Pauline ETIENNE
11 January 2008
column
Port Louis — To attract investors and visitors, there is no better recipe than to take good care of a country's image. There is no possible debate on this issue. The problem is that intentions are not enough to show this good image; concrete actions should follow with tangible results. This is not what can be seen at the moment
While the government is delighted with the economic indicators on the rise and the arrival of new investors, there is a danger that this situation does not last in the long run in view of the bad publicity Mauritius has been facing recently.
How many attacks on tourists have we been hearing about over the past few days? Too many, certainly. These people have probably come to Mauritius because they heard about the paradise island with top quality service that would make unforgettable holiday memories They were not fooled. Mauritius is a dream place to spend great holidays. Except that the police appear to have increasing difficulty dealing with robbery cases and attacks on both local citizens and tourists. As a result, these people will just leave the country hastily and certainly relate their story to their friends and relatives We just can't have a grudge against these poor traumatised people!
The ministry of Tourism was right in taking measures to try and protect the most prosperous sectors of the economy. But the police must play their role and make sure that all people residing in this country for a short time or permanently feel safe.
Unfortunately, our visitors are not the only ones to have a bad image of the country at the moment. The great majority of Americans might not even know what Mauritius is and where it is located but they may have learnt about it in the news lately. An article in a daily paper mentions Mauritius as a "hub" for the trafficking of fake medicines. It is true that the term "hub" had become almost ridiculous during the Bérenger era when he wanted to make of Mauritius a hub for every sector of the economy But I am sure he did not expect an illegal hub to boom!
Of course the government is not responsible for the illegal acts committed by its citizens. But they must set the barriers that would prevent the black sheep of some institutions from closing their eyes when they see illegal trafficking taking place under their eyes.
The Air Mauritius embezzlement case is in Court at the moment and the main witness for the prosecution is chucking the names of some of the most important personalities of the state - some of whom still hold jobs with important responsibilities. Maybe this could have been avoided if there had been a clear policy on the funding of political parties.
I am well aware that politicians can't be held responsible for everything that goes wrong in the country. But our reputation is at stake and institutions must be made as professional, efficient and transparent as possible to reduce the risk of being faced with such bad publicity in the future.
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