The Transition to Great Expectations

Up to the new leaders to decide whether they want to be the tree or the shadow

By Dr R Neerunjun Gopee

Character is a tree, reputation its shadow; most people go after the shadow, whereas it is the tree which is more important. – Anon

2025 is truly a year of transition for the country. The crushing 60/0 victory of Labour Party-led alliance was not only a repetition of similar wins in 1982 and 1995 but ushered in a much-needed fresh air of freedom to sweep away the suffocating atmosphere of fear and repression that had been the hallmarks of the outgoing regime. At the same time, though, the upbeat mood has given rise to both much hope for a better tomorrow and to great expectations that the pledges and promises made will be fulfilled, along with the clearing of the Augean stables.

While a beginning has been made as regards the latter with warrants of arrests issued and one executed to date, for the common man it’s essentially improvements in the day-to-day conditions of living that count more. These include, for example and among others, easing of the cost of the food basket, 24/7 water and power supply, prompt and courteous service in both the private and the public sectors.

These are some of the simple basics that can prevent the exodus of our fellow citizens who are sorely needed to stop the decline of our demographic. It is a fact that thousands of Mauritians live abroad, out of choice or necessity. In bigger countries there are no doubt more and better opportunities for jobs and higher earnings than is possible here. The money factor is likely to be the major driver in most cases, but for other categories professional satisfaction is equally important. It is also true that Mauritians miss the social life here that they cannot enjoy elsewhere, and this is an important consideration for the new government to take note of. How can they make the island more attractive to lure back its nationals?

However, the many who have not left our shores and prefer to live in their vaunted ‘paradise’ island’ – again out of choice or necessity (family reasons, no means to go abroad, etc.) – adapt and adjust accordingly. This is not necessarily easy, especially with the pressures and the pace of modern life in the increasingly difficult environment where daily activities are carried out.

The daily experience of living in the island is perhaps no better or worse than obtains elsewhere, as people in all countries face broadly similar issues such as: road congestion in commuting to work, varying levels of job satisfaction, discrimination at the workplace, issues of promotion, schooling of children and care of the younger ones while both parents are at work, responsibility for the elderly, and so on and so forth. Work from home that started during the Covid epidemic has not proved to be a panacea.

In general, it may be said that in their day-to-day life people are not conscious of how the broader political, social and economic forces at play impact on their lives. And yet these do, perhaps in a more fundamental way than the people themselves realize, because many of the decisions that affect them arise out of a complex interplay among these very forces. A recent example is the implementation of the 14th month that had been guaranteed pre-electorally, and that faced the hard reality of the actual state of the country’s finances.

That is why from time to time it is salutary to step back as it were and take a ‘panoramic’ view of one’s country, so as to have a more realistic perspective of the direction in which it is going and use this input to then make course corrections wherever these are indicated. In that respect, findings of surveys that are made public from time to time as well as the inputs aired on a more regular basis in the media should goad us into taking actions and measures which must be at all levels and in all spheres of national life if we are concerned about the future and image of our country.Read More… Become a Subscriber

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 10 January 2025