Echos de la campagne électorale a Maurice

1. LE 23 AOUT – JOURNEE INTERNATIONALE DU SOUVENIR DE LA TRAITE NEGRIERE

Ce 23 Aout la communauté internationale est appelée à dedier ce jour au souvenir de la Traite Négrière . La traite négrière est le plus grand crime contre l’humanité que le monde a connu depuis son existence. Elle n’est comparable à aucun systême puisqu’elle est UNIQUE et INIQUE. C’est ce qu’a reconnu les experts de l’ONU. Ils ont d’ailleurs clairement confirmé que la traite négrière a laissé des séquelles qui perdurent et qui perdureront encore longtemps ; Les séquelles sont entre autres d’ordre ;

1. Economique
2. Social
3. Politique
4. Psychologique

· la réduction en esclavage des millions d’être humains du peuple noir d’Afrique
· le dépeuplement de tout un continent de millions de ses meilleurs bras
· la destruction de vieilles civilisations entières
· la naissance d'un nouvel ordre socio-économiqiue mondial
· la naissance du racisme anti-noir
· l’appauvrissement de l'Afrique
· l’enrichissement de nombreux continents dont le monde occidental

UP-Union Pour Le Progrès rappelle au peuple mauricien EST AFRICAIN et que Maurice FAIT PARTIE DE l’Afrique qui est le continent qui a le plus
souffert de ce crime contre l’humanité.

Maurice doit son sous-bassement économique et social à la traite négrière . Ce sous-bassement est omnipresent dans notre vie quotidienne de nature
matérielle et immaterielle. Cependant il est à regretter que cela n'est pas reconnu alors que dans certaines circonstances la contribution de
l’esclavage et de leurs descendants est oblitérée ou banalisée.

Dans le souci de souscrire au devoir de mémoire, le devoir complmentaire de Réparation DOIT être accompli par la République de Maurice qui se doit de reconnaître cette contribution inestimable des esclaves à faire de la République de Maurice ce qu’elle est ce jour.

Il est regrettable que le Centre Nelson Mandela pour la Culture Africaine et créole ne reprenne pas la place qui lui avait été allouée , qui lui est digne et qui lui revient dans le centre de la Citéde Port-Louis, capitale de la République et qu’elle ait les moyens d’accomplir ses objectifs. Les sites historiques de l’esclavage deja identifiés doivent être protégés et réhabilités.

Les manuels scolaires doivent être revus pour rendre justice à la vérité historique dans un esprit pédagogique selon les recommandations de L'UNESCO

Que tout soit mis fait pour mettre en pratique les NOMBREUX moyens de Réparation pour attenuer les séquelles de l’esclavage.

2. LE 23 AOUT – A 18.30 MESSE A ROCHE-BOIS

A l’occasion de la journee internationale du souvenir de la traite negriere, UP-Union Pour Le Progrès et la paroisse de Notre Dame de
L’Assomption à Roche-Bois invitent le public à une messe le MARDI 23 AOUT 2005 à 18.30 hrs en l’église de la paroisse de Roche-Bois.

Nous souhaitons vous voir nombreux à cette célébration.

Très cordialement .
___________________
JEAN-YVES VIOLETTE
( PRESIDENT )

Cher Jean-Yves,

Merci de l'information, et l'initiative de ce "rappel de la Journée du souvenir de la traite négrière" est un 'must'. Le peuple noir a subi un véritable outrage, et dans sa chair, et dans son âme. Il est temps que l'Humanité reconnaisse ce génocide, non plus en parole et sur le papier comme beaucoup l'ont déjà fait, mais dans leurs actes. Nous savons tous pertinemment que l'esclavage perdure encore et toujours dans le Golfe persique et dans les pays comme la Libye, le Soudan, la Mauritanie, le Niger etc... et que ces Etres souvent noirs subissent encore la loi de leur maître qui ont sur eux le droit de vie ou de mort. Pour reprendre le cas du Niger où règne actuellement une famine qui décime les enfants en premier, nous avons tous vu avec quelle désinvolture la communauté internationale a traité et traite le cri de désespoir de ce peuple en détresse. Et pourquoi ? C'est malheureux, mais force est de consater que c'est parceque ce ne sont des pauvres Noirs, qui sont loin d'être une 'priorité' pour elle. Voilà la dure réalité de ce monde où la couleur de la peau détermine encore souvent le droit à l'existence et à un morceau de pain.

Combien de temps encore faudra-t-il que l'Afrique subisse l'aumône de quelques sacs de blé ou de grain de la part des pays dits développés et riches, dont la richesse d'ailleurs découle des ressources de cette même Mère Afrique ? Combien de temps encore faudra-t-il que les enfants à la peau sombre de cette Afrique, s'entretuent et s'égorgent, souvent pour le compte de ces pays 'riches', avant qu'ils ne puissent vivre en paix ?

.....Aussi longtemps que ces pays 'riches' y auront leurs intérêts bassement économiques

.....Aussi longtemps que ceux-là y auront leurs pions (chefs d'Etat africains jouisseurs et prédateurs de leur propre peuple)

...Aussi longtemps que les grosses multinationales y extrairont leur OR et leur PETROLE...

