Port Louis — This week, our guests have been invited to comment on the first hundred days of the new government. One of them sees it as "forlorn and in sulky mood", another uses a nice sporting metaphor to introduce a hymn of praise for it. The others fall somewhere in between... and even add a touch of humour to the debate.

Not even half time left

By Ashvin LUXIMON, Barrister

Much is being said about the first 100 days of this present government. True to say that there is a new crew on board, however, there is one essential element which many seem to ignore: there has been no change of captain! Having said this, it cannot be said that the first 100 days have been a non event as some are trying to make us believe. The mission undertaken by the Honourable Prime minister in 2005 to bring us home has suffered no waiver and what follows are concrete examples of that: The Prime Minister's Office: It is the first time that an adviser has been appointed to the PMO to give a new dimension to culture and advise on cultural matters. This is setting the pace for a new mindset for Mauritians in respect of arts and culture, a field where we have been lagging behind for decades Finance minister: Specific measures to combat the euro crisis have been set out and these are only a stepping stone towards the forthcoming budget.

Many of these measures such as the proposed writing off of loans for SME's by the DBM and the possibility for hotels to resort to the HIS scheme to sell their rooms are in line with the government's policy of the democratization of the economy. Minister of Poverty and Empowerment Programme: An expert has been recruited by the National Empowerment Foundation to look into ways to fight against poverty. The building of houses for low income groups is high on the cards and the CSR scheme is given dimension at all levels. Minister of Commerce: There have been much criticism, warranted or not, against the taking over of the STC over the years. With the appointment of Megh Pillay as Managing Director, there is a clear intention to ensure that STC delivers the goods!

Minister of Labour: He has shown much enthusiasm to protect workers and he will see to it that the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act in respect of safety of workers are strictly adhered to. The agreement signed by the MSPA and the workers of the industry is also part and parcel of his "trophies", though the Prime Minister gave a clear public indication of what was expected from the MSPA.

The ministers of Health and of the Environment have also started on a good note. There has been a prompt intervention to prevent an increase in H1N1 fl u and today the figures for in- and out- patients suffering from that disease have decreased significantly. The minister of Environment, on the other hand, is looking into the possibility of legislation to prevent pollution by fumes.

Treading carefully

One would not expect the minister of Foreign Affairs to stay in Mauritius and exercise his function as such. There is probably a need to give more exposure on the local front to the role and contribution of the Ministry in international forums and debates.

The minister of Local Government has embarked on a project to harmonize various Local Government Laws and in the same breath the several Municipal and District Councils.

Minister of Tourism: He is looking for new markets - India and China amongst others. When we consider the purchasing capacity of a large chunk of the Indian population, it is indeed disappointing that Mauritius only welcomes 40,000 to 50,000 Indian tourists annually. There must be something rotten in the "State of Denmark" as Shakespeare would say! So, it stands to reason apart from the sun, sea and sand, there is a need for reinvention and this is exactly what the present Minister is up to.

Attorney General: He is treading carefully since we are talking about legislation which is subject to evaluation and criticism by the judiciary at any time. The facilitation of divorce proceedings by mutual consent and the translation of the Civil Code into English are commendable endeavours.

Time and time again, it has been said that a government should be judged after a full mandate. The comments being published in some of the papers in relation to the first 100 days are not a novelty. It is only a repetition of what we have seen in the past! And despite all this, at the end of the day, however, didn't the team led by the captain win the finals!

And the title will be his for a period of five years whether we like it or not!!

In a lighter vein

By Dan BUNDHOO, Member of Democracy Watch

First time in our history we have a concrete " bilan" in the garb of 100 measures. Much better than the not-so successful "sanz ou lavi dan 100 zours".

Good old wine in a new bottle, labeled ERCP. Produced by the same factory and the same winemaker.

Must have worked really hard- creating one measure each and every day. His equals, the other stalwarts who have been working hard too. Each one in his own style and at his own pace. According to public opinion, which is always unfair and cruel, they can be classified in 4 categories:

The Dare Devils:

Two samples. Here is one who got excited. He dared. Also bared and flexed his scanty muscles but what he ultimately showed was disgustingly small, as result. If he perseveres, he can honorably replace

our badly missed folkloric national entertainer, who did not manage to get a ticket during the last elections. Then there is this young and brilliant one who thinks he is the natural successor of Lucky Luke moves faster than his shadow shoots at everything that moves. Will soon get tired. We too. But both are good-natured and honest guys.

