\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Manifesto of the Alliance de l\u2019Avenir is on the whole a very encouraging document, promising to right the hurts of the past in the economic field. Some of the pains we suffered we had not expected from a Labour Party.<\/span>As our group takes a special interest in Education in general and in languages and culture in particular, we note with great pleasure and satisfaction the promises made in the Alliance\u2019s manifesto. They confirm Dr Navin Ramgoolam as an integrator and not as a divider. Speaking Unions are promised for all languages including our own mother-tongue Bhojpuri and our prayer language Sanskrit; in addition to the existing English, Hindi and Urdu Speaking Unions, similar bodies will be provided for Arabic, French, French, Creole and Mandarin; still missing is Hakaa, the language of most of the early Chinese immigrants. Previous governments had arranged cultural centres for distinct linguistic groups in a bid to divide the communities away from the Bhojpuri\/Hindi speaking group (for whom a cultural centre is still wanting: this is a matter we shall pursue). What Dr Navin Ramgoolam is promising is a National Cultural Council to favour intercultural dialogue and integrate the activities of the diverse Cultural Centres and Speaking Unions. He is also proposing to introduce training in empathy into our classrooms through the Canadian-inspired \u201cRoots of Empathy Scheme.\u201d Hopefully Mauritius will become active in the famous Ashoka organisation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n In the field of education, use of mother tongues including Creole will be allowed; details of the use of Bhojpuri will have to be made available in due course. \u201cKreol\u201d, that is to say the Creole language written in grafilarmoni script, will be available as an option at the CPE. Our belief that the use of the script will eventually kill off the French language remains as strong as ever; in fact some proponents of \u201cKreol\u201d deliberately want French to disappear. That will be a great national loss. Very fortunately the Manifesto is also proposing the creation of an Educator\u2019s Council. Hopefully this council, depending on its membership, may be able to guide our education towards the preservation of the great cultures we have inherited. We also hope that this council will guide the MIE in improving its output. Just quoting the statistics of the number of teachers trained will not do. Why is it that most people in the country, including some paid speakers at the MBC, mispronounce common words? These days lots of people are speaking about the \u201cPrivy Council\u201d. This is a very important institution for us. Never mind that one representative of Rezistans ek Alternativ<\/em>mispronounces it on TV: he, like the rest of us, is a victim of our education system. But until when will this nation continue to be the victim of its education system, and be the laughing stock of other nations the moment we open our mouths? <\/span><\/p>\n Other important proposals in the field of education include the creation of an Early Childhood Care & Education Authority. The greatest asset of the nation is its children; their best learning and formative years are from birth to about the age of eight. We are relieved that the State will turn its attention to them in this period. Another important proposal is the creation of a school for gifted children. Attention has always been paid to \u201cspecial needs\u201d children, a euphemism for handicapped or otherwise challenged children, but the other end of the spectrum has always been neglected. We are happy that at last the nation will be waking up to recognise that there are a few children who are specially gifted and who, with proper attention, can easily develop into geniuses. <\/span><\/p>\n The Manifesto\u2019s proposals in the field of culture are also very encouraging. To begin with, there be will be an all-embracing Mauritian festival every year around Independence time. The President\u2019s Award for creative writing, now limited to English, will be extended to all languages. The idea of a Creole festival will be retained, but some may well ask, why not a Bhojpuri Festival. Would it not be a good thing for the State to associate itself more closely with the Bhojpuri celebrations organised by the Indian Diaspora Centre, as it does for the Creole festival? Why this discrimination against one major culture that because of such neglect was on the point of dying out?<\/span><\/p>\n There are many other very interesting and useful proposals in just education and culture sections of the manifesto, but regrettably we cannot go into all of them. What we can say, however, is that the Alliance de l\u2019Avenir deserves to be returned massively to Parliament to enable to put the ideas of the Manifesto into practice.