Alain Jeannot
12 March 2008
Port Louis — I am not superstitious but there are coincidences that call upon my attention sometimes. I call them the sign of the times. Let's take the 40th anniversary of my dear country's independence, for instance. It's indeed an event of great importance, which strangely enough matches with other no less significant anniversaries divisible by five.
Was it not in 1598 - 410 years ago - that Dutch admiral, Van Warwyk, took possession of the island for Maurice de Nassau and named it Maurice? Was it not in 1638 - 370 years ago - that the same Dutch decided to settle on the island, becoming the first nation to do so?
This Dutch part of our history is often underestimated, most probably because they left no diaspora on the island. Yet, on the occasion of our 40th anniversary as a nation, it would be wise to draw some invaluable lessons from their passage.
First, we have to thank them for that beautiful name, which is today synonym of a great paradisiacal destination. Second, we should not forget they introduced sugar cane. Curiously enough, the first official birth registration on the island was that of Simon Van der Stel, son of governor Adrian Van Der Stel, who had brought sugar to Mauritius on board the ship Le Cappel a couple of weeks earlier. Is this "sign of the times" not showing us that we are viscerally linked to sugar cane ? Is it not telling us we should materialise fast other avenues of sugar cane exploitation such as ethanol production to encourage sugar planters to pursue the enterprise that binds us to our soil?
Third, the extinction of the dodo under Dutch occupation, which has been a world-wide eye opener on ecological issues should call upon our sense of respect to the environment. We should be very careful in respecting the balance between economy and ecology and realise that, unless we treat our nature well, it may die forever. Do we not refer to the saying "as dead as the dodo" when we refer something forever lost?
Fourth, the Dutch experience demonstrates that, unless there is a right balance between male and female population, the social fabric is bound to unweave. One reason why they failed was the low percentage of female settlers on the island. Absence of leadership and degradation of law and order also contributed to their failure in colonizing the island.
Another striking coincidence is the fact that Israel is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its existence as an independent nation in the same year that we are commemorating our 40th year of nationhood. What I think worth retaining from their experience is the contribution of the Hebrew language in the binding of a people previously spread all over the planet into a nation.
Moreover, saying the same prayer "Listen O Israel" might have helped a dispersed people understand each other as a nation. Has the time not come for us to identify common cultural interests and promote them to strengthen our sense of belonging to the Mauritian nation?
It is also quite compelling that this year we remember the regrettable assassinations of Martin Luther King and Gandhi who fell on the battleground 40 years and 60 years ago respectively. These commemorations should draw our attention on the importance of truth and non violence while prompting us to reject all extremism and racism.
In this most auspicious year, College St Esprit also celebrates its 70th anniversary. Oh, great college, I personally owe a lot to your global education. May you continue on your track in providing an education with a human face and may the holy spirit, as your very name suggests, light up the heart of your educators and students hence contributing to the welfare of the nation.
I am also happy Sister Emmanuelle, one of France's most beloved figure and great defender of the poor and destitute will turn 100 on this auspicious year. Is this coincidental event not trying to call upon more dedication to the love and consideration for our fellow citizens on our 40th anniversary of nationhood?
Long live our Mauritius! Happy anniversary my dear country.
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