“Jeunes hommes avides, croyez-moi. Il n’existe que deux manières de gagner la partie: jouer coeur ou tricher. Tricher est difficile; un tricheur pris est battu. Jouer coeur est simple. Il faut en avoir, voilà tout. Vous vous croyez sans coeur. Vous regardez mal vos cartes.”
(Jean Cocteau)
Sithanenomics will lead us to oblivion
The unlikeliest of turnarounds and the most splendid of image makeovers …all in barely seven days. And in came the new Che, the guardian of public weal, the one man that understands the pain of the downtrodden, the Honourable Sithanen who discovered that winning the heart of the population only meant the sacrifice of macroeconomic policies. How the governing alliance morphed from one that collected scandals as badges to a caring government might stun some, but not the thinking man. 2010 is not that far away and the clock has started ticking…
The application of internationally accepted standards might be lauded by several experts but no one should be fooled, the deepening of the trenches between the rich and the poor is well under way. While the microeconomic decisions now afford some breathing space to those in dire need, the absence of any clear cut long term vision is appalling but should not surprise anyone. Sithanen as highly knowledgeable as he claims he is in his field does lack the ability to go beyond what has been laid down in books; a boon so important in the long term survival of a nation. Alain Ah-Vee’s words might not rank high on the flowery language meter but he said it best; “Enn Minis Finans ti bizin pli prevwayan”. Unable to sow the seeds for the building of a new Mauritius during his mandate, Navin should know that as good a storyteller he is, the absence of any real change will lead to his fall from grace and ultimate downfall.
Let not the formidable post-budget PR campaign by the governing alliance blind you from the future economic hurdles that await our motherland. For this promise-laden budget raises even more questions than before. Will the hype generated by the micro initiatives geared at creating the ‘Maurice Ile Durable’ be translated into reality? How does the economic mastermind that Sithanen is tame the inflation beast? How do we put a halt to the continued disintegration of moral values and tackle the law and order issue? How do we breathe new life into the various ailing sectors of our economy? The jury is out and the countdown has begun…
Chetan Ramchurn
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Paradise Lost by Chetan Ramchurn (12/09/08 Le Mauricien/ 03/09/08 L'Express)
“Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world and all our woe…”
Paradise Lost
John Milton
Paradise Lost
Mark Twain’s now famous quote linking Mauritius to paradise now sounds like a bitter remembrance of what our fledgling democracy used to be. The state of moral decay that is gangrening our nation leads us to one conclusion; our motherland deserves a better class of leaders.
All guilty
Who should take the blame for further soiling our moral values? All of us are equal partners in crime. We, the “peuple admirable” for having and continuing to bear with hoards of self-centered egomaniacs that have and continue to fool us with lofty words and false pledges. Religious leaders for stooping to unknown levels of immorality in their quest for personal power. Political leaders from successive governments who failed to understand the nobility of serving of one’s country.
Dr Navin Mr Ramgoolam
Navin Ramgoolam, in the role of the greatest agent of chaos and now renowned for his inability to take bold decisions, has helped further tarnish the moral sanctity of our society. Our P.M carries the role of the incompetent leader with such aplomb that he makes the case for his cohort of even more ineffectual bootlickers. Navin is together with all those around him the silent culprits responsible for creating a system that thrives on incompetence and corruption.
From someone who represented change back in the mid 1990s to the master manipulator that he now is, Navin symbolises the degeneration of moral values our country has experienced over the last decade. Declared politically dead in 2000, he has managed a tour de force return to power heavily infused with newly acquired communication skills that focused on an all talk and no action stance .
The leader of the Labour Party has mastered the art of communication and understood that image is everything. Case in point: a scandal filled month with the Boskalis case, Cindy Legallant, Sada Curpen, Valayden’s resignation, Cunningham’s sudden departure, Bel Ombre S.E all making headlines and the only image that will be left in the voter’s mind will be Navin’s sega dancing skills at Le Morne.