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Paramanund Soobarah<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Quatre Bornes<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n * * *<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Le Premier ministre devra utiliser l\u2019espace cr\u00e9\u00e9 par le d\u00e9part de Rama Sithanen pour relancer l\u2019\u00e9pargne et r\u00e9introduire une dose d\u2019\u00e9quit\u00e9 dans sa politique fiscale. Si pour certains la politique \u00e9conomique du ministre des Finances a sauv\u00e9 le pays, pour d\u2019autres elle est une source de m\u00e9contentement intarissable.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Sans entrer dans un d\u00e9bat communautariste ou encore moins cast\u00e9iste, il est reconnu que deux des valeurs fondamentales de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 mauricienne sont l\u2019\u00e9pargne et l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la propri\u00e9t\u00e9. D\u2019ailleurs une propri\u00e9t\u00e9 fonci\u00e8re garantie et l\u2019all\u00e8gement des contraintes li\u00e9es \u00e0 la cession des terres permettent aux pauvres de mieux se prendre en charge, am\u00e9liorent la gouvernance et produisent des avantages \u00e9conomiques pour tous.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Le comportement \u00e9conomique de certains Mauriciens peut \u00eatre r\u00e9sum\u00e9 de la mani\u00e8re suivante en proc\u00e9dant \u00e0 une analyse interg\u00e9n\u00e9rationnel. Les grands-parents et les arri\u00e8re-grands-parents ont trim\u00e9 dur pour pouvoir sortir de la mis\u00e8re. Ils ont \u00e9conomis\u00e9 chaque sou, ils ont occup\u00e9 deux ou trois boulots pour \u00e9duquer les enfants et acheter un lopin de terre. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Les enfants \u00e9duqu\u00e9s sont sortis des champs, pour aller travailler dans des bureaux, se sont endett\u00e9s afin de construire des maisons en dur pour \u00eatre \u00e0 l\u2019abri des cyclones. Ces maisons ont \u00e9t\u00e9 construites par les enfants sur les terrains mis \u00e0 disposition par les parents en puisant dans leurs \u00e9conomies.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Les enfants, ayant une forte propension \u00e0 reproduire le comportement de leurs parents, se sont eux aussi mis \u00e0 \u00e9pargner afin d\u2019emprunter le moins possible quand ils devront voler de leurs propres ailes. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Vu que l\u2019\u00e9pargne a \u00e9t\u00e9 r\u00e9alis\u00e9e en consentant \u00e0 d\u2019\u00e9normes sacrifices, l\u2019int\u00e9r\u00eat vers\u00e9 par les banques peut, \u00e0 juste titre, \u00eatre consid\u00e9r\u00e9 comme une reconnaissance de l\u2019effort fait.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Nous avons appris <\/span><\/a>\u00e0<\/span><\/span><\/a> l\u2019\u00e9cole qu\u2019en p\u00e9riode de r\u00e9cession \u00e9conomique nous devons encourager la consommation pour \u00e9viter de sombrer dans un marasme \u00e9conomique, c\u2019est ce que les mod\u00e8les anglo-saxons pr\u00e9conisent. Nos deux ou trois tentatives de jouer dans la cour des grands sp\u00e9culateurs se sont sold\u00e9s par des \u00e9checs cuisants.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Mais ouvrons nos yeux\u00a0: nous sommes un tout petit pays, avec un syst\u00e8me bancaire prudent et traditionnel \u00e0 l\u2019abri de crises syst\u00e9miques. Nos seules frayeurs\u00a0: ne plus pouvoir exporter notre textile et sucre \u00e0 un bon prix et avoir un tourisme en baisse. Ce sont les efforts consentis par nos parents pour nous \u00e9duquer qui font qu\u2019aujourd\u2019hui nous pouvons travailler dans les services financiers et centres d\u2019appels. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n M. Sithanen n\u2019a pas fait confiance aux valeurs ancestrales des Mauriciens, il a voulu appliquer une politique \u00e9conomique n\u00e9o-capitaliste. Le ministre des Finances n\u2019a pas fait confiance non plus aux hommes et aux femmes responsables.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Si aujourd\u2019hui l\u2019\u00ee<\/span>le Maurice peut se targuer d\u2019attirer des capitaux \u00e9trangers, ce n\u2019est pas seulement \u00e0 cause de notre politique fiscal avantageuse, mais aussi parce que\u00a0les investisseurs reconnaissent que nous sommes un peuple de travailleurs, \u00e9duqu\u00e9, p\u00e9tri et imbu de valeurs telles que l\u2019\u00e9pargne et la propension des Mauriciens, du moins pour la grande majorit\u00e9, de se prendre en charge <\/span>plut\u00f4t que de tendre la main.