{"id":910,"date":"2011-04-01T09:17:42","date_gmt":"2011-04-01T09:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/2011\/04\/01\/letters-31\/"},"modified":"2020-03-23T22:21:16","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T18:21:16","slug":"letters-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/letters-31\/","title":{"rendered":"To Our Readers\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Readers’ Response\/ Opinion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your views are of interest to us. They help us balance the argument in the correct perspective. We welcome you to draw our attention to anything or opinion expressed in the Mauritius Times (or any national or international event of interest) with which\u00a0you agree from your own angle or disagree due to a different appreciation of facts.<\/span><\/p>\n

We will gratefully receive your communications at the email address:\u00a0<\/span>mtimes@intnet.mu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

We may decide to publish your comments or the relevant parts thereof if we consider that they will help our readers better understand specific contexts and maintain MT as the foremost and most balanced analytical newspaper of the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * <\/span>
\nGrand Bassin musings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I read Dr Gopee’s musings about his trip to Grand Bassin during the festival of Maha Shivratri (MT, 4 March 11). I find his observations and life experiences fascinating. Yes, going to Grand Bassin during my time in Mauritius was something I always looked forward to. My last visit to Ganga Taloa\u00a0dates back to 1970. I remember vividly having gone to Grand Bassin to see Mrs Indira Gandhi and her two sons from close quarters. Soon after, in 1971,\u00a0I left Mauritius for the UK. I look forward to have the opportunity to make the trip once again soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for the attitude of those who throw plastic cups in public places, I must say that this is down to education and home manners. We will always get some people who do not care at all about the environment. Just a simple act of raising people\u2019s awareness, via the media, of the need to protect our environment might\u00a0work. If this message gets through, then we can look forward to a more beautiful \u2018Paradise\u2019.<\/span>
\nEven in the UK, one can expect to see litter all over the place after some special occasions or when there are crowds in public places to celebrate some festival. In North London, many streets are stained as a result of people spitting. The council officials have tried hard to dissuade them against this bad habit, and they have had recourse to posters and radio advertisements to sensitize the people on this issue. It is beginning to have a positive effect now.<\/span>
\nIt is to be hoped that next year people who walk to Ganga Talao will be mindful not to litter the environment.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Ramesh Seewoodhary<\/strong><\/em>
\n<\/em><\/strong>UK<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Pamphlet in Kreol<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The other day my grandson of six brought home a profusely illustrated pamphlet on the value of water and proposing a variety of judicious ways to save it. The pamphlet, entitled \u2018Des astuces simples pour bien utiliser l\u2019eau\u2019, <\/em>published by the Ministry of Energy & Public Utilities in collaboration with the Central Water Authority, was distributed by the teacher in class.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

It is a laudable effort to bring to the attention of children from their young age, such topics of civics that will help them to become more responsible in life as they grow up. Every parent will surely welcome pamphlets on other subjects also like cleanliness, littering, courtesy, obedience and respect, etc., — virtues that are becoming foreign to the youth of today. How often do we hear that our children are not learning values in school?<\/span><\/p>\n

But what hurts in that pamphlet is the use of Kreol in the substance instead of French, which would have been in line with the French title. The question is: why is Kreol utilised? Don\u2019t our children understand French? Or is it done deliberately to boost up Kreol in schools to the detriment of French by encouraging children to read the newly scripted language?<\/span><\/p>\n

Does the over exposure of our young generation to Kreol script and language have any effect on their examination performance in French? There was a time when no student failed in this subject at School Certificate examination. Is it the same today? What do our educators have to say on this?<\/span><\/p>\n

I personally feel that the pamphlet would be more useful to pupils (and their parents) if French language were used. The pupils would learn some new words and expressions in French and their spelling and language would not be distorted by the new Kreol script. Do we want our children to write \u201cKan ou lave loto, pas servi lance, servi plito ene seo dilo\u201d <\/em>in the examination?<\/span><\/p>\n

I am not averse to the use of Kreol elsewhere. The language, which has been upgraded from \u201cpatois\u201d, does not need any support as it has grown strong enough already and is likely to develop like weeds with each passing day. But it does not need to be thrust upon school-going kids. Let\u2019s not keep brainwashing our student community by the extensive use of Kreol at each and every opportunity to the detriment of French. If the title of the pamphlet is in French, why is the same language not utilised all through?<\/span><\/p>\n

J.A.G.
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/span>Phoenix<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

* * * <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A nos Camarades Jack et Jooneed\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

By Kee Chong Li Kwong Wing<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

J\u2019accueille avec plaisir vos observations pertinentes et d\u00e9passionn\u00e9es \u00e0 la suite de l\u2019appel que j\u2019ai lanc\u00e9 pour la r\u00e9unification de la famille militante lors de l\u2019entretien que j\u2019ai accord\u00e9 \u00e0 Mauritius Times<\/em> la semaine derni\u00e8re.<\/span><\/p>\n