Call to arms
The successive list of scams involving bearers of power is a cause for concern but what is even more distressing is that corruption and incompetence are now an ingrained part of our culture. There is no secret mantra to end this but only the will to stand for what is right. Dear co victims, let us extirpate ourselves from our lethargic state and bury those who have repeatedly failed us. Let us not be confined to a state of slumber, lulled in a sense of comfort and security by propagandists. Let us rise above the muck before it is too late.
Chetan Ramchurn
Brought death into the world and all our woe…”
Paradise Lost
John Milton
Paradise Lost
Mark Twain’s now famous quote linking Mauritius to paradise now sounds like a bitter remembrance of what our fledgling democracy used to be. The state of moral decay that is gangrening our nation leads us to one conclusion; our motherland deserves a better class of leaders.
All guilty
Who should take the blame for further soiling our moral values? All of us are equal partners in crime. We, the “peuple admirable” for having and continuing to bear with hoards of self-centered egomaniacs that have and continue to fool us with lofty words and false pledges. Religious leaders for stooping to unknown levels of immorality in their quest for personal power. Political leaders from successive governments who failed to understand the nobility of serving of one’s country.
Dr Navin Mr Ramgoolam
Navin Ramgoolam, in the role of the greatest agent of chaos and now renowned for his inability to take bold decisions, has helped further tarnish the moral sanctity of our society. Our P.M carries the role of the incompetent leader with such aplomb that he makes the case for his cohort of even more ineffectual bootlickers. Navin is together with all those around him the silent culprits responsible for creating a system that thrives on incompetence and corruption.
From someone who represented change back in the mid 1990s to the master manipulator that he now is, Navin symbolises the degeneration of moral values our country has experienced over the last decade. Declared politically dead in 2000, he has managed a tour de force return to power heavily infused with newly acquired communication skills that focused on an all talk and no action stance .
The leader of the Labour Party has mastered the art of communication and understood that image is everything. Case in point: a scandal filled month with the Boskalis case, Cindy Legallant, Sada Curpen, Valayden’s resignation, Cunningham’s sudden departure, Bel Ombre S.E all making headlines and the only image that will be left in the voter’s mind will be Navin’s sega dancing skills at Le Morne.
Call to arms
The successive list of scams involving bearers of power is a cause for concern but what is even more distressing is that corruption and incompetence are now an ingrained part of our culture. There is no secret mantra to end this but only the will to stand for what is right. Dear co victims, let us extirpate ourselves from our lethargic state and bury those who have repeatedly failed us. Let us not be confined to a state of slumber, lulled in a sense of comfort and security by propagandists. Let us rise above the muck before it is too late.
Chetan Ramchurn
Le delit de sale gueule (Le Mauricien 16/12/08)
Le délit de sale gueule…
Digne des plus grands vaudevilles, le spectacle burlesque offert au parlement mardi dernier a permis aux députés de la majorité de donner dans la bassesse. Certes, la phrase de Bérenger faisant référence au physique du ministre des finances est une maladresse…mais en la replaçant dans son contexte, nous ne pouvons que nous poser la question de savoir s’’il est humainement possible de rester calme devant tant d’arrogance et de condescendance ? Ce qui s’ensuivit fut le déclenchement d’une véritable hystérie collective des membres de la majorité… et le paroxysme de la bêtise fut atteint quand le leader de l’opposition fut traité de colon.
Le lien évident entre la couleur de peau de Bérenger et cette invective devrait tous nous interpeller. Le combat du MMM et de son leader est la suite logique de la lutte commencée par les Rozemont, Curé et Seeneevassen…Difficile ainsi de croire que celui qui fut inspiré par les mots de Frantz Fanon ait un quelconque penchant colonialiste. Des propos nauséeux, inquiétants et inacceptables de ce type confirment une fois de plus que nos dirigeants sont toujours à l’affût du moindre incident pour donner dans l’agressivité verbale. La PNQ du leader du MMM devait nous apprendre plus sur le gaspillage des fonds publics, sur le cas du QG de la BAI… à sa place nous avons assisté aux clowneries de certains de nos parlementaires.
