Blog: Our Democracy’s Failure to face Hijacks

We are living odd times of unnecessary insecurity. We have a long way to go before the next elections, and just as the MMM would wish if it had been in power, a government with a clear mandate must be given the deserved freedom to complete and fulfil the covenant made with the people. Power in a civilised society cannot be the mistress whom all men ogle at. It has to be won at the cost of democratic means by validity of one's programme and winning their approval.

Why should it not be true for this government? The self destructiveness of alliances or coalitions must end with greater responsibility of partners, with shared seriousness of purpose and consensus over major concerns of the country. How often will the people be held a hostage of their choice at the time of elections? Our votes are being mocked at, turned into ridicule because we are powerless against parties made up of megalomaniacs who will interrupt the running of any government because the greatest faults found are the rise of rates of utilities, the fact that there are drug addicts in the country, that cooking gas costs Rs 30 more.

There is poverty in this country. Is there a country that has a poverty alleviation programme more comprehensive than Mauritius? The Social Welfare budget has multiplied two fold during the past decade. Our budget makes a case in favour of a Corporate Social Responsibility.

Private companies whose existence has since independence been viewed as parasitical and greedy of lucrative business have become benevolent and built houses for the poor, have integrated their business projects with the welfare of the poor because a healthy economy is oppressive if it is not inclusive. Nowhere is there a more humane approach to poverty as this country shows to the world.

Why is there any need to have elections before the end of this government's mandate? Is it because of corruption? The more we combat corruption, the stronger do the enemies of the country become. The threat that the venal robbers of the state and the perpetrators of robbery at all levels are the same who cause the rot, decay and collapse of every party. They are found on both sides of our political players.

The hike of prices cannot be a credible cause for change of government. Our economy is dependent on external markets which determine our prices. We shall not be hoodwinked by these stunts conducted to please the illiterate and the ignorant.

Why is there such impatience of the opposition with the conquest of power?

Why can't the opposition which swears by the name of democracy, believe in this very democracy by playing its assigned role as opposition while allowing government to do its job?

Why does the opposition have to cry 'wolf' by concocting lies like the imminent fall of government, the passing of the vote of no confidence which will prove Ramgoolam wrong, by luring those in the Labour Party who have had a reprehensible past of crossing the floor as though once a traitor was always a traitor?

Is political life a joke for which politicians invent stunts that will prove to be false when they are submitted to the test of reality?

This is the dilemma of representative democracy. By handing over power to representatives and consequently abdicating from our responsibility, we open avenues for gross abuse of trust. The people, we, are participating in the kidnapping of our freedom and we are made to pay a heavy ransom of tolerating repeated versions of the same act of deception stunt after stunt. We seem to be condemned to the dance of stultifying agents who think politics can become a game for silly brats.