for that, it is to be able to sell it. And the Mauritian market is restricted. Now when you have people on the road selling the same products at cheaper prices, it may sound good. But it just kills the market, and those who can offer service, either in advice or after sale".
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