Jusqu'à ce jour béni, les enfants d'Afrique n'auront point de paix et de pain quotidien, et demeuront toujours ESCLAVES des Descendants de leurs anciens MAITRES.Et cela, toutes les prières du monde n'y changeront rien. "Aide-toi et le Ciel T'aidera" serait la meilleure des directions à prendre. L'esclavage en Afrique ou à l'Ile-Maurice, ne cessera qu'avec l'éducation et la discipline de nos enfants vers une culture et un état d'esprit d'homme libre que beaucoup d'entre nous Noirs à Maurice n'ont pas.

"L'Esclave dit OUI, l'Homme libre dit NON", Disons NON dès maintenant à cette déculturation, cette dénaturation. Au passage, cela fait mal de voir combien ces jeunes et belles filles noires en Europe et/ou en Afrique se trouvent 'jolies' sous leur perruque blonde !

Eric Bahloo (Paris 24 août 2005)

International Politics
The poverty debate, Please join in
Any amount of aids, donations, compassion will never eradicate poverty in Africa. It is the duty of old colonial countries after plundering these countries for generation eradicating their customs and culture, get natives to eat European food and adopt and use foreign materials to the extent they relying solely on European made goods for survival. The G8 or 15 cartels or whatever you want to call it and should review back the management of these countries. Re-educate people to use local materials and foodstuffs, manage their natural resources, form a EU style of collective governments ( well I think the OCAM and OAU are lame ducks), form a board of directors with men of vision with local understudy, disbanding of costly armies and replace them with a united nation style army composed of every African nations.

(Le Mauricien 12 Juillet 2005)

Rodrigues

To our representatives : use your bargaining power

For the 1967 elections the people of Rodrigues chose for the first time their representatives for the National Assembly of Mauritius : Guy Ollivry and Clément Roussety. Looking back, no one can remember how they fulfill that role. Elected under the bannière du PMSD, they shifted to UDM without even consulting anyone in Rodrigues. Nobody seems to remember whether they ever did anything good for the people they represented for nearly 9 years and for which they were paid.

In 1976, Nicole François and Cyril Gimbeau helped to keep the ailing Labour Party in power again without the consent of the people of Rodrigues. However, Nicole François became the first Minister for Rodrigues and had the upper hand in view of the PMSD strong bargaining power.

Parliamentary questions

In 1982, Serge Clair became Minister for Rodrigues but without real power ; the Mauritian Public servants be it in Rodrigues or Mauritius had no respect for him. The same, if not the worst applied to France Félicité and Benoit Jolicœur. They did not, and could not do much and were virtual followers of the government of the day.

Having followed the parliamentary debate closely, I cannot recall the last time any of the Rodriguan representatives participated a debate on any matters related to the national agenda (apart from the Regional Assembly Act). The only parliamentary questions they asked were only related to Rodrigues and if and whenever they have made a speech it was only relevant or limited to Rodrigues. This shows their limited knowledge of Mauritian affairs and politics and maybe they do not care of what happens in Mauritius.

This was exemplified when Nicholas Vonmally became the Leader of the Opposition by default ; he was dans ses petits souliers, very uncomfortable as he could not master any national issue. The question arises as whether the role/presence of the Rodrigues representatives in Parliament is relevant or how can they vote Yes or No on a projet de loi of which they are totally ignorant. They never proposed any amendment to any bill even though the latter might adversely affect Rodrigues. The other noticeable fact is that they never had any of the member for Rodrigues presented a Private Member's Bill even if it concerns Rodrigues. Maybe they do not know how to do it and so should consult the clerk of the Assembly.

For some time now Rodrigues has had 4 representatives in the National Assembly simultaneously and this is happening again. What will be their new role in Parliament be ? Apparently it is chose du passé that a Rodriguan will ever be Minister for Rodrigues again, unless the situation comes back to 1976, which is most unlikely.

However a new scenario is appearing on the horizon that the Representatives of Rodrigues could give a three quarter or two third majority to Navin Ramgoolam's new government if the latter decides to amend the constitution. In the present case, the removal of Anerood Jugnauth as President. What will the Rodriguans do if such a situation arises ? Will the OPR and MR come together and impose a chantage to Navin Ramgoolam in exchange something that will be in the best interest of Rodrigues. For example that Antoinette Prudence be nominated to the post of President of the Republic of Mauritius ?

Bargaining power

It is obvious that Navin will accept as he would prefer Antoinette rather than Anerood and he would be seen as not being a communalist in the eyes of the Creoles and of the world.

This is only one case but the Rodriguan representatives should stop fighting each other or trying to be a Minister "Rubber stamp" or a "Yes Minister" and rather use their bargaining power in the assembly to push for what is good for Rodrigues. For example, table bills :

1) in the light of the EISA recommendation that Rodrigues should have 3 representatives (see Le Mauricien of 5 the July : " EISA estime aussi nécessaire que soit revue la taille des circonscriptions. Actuellement, le nombre d'électeurs diffère susbtantiellement d'une circonscription à l'autre. À ce propos, il cite les circonscriptions N° 3 (Port-Louis maritime/Port-Louis est), qui comptent 22 145 électeurs, et le N° 14 (Savanne/Rivière Noire), où 53 002 électeurs sont inscrits. Il évoque également le cas de Rodrigues, qui malgré le fait qu'il soit géographiquement plus grand que certaines circonscriptions à Maurice a droit à deux candidats élus seulement ".)