Le député David, dont le rôle de porte flingue du parti travailliste lui sied à merveille, et auquel nous reconnaissons volontiers des qualités de grand travailleur, est sans doute un de ceux les mieux placés pour comprendre la pertinence d’une question ayant trait aux dépenses inutiles qui sont payées avec l’argent des contribuables. Le titre de « Serial Offender » attribué à Bérenger ne peut que nous faire sourire. Nous nous souvenons tous de l’épisode peu reluisant de « sa vie le rat blanc », le titre qui sérierait mieux à Bérenger serait celui de « Serial Victim ». La lecture de l’excellent ouvrage « De la question sociale à la question raciale? » s’impose à nos députés. Un des auteurs de ce livre a défini la race comme étant une « construction mentale qui fait que l’on traite différemment des personnes en fonction de leur couleur de peau, de leur mode de vie, de leur religion même… » . La race existe uniquement dans nos têtes. Nous pouvons, si nous le voulons, penser différemment.
Notre tissu social est fragile, les inégalités demeurent. Elles datent en partie de l’époque coloniale et nous sommes tous conscients que l’ascenseur social reste bloqué. Arrêtons de souiller cet espace démocratique qu’est le parlement avec des comparaisons honteuses. Pour que notre société change, nos représentants doivent commencer par eux-mêmes. Avec de tels dérapages verbaux, nous tuons l’espoir d’un avenir meilleur.
Chetan R.
Digne des plus grands vaudevilles, le spectacle burlesque offert au parlement mardi dernier a permis aux députés de la majorité de donner dans la bassesse. Certes, la phrase de Bérenger faisant référence au physique du ministre des finances est une maladresse…mais en la replaçant dans son contexte, nous ne pouvons que nous poser la question de savoir s’’il est humainement possible de rester calme devant tant d’arrogance et de condescendance ? Ce qui s’ensuivit fut le déclenchement d’une véritable hystérie collective des membres de la majorité… et le paroxysme de la bêtise fut atteint quand le leader de l’opposition fut traité de colon.
Le lien évident entre la couleur de peau de Bérenger et cette invective devrait tous nous interpeller. Le combat du MMM et de son leader est la suite logique de la lutte commencée par les Rozemont, Curé et Seeneevassen…Difficile ainsi de croire que celui qui fut inspiré par les mots de Frantz Fanon ait un quelconque penchant colonialiste. Des propos nauséeux, inquiétants et inacceptables de ce type confirment une fois de plus que nos dirigeants sont toujours à l’affût du moindre incident pour donner dans l’agressivité verbale. La PNQ du leader du MMM devait nous apprendre plus sur le gaspillage des fonds publics, sur le cas du QG de la BAI… à sa place nous avons assisté aux clowneries de certains de nos parlementaires.
Le député David, dont le rôle de porte flingue du parti travailliste lui sied à merveille, et auquel nous reconnaissons volontiers des qualités de grand travailleur, est sans doute un de ceux les mieux placés pour comprendre la pertinence d’une question ayant trait aux dépenses inutiles qui sont payées avec l’argent des contribuables. Le titre de « Serial Offender » attribué à Bérenger ne peut que nous faire sourire. Nous nous souvenons tous de l’épisode peu reluisant de « sa vie le rat blanc », le titre qui sérierait mieux à Bérenger serait celui de « Serial Victim ». La lecture de l’excellent ouvrage « De la question sociale à la question raciale? » s’impose à nos députés. Un des auteurs de ce livre a défini la race comme étant une « construction mentale qui fait que l’on traite différemment des personnes en fonction de leur couleur de peau, de leur mode de vie, de leur religion même… » . La race existe uniquement dans nos têtes. Nous pouvons, si nous le voulons, penser différemment.