The Wait and See Experts

They are misfits. Their mediocrity did not prevent them from inheriting a large domain. Because they have other qualifications. They may find themselves on the list of endangered species in case of reshuffl e- if ever there is one in the kingdom of lethargy.

The Ever Absent ones

They are too discreet because they don't know much. They have much difficulty growing their little feet to fit the XL shoes they have grabbed. We have nearly forgotten their names. Worse we have also forgotten the names of their territories.

The Business as usual Type

They got domains they are used to. Busy completing unfinished jobs. They are stable and we feel secure. Unfortunately they are not many.

What about the Wonder Girls?

They are only three but all combined they can represent all the four categories mentioned above. Quite a feat. But better leave them untouched. The law of the land about eve teasing is harsh. But the first 100 days also deserve a serious analysis.

Apparently this tradition of 100 days of grace started from the time of Napoleon. This is the time when government is left undisturbed to sow their seeds and nurture the sprouts which will become fruit trees for the benefit of the people during their mandate. In the meantime Opposition is supposed to sharpen its weapons, to develop strategies of war and the tactics of battles.

It is unfair to expect a "bilan" of action in a period of 100 days. What is expected is a series of strong signals. They can augur well or not so well. We expected a few signals for events to come. Has anybody caught any concerning the following: drugs, law and order, national debt, gambling? Are we getting confusing messages such as the creation of a fully-fl edged ministry for the alleviation of poverty and at the same time the eviction of squatters in a rough manner? We have the leaders we deserve. If only they did walk their talk.

A forlorn government

By Lindsey COLLEN, Member of Lalit

From the moment of their victory, the new Labour-MSMPMSD Government has looked forlorn. Even depressed. Navin Ramgoolam clearly wanted a near 60-0 result, but didn't get it. He blames the press for pretending the election was a close thing when it wasn't. So, the first 100 days saw antagonism a-plenty between government and press.

At the same time, Labour has been resentful towards the MMM instead of magnanimous in victory. There has been friction between Labour agents and the MSM, a "greedy" ally. But, MSM minister Soodhun has tied himself in knots around the Mangalore contract and the STC, while another MSM minister, Ms Hanoomanjee, could not quite get her head around keeping figures for cases of fl u low "because of tourism" while also needing to explain away the number of deaths. Rama Valayden has been putting out his own private communiqués even though he is Secretary General of the PMSD, while Xavier Duval has been demoted from running the country from his throne as minister of Tourism to fighting the odd "pocket of poverty", even as the system produces layers upon layers of newly impoverished families.

So, in Government, they are all pretty sulky. Their first 100 days has been a sad one, lost in the doldrums of regrets. Strange. You would never have thought they had won a two thirds majority.

What has not been done has stood out more than what has been done. Which is not, as we shall see, always a bad thing. The process of electoral reform has not begun. Only the threat of a committee of "experts" that will come up with proposals for some vague "second republic" or "new constitution".

Lord preserve us, with such an open-ended agenda, from the kind of change we can expect under the present negative balance of class forces. Inaction would be better than, say, strengthening the private property clauses or entrenching the death penalty.

The process of introducing the mother tongue in schools has not started either. Government is more interested in the mother tongue as an "optional subject" in schools - to be discussed in a future conference.

Agricultural diversification has remained marginal, even as the cane industry collapses, even after closing down 45,000 jobs in the countryside over the last decade or two.

The UN General Assembly has not been called to support a case for the retrocession of Diego Garcia at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, nor have UN Inspections under the Pelindaba Treaty for a Nuclear Arms Free Africa been requested yet. Navin Ramgoolam has only spoken of some "confidential" strategy. As if he could steal Diego Garcia back from the UK and the US in secret. And talking about "secrets", the first 100 days has been characterized by Government having a "secret" Minister of Finance. We do not know what he was doing, if anything.