2) so that the Rodrigues Regional Assembly may have maximal autonomy.

3) proposing the economic and political independence of Rodrigues.

It is only then that taxpayers would find justified the presence of 4 representatives of Rodrigues at Parliament at every sitting and why they should benefit for free airfares to be there.

L'histoire a tendance à se répéter.

Louis G de Lamare-Lamvohee

Eradicating Corruption in Mauritius
( From Le Mauricien 14 Juillet 2005 )

Let us look at the so called battle against corruption. How much longer will we have to wait before an ethical politician compiles a dossier on this farce and highlights not just the inefficiency of ICAC but also the the criminal lethargy and slowness of the criminal justice system ? It has been years since the Air Mauritius scandal came to light and so far no one has spent any time in prison for the theft of millions of rupees. It is over two years since the MCB Pensions scandal and the only significant factor to have emerged is confirmation of the incredible incompetence of ICAC ; Navin Beekarry remains in post and will probably justify his Rs 300,000 monthly salary (about the same as the salary of 50 of the Health Care Assistants that Ramgoolam wants to crucify on the altar of political expediency and childish vindictiveness) by giving great publicity to the arrest of some traffic policeman allegedly taking a Rs 500 bribe whilst the real Ali Babas remain untouched.

How long will public opinion, shaped or not by the media, adopt such a complacent, if not subservient, servile, and sycophantic attitude towards our political representatives ? When Berenger claimed repeatedly during the electoral campaign that the then opposition had many voler later, voler larzan, no one bothered to ask him to put his money where his mouth is and to name the culprits ; crucially, no one asked him to reconcile these allegations of criminal behaviour with his own failure to fulfil his responsibilities as Minister for the police and to arrest these alleged thieves. Ramgoolam has consistently talked about two ministers stealing Rs 50 millions and Rs 20 millions from the MCB pensions fund ; well, M. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, you are now not only the Prime Minister but also the minister for the police : what is stopping you from ordering the police commissioner to arrest and charge these two with theft ? If you really want to convince the people that sanzman inn arive, let us see your actions match your words for a change.

I do not believe ICAC will ever begin to justify the vast amounts of money invested in its organisation nor realise the hopes of all Mauritians of an effective war against corruption until public opinion is brought to compare that so called combat's lamentable record with the successes of its counterparts in other countries. Why can't we ever read about the Scorpions, the elite anti corruption brigade in South Africa, which recently followed the successful prosecution of numerous Members of Parliament of all parties with the conviction of a powerful businessman, leading to the resignation of the Deputy President ? Why do we never hear about Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerian Minister of Finance and the woman in charge of cleaning up that notoriously corrupt country ? Two rear admirals have been imprisoned, two former ministers and many state governors are under investigation, 130 top customs officials have been sacked, and the police commissioner had to resign in disgrace. Perhaps a comparison with this fearless woman's record of success may prod Beekarry's macho's disposition into at last doing something positive to justify the huge fortune that we pay him every month.

Mindless disgorging of daily trivia

Of course we must be justifiably proud with the way the elections were conducted ; not many countries in the world can boast an 80% suffrage and such an orderly transition of power. But is the extent of our democratic credentials limited to just the ability to vote every five years and the smooth handing over of power ? Should'nt we be asking for much more than that ? The press has an enormous responsibility in ensuring that those we elect to power do not abuse that power ; journalists are our eyes and ears and must feel compelled to publish anything that smacks of bad governance. Uncritical reporting can only allow our institutions and those who run them the opportunity to abuse the goodwill that our votes gave them. Journalists will surely agree that educating their readers is a necessary accompaniment to the reporting of news ; mindless disgorging of daily trivia should be left to gossip and lifestyle magazines.

Why is it so difficult for our insular public opinion to show a keener interest for events in the outside world and then make an informed judgement on the realities of the world and then if necessary compare our approach with the way other countries deal with their problems ? Only then will the Mauritian people realise that we do not live in a hermetically sealed environment which is immune from the effects of political and economic events in the rest of the world. The United Kingdom is a net exporter of oil and yet the price of petrol and diesel in Mauritius is half the amount that British motorists have to pay. We have become a country where materialistic greed have made us believe in subsidising anything that moves without any thoughts whatsoever for the long term damage to our economy. I have long maintained that the concept of duty free cars is an abomination and that the huge amounts of money that consequently end up in the pockets of the middle classes should instead be used to provide decent housing for the ever growing army of the homeless.

A country that insists on complacent navel gazing and salivates with a Pavlovian relish and regularity everytime its politicians make far fetched and economically unviable promises is heading for the inevitable disappointment. The way things are, we will continue to end up every five years with the relabelling of bottles whilst leaving the quality and taste of the wine as insipid as ever.

R. A. J.