Notre tissu social est fragile, les inégalités demeurent. Elles datent en partie de l’époque coloniale et nous sommes tous conscients que l’ascenseur social reste bloqué. Arrêtons de souiller cet espace démocratique qu’est le parlement avec des comparaisons honteuses. Pour que notre société change, nos représentants doivent commencer par eux-mêmes. Avec de tels dérapages verbaux, nous tuons l’espoir d’un avenir meilleur.
Chetan R.
Who shot our Phaeton Rubicola? by Chetan Ramchurn ( Le Mauricien 27/01/09)
Air Mauritius
Who shot our Phaeton Rubicola?
Dubbed the “Soul of Mauritius”, the much hyped ambassador of Mauritius, our premier company, our very own national airline is in deep mire. Amidst rumours of takeovers, leaked secret conversations and XLD’s almost too little too late attempts to turn back the tide, lies a venerable institution in tatters.
Welcome to Navinland
While some have sniffed blood and are now on the prowl for further damning evidence against the architects of Air Mauritius’s doom, we watch once again with awe the appalling absence of leadership at the head of the state. While the first rats have begun to leave the sinking ship, the much hoped sanctions against those who have failed have yet to come. In truth, in Navinland, the axe never seems to fall on those who are guilty of sacrilegious wrongs…
This latest saga will be remembered as yet another Ramgoolam botched moment, yet another missed opportunity to rise to the occasion and soothe a scandal-weary population. In times of chaos, we turn to those who wield power to show us the way forward; or as Faye Wattleton says “The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.” Alone we stand in these troubled times…
Arrogant fools
Accessorius sequitur comes to mind when deciding on who should be punished. The blame should first and foremost be attributed to those that were at the gambling table with our money. The absence of any exit clause attached to a hedging contract of that magnitude is a gaffe that deserves no clemency. And what do we have instead of unequivocal professions of guilt? Interviews of arrogant fools that abound in our newspapers where all claim to have made the right decisions regardless of evidence to the contrary. What terrifies us is the sight of those who have previously given glaring demonstrations of their incompetence who are rewarded with hefty paychecks and renewed positions of power. No doubt Cunningham had to leave…
In these times of economic and financial havoc, what we need more that anything is a guiding figure in whom we trust. These are defining times for our country… times where real leaders emerge and fake ones crumble…
Chets Ramchurn
Who shot our Phaeton Rubicola?
Dubbed the “Soul of Mauritius”, the much hyped ambassador of Mauritius, our premier company, our very own national airline is in deep mire. Amidst rumours of takeovers, leaked secret conversations and XLD’s almost too little too late attempts to turn back the tide, lies a venerable institution in tatters.
Welcome to Navinland
While some have sniffed blood and are now on the prowl for further damning evidence against the architects of Air Mauritius’s doom, we watch once again with awe the appalling absence of leadership at the head of the state. While the first rats have begun to leave the sinking ship, the much hoped sanctions against those who have failed have yet to come. In truth, in Navinland, the axe never seems to fall on those who are guilty of sacrilegious wrongs…
This latest saga will be remembered as yet another Ramgoolam botched moment, yet another missed opportunity to rise to the occasion and soothe a scandal-weary population. In times of chaos, we turn to those who wield power to show us the way forward; or as Faye Wattleton says “The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.” Alone we stand in these troubled times…
Arrogant fools
Accessorius sequitur comes to mind when deciding on who should be punished. The blame should first and foremost be attributed to those that were at the gambling table with our money. The absence of any exit clause attached to a hedging contract of that magnitude is a gaffe that deserves no clemency. And what do we have instead of unequivocal professions of guilt? Interviews of arrogant fools that abound in our newspapers where all claim to have made the right decisions regardless of evidence to the contrary. What terrifies us is the sight of those who have previously given glaring demonstrations of their incompetence who are rewarded with hefty paychecks and renewed positions of power. No doubt Cunningham had to leave…
In these times of economic and financial havoc, what we need more that anything is a guiding figure in whom we trust. These are defining times for our country… times where real leaders emerge and fake ones crumble…
Chets Ramchurn
The Navin Show by Chetan Ramchurn (L’Express 06.02.09/ Le Mauricien 07.02.09)
THE NAVIN SHOW
And thus spake the Great One…
Citizens of Mauritius, feel blessed to have been addressed by the Chosen One. Our hardworking Prime Minister, in his great benevolence, took some of the precious time he usually spends discussing with the likes of Chirac and Sarkozy to deal with the trivial Mauritian issues.