A veneer of legitimacy

We know that the MSM and the media were locked in mortal combat even after the peak of hostilities at the siege of Radio One, so the private media covered nothing on the Finance minister. But, the big question is: why did the MBC also keep him "secret"? Only on Day 101 did he come out of hiding with his "Economic Restructuring and Competitiveness Package", as the Euro crisis hit tourism and textiles, thus threatening the employment still left in the country.

The answer to the riddle of the hidden Finance minister lies partly, of course, in the tendency for the Prime Minister to be more and more like a president or even a king. And although this king cried, "Off with his head!" before elections when he called for the death penalty to be reintroduced, he has luckily not done that in his first 100 days.

Ministers and nominees continue to bow down low, droning out the mantra: "Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Navinchandra Ramgoolam," as an introduction to whatever they say. Now, even trade unionists do it. Which leads to one thing the government has done: it has successfully maneuveredunion bureaucrats into granting a veneer of "legitimacy" to the new "Employment Relations Act" and its institutions. Ramgoolam's nominee at the head of the "Commission for Conciliation and Mediation" under the EReA, Prof. Torul, has even become their hero. So, the Prime Minister tries to stay "popular", while his ministers take the rap. And just as any unpopular measures were blamed on Rama Sithanen before the last elections, so new ones will no doubt be blamed on Pravind Jugnauth who has come out of hiding after 100 days. But the season of crises in capitalism that has produced this forlorn government is not yet over. Far from it.

3 down, 57 to go

By Michael ATCHIA, Member of Democracy Watch

A United Nations model I am familiar with provides for evaluations (for example of projects or of trainees) after three months, one year, two years and five years. The first evaluation (i.e. after three months) tests seriousness of purpose: - have all actions been designed? planned? built-up? Have the funds and partners been not only identified but contracted and got on board? Have all possible constraints to the successful completion of the project (assume it's a five-year project) been identified and addressed? Most importantly, have the best, most appropriate people been recruited, on the basis of secured funds and has the most essential of all parameters (the calendar of actions) been fully agreed upon, finalized? Has the implementation started as per calendar?

Finally in a changing world, have the actions/partners/ calendar the necessary flexibility to take on board new events/factors/persons? Now what about the 2010-15 Ramgoolam Government? The election manifesto can be taken as being its blueprint. The driving force is the council of ministers. The partners(as per manifesto and declaration from the leader) being the best brains and skills we have in this country, all key institutions, all NGOs, all citizens without exclusions. Together with, here and there, external consultants as required.

Are these things happening? Is the absolute promise made by the leader of the winning Alliance after the results (i.e. to govern for the benefit of ALL) being refl ected in the reality of this government's decision making? For sure, handing out positions and posts as recompense for those who « helped us get elected » is counter- productive in the endeavour of moving this country forward. It is an observed fact that anyone nominated to a post (be it that of Chair of a parastatal to that of hospital gardener) who thinks that this is his/her reward for past services, is inclined to complacency worse, to feeling above the law, above accountability!

To what extent have such mis-assignments and nepotism been occurring during these first three months, a key period for nominations and installations? After only one-twentieth of the mandate, some dead-wood which has crept in may be with us for another 57 months, unless replaced, now, remembering that this country's best competencies do not come from only one preferred community or party.

A new vision

Some complex, urgent issues require an integrated approach (in some cases joint action by multiple ministries), issues such as poverty eradication, the transition from dependence on fossil fuel to renewable energy, maintaining law, order and peaceful living, education and formation which meets the needs of the present and future world, electoral reforms, building codes and open land-allocation procedures. Ministries and institutions, here and elsewhere, find it easier to continue with business as usual than embark upon radical reform, absolutely necessary for us to survive the climate, energy, social and economic crises that are coming.

Thus during its first three months, this Government's actions (as known to the public) appear timid and slow. If serious policy statements and action plans on transportation, on energy, on economic survival and recovery have been prepared it's high time these be made public, with full calendars of implementation. For example we are still tendering for dieselpowered electricity generators and planning to avert a looming energy crisis with coal-powered generators. Wasn't the winning alliance called l'Avenir? So, where is the new vision?

Let us end with a comment on one good initiative, namely the decision from the Council of Ministers on Friday 13th August 2010 to institute a planning and implementation unit in every ministry. An excellent tool of governance provided competent cadres are found and enabled to do such a task.