Time to Rethink

Mauritius Times – 70 Years

“It is no answer to say that things are better than they were. People live in the present, not in the past. Discontent arises from a knowledge of the possible, as contrasted with the actual. There is a universal and justifiable conviction that the lot of the ordinary man and woman is much worse than it need be.” — Aneurin Bevan

For the first time in its history, the Mauritius Labour Party suffered such a humiliation as it did on Friday last at the public meeting in Plaine Verte. True it is that the hecklers were organised by the Parti Mauricien and its allies and that, in contrast with the small number of agents provocateurs, over 8000 people went to the meeting to listen to what the ministerial delegation had to say after its roaring success in London. But the inescapable fact is that the Party is losing ground. The Party is gradually but steadily being defeated both from within and from without. But we hasten to add that all is not lost, and that if a sincere and realistic effort is made to stop rot, two things will be achieved. First, socialism will be firmly entrenched in this place and secondly, parliamentary democracy will be given a fair chance to flourish. For, believe it or not, the Mauritius Labour Party is the only national party this country has and it is the only political organization which, if it wishes to, can lead this country to prosperity. To transfer the reins of power into the hands of the IFB whether through folly or stupidity or a combination of both will be a tragedy indeed.

The present malaise and hostility can be attributed to four principal reasons:

(a) The leadership of the party is unpopular.

(b) Supporters of the Party are getting disinterested if not discouraged.

(c) The Party is losing contact with the people.

(d) The opposition is, quite naturally, very active and to some measure it is being successful.

(e) The Party has no efficient propaganda machine. It has no paper to help it actively, whilst most of the reactionary press are directly or indirectly supporting the IFB and the Parti Mauricien with all their might.

(f) The Party is infested with internecine quarrels.

Supporters of the Party are getting discouraged because of some unpopular measures which are clearly indefensible. We have already expressed our apprehensions about the increase in the allowances of Ministers and MLCs. The rise in electricity tariffs was ill-timed. The existing labour laws have to be recast so as to give the workers greater security. The crying anomalies of Working Party No. 2, which directly affect 10,000 workers, are still to be redressed. All these are ammunitions to the Opposition and as a result of the Opposition’s incessant and comprehensive campaign Labour supporters are bound to be discouraged.

There are, in addition, a few tactical mistakes. We are going to quote a single one: After cyclone Alix, we made out a case within the Parliamentary Labour group for an advance of one month’s salary to the employees of Government. The matter was discussed, and a promise was made. Nothing was heard of it subsequently until last month when a note appeared in the press saying that the Confederation of Trade Unions had negotiated and obtained from the Government an advance of one month’s salary for employees drawing less than Rs 8,620 per annum. Why did the Government not take the initiative?

But that is not all: Government had decided not to extend this privilege to employees on a temporary basis. Why? But after Mr Duval of the Parti Mauricien had set a question on this particular matter to the Legislative Council, Government gave in. Now is this the way we are going to rule this country? Can we still convince the people that it’s we, and not Mr Duval, who are on their side?

On many previous occasions we have pleaded for closer contact with the people and for the creation of an efficient propaganda machine. The Opposition knows its job and it is doing it well. But the Labour Party is mute, and it provides the Opposition with ammunition. Can a Party which is in power, and which is being violently opposed in the Legislative Council, in the Press and on the platform, do without propaganda? Where have our leaders found that vehement and continuous opposition is opposed and defeated by silence? In a way we welcome what has happened if only it will make us more careful and more realistic about what is going on around us. Whether we are believed or not, we could not care less. But we repeat that ours is a timely warning and that unless and until we have a powerful propaganda machine the Opposition will beat us.

Lastly, we would like to make it clear that a Party divided against itself can neither lead nor inspire the people. If individuals are unable to rise above personal animosities or if they are incapable of subordinating personal feelings to the prestige and welfare of the party, they are unfit to lead. We have had enough of the petty quarrels and silly palavers. It is impossible to be leaders of a faction and to be the leaders of a party at the same time. It is time to rethink and react. Only the Labour Party can reshape the destiny of this country, and so it should be given new and healthy life.

7th Year – No 309
Friday 29th July 1960

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 27 June 2025