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n KRJ YASH<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong> \n * * *<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n WHY TINA HAD TO GO<\/span><\/span><\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Prior to his foray into politics, <\/strong>outgoing Finance Minister Dr Sithanen had a formidable reputation in the private sector as a highly competent technocrat. Even his political opponents today recognise his undoubted ability and dedication to hard work, which has helped him climb the social ladder to prosperity.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But, as someone has said before, a good degree from a good university is not the only requisite for formulatilng the economic\/social policies of the country. If it were that easy, we could simply hire the services of a couple of dons from Oxbridge and add a Nobel Prize winner for good measure. And, hey presto, the job would be done! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, technocrats do not always make the best of decision-makers. Blinded by the pink mist in the esoteric stratosphere of Academes, they are often oblivious to the simple, inescapable fact that the decisions they are making impact on the real lives<\/em><\/strong> of<\/strong> real people<\/strong><\/em>. Something that not many of the theories in the university textbook happen to teach, alas! What they do help generate, however, is a mass of figures that impresses fellow technocrats at the IMF and the World Bank. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Back on Earth<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But, away from Academia, back on Earth, the ordinary citizen is not much impressed by striking statistics about excellent economic growth, expanding GDP, small budget deficits or burgeoning currency reserves. Smith, Keynes, Galbraith and Sen are not names that he is familiar with. However, what he does know very well is how much a Rupee can buy at the local supermarket, whether he can look forward to a better life for himself and his kids. And, he knows too that all this hinges on how much he earns and, above all, how much of his income the taxman allows him to keep.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For the sake of comparison and in order to keep it simple, we have compiled below the tax liability for the year 2006 of a married man with no children, and contrasted it with fiscal year 2009. The difference is so enormous it is astounding that the PM\u2019s advisers did not spot it until the eleventh hour, on the eve of the general elections. But, as they say in Outer Mongolia, better late than never!<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Double Whammy<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n So, in 2006, our man could theoretically earn himself anything up to Rs1,100k pa and not pay a single cent in taxes, provided he qualified for all the available relief. It is also obvious that this tax regime greatly encouraged him to save and own a home. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>But, following the changes made by the TINA-men, the moment our man starts earning a single Rupee over Rs.350k, he pays 15 percent to the taxman. The discerning reader would also have noticed the two double whammies.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n As a consequence, much harm has been wrought upon all incentive to saving and home ownership. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately for us, that is not all. With IRS\/ERS developments growing like wild mushrooms all over the land with the blessing of the authorities, land\/house prices have rocketed. Better-off foreigners, particularly from RSA, are prepared to pay a huge premium for the relative safety of living here. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Consequently, many young couples are being priced out of the housing market and are finding it more and more difficult to acquire a decent place to live in. If things go unchecked, it won\u2019t be very long before all of us will be queuing up for the spartan Firinga type housing presently being built (by the authorities) to help low income families.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Goodbye TINA<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In 2005, the slogan of the Alliance Sociale was \u201cnou pou change ou lavi dan 100 jours<\/em>\u201d (We\u2019ll change your life in 100 days). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nRelancer l\u2019\u00e9pargne<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Quatre Bornes<\/span><\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mauritiustimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/tina%20pic.gif?resize=279%2C539\")
<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
1. The abolition of relief on interest on housing loan (5) coupled with the infamy known as NRPT.
2. The abolition of relief on savings (16) coupled with tax on interest earned on savings.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n