Revealing his misery and loneliness, the compassionate Navin also disclosed that he will be gracing President Obama with that great intelligence of his and we certainly believe that he will seize this opportunity to teach him a trick or two about how bold decisions are taken in tough times. Our leader talked at length about the fruits of his intelligent decisions using references spanning from the Bible to Kissinger and admitted that the No.8 elections were of little interest to him for he is now more than ever focused on the economy.
When our beloved P.M highlighted the hassles of holding his much coveted title, all of us sympathised with him. How can we let this often betrayed great ruler stay in such conditions with hardly any friends and suspicions on the few that he has? No, we cannot and should not let Ramgoolam Junior suffer more than he has already endured for our sake. We should relieve him of his great distress and it is now our moral duty to offer him salvation in the coming general elections.
Hubris
Last Thursday’s marathon speech which was nothing more than an unsavoury potpourri of quotes, examples from other failed hedging experiments and incoherent ramblings clearly smacked of hubris. So much arrogance from a man who has so lamentably failed time and time again should have irked most of us. But, nothing of that sort happened as a sizeable proportion of the “peuple admirable” chose to put style over substance and saw in SSR’s heir’s insufferable mumbo jumbo some kind of verbal prowess that the rest of us must have missed.
Ramgoolam’s power ride has been a bumpy one and the grotesque masquerade that this public relations exercise was proved once again that his all talk and no action attitude is likely to continue…until we finally decide to punish him…
Yeshwant Ramchurn
And thus spake the Great One…
Citizens of Mauritius, feel blessed to have been addressed by the Chosen One. Our hardworking Prime Minister, in his great benevolence, took some of the precious time he usually spends discussing with the likes of Chirac and Sarkozy to deal with the trivial Mauritian issues.
Revealing his misery and loneliness, the compassionate Navin also disclosed that he will be gracing President Obama with that great intelligence of his and we certainly believe that he will seize this opportunity to teach him a trick or two about how bold decisions are taken in tough times. Our leader talked at length about the fruits of his intelligent decisions using references spanning from the Bible to Kissinger and admitted that the No.8 elections were of little interest to him for he is now more than ever focused on the economy.
When our beloved P.M highlighted the hassles of holding his much coveted title, all of us sympathised with him. How can we let this often betrayed great ruler stay in such conditions with hardly any friends and suspicions on the few that he has? No, we cannot and should not let Ramgoolam Junior suffer more than he has already endured for our sake. We should relieve him of his great distress and it is now our moral duty to offer him salvation in the coming general elections.
Hubris
Last Thursday’s marathon speech which was nothing more than an unsavoury potpourri of quotes, examples from other failed hedging experiments and incoherent ramblings clearly smacked of hubris. So much arrogance from a man who has so lamentably failed time and time again should have irked most of us. But, nothing of that sort happened as a sizeable proportion of the “peuple admirable” chose to put style over substance and saw in SSR’s heir’s insufferable mumbo jumbo some kind of verbal prowess that the rest of us must have missed.
Ramgoolam’s power ride has been a bumpy one and the grotesque masquerade that this public relations exercise was proved once again that his all talk and no action attitude is likely to continue…until we finally decide to punish him…
Yeshwant Ramchurn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
