Pauline ETIENNE
13 September 2007
editorial
Port Louis — Beyond the supposed "hidden agenda" of those protesting against the lease of Ilot Gabriel, mentioned by the PM last Sunday, there are other implications that are frightening. Navin Ramgoolam chose to draw the debate on ethnic grounds - after all, it might be his own perception of the situation.
What I consider, however, even more serious is that the PM of all Mauritians talks of "our people" when he wants to target a certain community only. This is dangerous and does not speak highly of his office, supposed to be well above such considerations.
Although it is no secret that almost every political party relies on such supports to be elected, we could at least hope that such considerations would calm down when a party leader becomes the leader of the whole country. How naïve I must have been! But how disappointing it is to see that all this has only been a dream that the Mauritian PM can represent all "its people". If he has made such a speech, it is only because he knew that such racist arguments are still relevant today. There is no doubt he knew it was still "biting" in 21st century Mauritius.
The PM even afforded to shower the president of the Republic with praise by recalling how important his actions have been for the development of the country. Some may see in that gesture better relationships between the PM and the President; others may even see a rapprochement of the Labour with the MSM. What I personally see is a way of winning more people of a certain group of the population over to his cause.
Once again, MP Eric Guimbeau came in the forefront to denounce the attitude of Navin Ramgoolam whom he said "is playing a dangerous game". The Parti Mauricien Social Democrate (PMSD) MP will most certainly continue to voice out his concerns on the air of all radios over the coming days. He will even, as he "warned", raise the issue in Parliament as soon as it starts sitting again in November. And then? And then he will keep sitting on the majority benches while insisting he is not comfortable with some of the government's stands.
We do not need that kind of speech anymore. What we really need is strong actions that may lead to real awareness from the public. It is only if the population stops playing the game of country and party leaders that we can hope for a more homogeneous society. Mauritius is a melting pot with people having different rituals, traditions and culture. This does not mean that we have to erase all our differences to borrow one unique identity; we would certainly lose a lot of our special cachet then. But the PM has the duty of making sure that those differences do not jeopardise the peace and unity of our rainbow nation.
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