Ahmad Macky
24 August 2007
Port Louis — The cost of living is soaring as a result of the steep rise in world oil prices. Forecasts are that crude oil may soar to $100 per barrel by next year. There is nothing much the government can do to curtail the price hikes given our vulnerability as a non-oil producing poor country. Yet the provision of a safety net for those living below the poverty line is an imperative need.
In real terms the percentage of such people approximates 50% of the population. But subsidies are a temporary measure.
The problem of poverty can only be solved by expanding production and productivity. Meanwhile, the system of across-the-board subsidies could be restructured for the deserving only. If such revision is made on rational and not on political grounds, the quantum of subsidies to the needy could be increased to meet the rising living costs.
Raising labour productivity involves the application of higher technology in industry and agriculture. The government should increase allocations for research and development and our scientists and technologists should be encouraged to innovate and develop.
It is high time that we depend less on foreign expertise and harness more local expertise. Unfortunately local experts have had to emigrate seeking greener pastures in view of hazardous local working conditions.
Needless to say all this requires a serious and cleaner government. There is much wastage in government-too many "tamasas", unnecessary reliance on foreign expertise, political cronyism, unproductive use of human resources, ostentation of ministers, higher bureaucrats, and too many foreign trips
We have a jumbo cabinet and its fertility rate is high so that we could expect it to be higher in the future. Though local district councils were established to devolve power and make governance cheaper and closer to the people, the center is clinging on to power in many areas of governance.
It is claimed that local councils do not have power in certain avenues to appoint people unless they get the green light from the central government. The result has been duplication of action and expenses.
Transparency International in a survey recently published has rated our corruption as high. Its survey has given another dent to our reputation. Political interference, official indifference, public apathy and judicial flaws have virtually crippled the anti-corruption drive.
What is needed is an alternative policy that is pro-poor, development oriented and independent. The much promised human face of liberal economic strategies has so far only aggravated poverty and income disparities rather than narrowing the gap between the haves and the have-nots.
It is necessary to harness the entrepreneur skills of our people and assure their participation in development. The top-down approach in policy formulation should be reversed to transform it into bottom-up.
Whatever development envisaged or achieved would be brought to naught if no negotiated solution is found for the national question. Hence, speedy resumption of talks and search for a solution within a united Mauritius has become a pre-requisite number one for real development.
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