Abordons directement le point \u00ab\u00a0anti-B\u00e9renger\u00a0\u00bb.<\/span><\/p>\n

Il est vrai que j\u2019ai utilis\u00e9 le terme \u00ab\u00a0anti-B\u00e9renger\u00a0\u00bb pour qualifier le comportement de certains anciens militants qui s\u2019opposent au MMM. Il me faut \u00e9claircir mon point de vue \u00e0 ce propos. Il est \u00e9vident que de nombreux anciens camarades du MMM ont d\u00e9velopp\u00e9 une haine obsessionnelle contre Paul B\u00e9renger jusqu\u2019\u00e0 renier tout ce qui repr\u00e9sente ou est associ\u00e9 avec le MMM. Forc\u00e9ment, leurs d\u00e9marches se r\u00e9sument \u00e0 une opposition aveugle et syst\u00e9matique de tout ce que fait et dit B\u00e9renger, et m\u00eame quand il ne le dit pas. Par extension, ils condamnent les militants qui sont rest\u00e9s fid\u00e8les au parti \u00e0 n\u2019\u00eatre que des d\u00e9cervel\u00e9s manipul\u00e9s par B\u00e9renger.<\/span><\/p>\n

Il va sans dire que cela ne peut nullement s\u2019appliquer, implicitement ou explicitement, \u00e0 notre camarade Jack, vu son engagement et son combat inlassables et coh\u00e9rents au fil des d\u00e9cennies sur les grands enjeux de notre soci\u00e9t\u00e9. Il ne peut \u00eatre associ\u00e9 \u00e0 ces man\u0153uvres opportunistes \u00e0 caract\u00e8re personnel que pratiquent certains anciens militants \u00e0 longueur d\u2019ann\u00e9e sans \u00eatre en mesure de proposer quelque alternative valable \u00e0 Paul B\u00e9renger. Ceux-l\u00e0, \u00e0 mon avis, ne sont motiv\u00e9s que par les avantages personnels ou par pur d\u00e9sir de r\u00e8glement de compte personnel qui n\u2019ont que pour finalit\u00e9 de contribuer \u00e0 l\u2019\u0153uvre de destruction, ouvertement d\u00e9clar\u00e9e par Navin Ramgoolam contre le MMM. Or, pour moi, c\u2019est un jeu dangereux et nihiliste qui ne sert qu\u2019\u00e0 gommer le r\u00f4le du MMM dans l\u2019Histoire du pays dans une d\u00e9marche obsessionnelle d\u2019effacer un pass\u00e9 commun qu\u2019ils ont mal v\u00e9cu avec le parti.<\/span><\/p>\n

S\u2019il y a bien quelques anciens militants qui ont pu exorciser cette fixation anti-B\u00e9renger maladive et auto-destructrice, c\u2019est bien Jack Bizlall lui-m\u00eame qui a su, avec lucidit\u00e9, couper les ponts sans haine ni amertume avec son parti pour continuer sa lutte sur d\u2019autres bases mais toujours avec le m\u00eame engagement et, dans une posture id\u00e9ologique, que nos respectons. Et cela, surtout quand il s\u2019acharne contre les corrompus et les corrupteurs de tous bords et de toutes les couleurs, sans peur et sans reproche.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quant au camarade Jooneed, dont la r\u00e9putation de militant pur et dur a fait de lui un chantre de l\u2019anti-B\u00e9rengisme, il nous a fait vivre \u00e0 travers ses \u00e9crits, \u00e0 \u2018Lot kot\u00e9 Chamarel\u2019, son cheminement personnel et id\u00e9ologique au cot\u00e9 des activistes altermondialistes et progressistes \u00e0 explorer d\u2019autres voies alternatives pour un changement qualitatif de la vie des citoyens en mettant les valeurs, l\u2019\u00e9thique, la transparence, l\u2019humain, la plan\u00e8te et le bien commun au c\u0153ur de l\u2019\u00e9conomie \u00e0 travers les \u00e9nergies renouvelables, la coop\u00e9ration sociale, l\u2019eco-farming, etc. La nouvelle \u00e9quipe Jeunesse Militante vient de se former et s\u2019appr\u00eate d\u00e9j\u00e0 \u00e0 initier des actions en ce sens.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nous sommes donc en pr\u00e9sence de deux approches de transformation sociale\u00a0: la premi\u00e8re, pr\u00f4nant un changement radical de toute l\u2019infrastructure, allant de la l\u00e9gislature, du syst\u00e8me \u00e9lectoral, des institutions au cadre l\u00e9gal, ainsi qu\u2019une transformation de la mentalit\u00e9 et du \u00ab\u00a0mindset\u00a0\u00bb de la nation, et la deuxi\u00e8me, favorisant l\u2019\u00e9mergence d\u2019une nouvelle politique s\u2019appuyant sur l\u2019engagement de la jeunesse, des femmes, de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 civile, des coop\u00e9ratives, et d\u2019autres op\u00e9rateurs \u00e9cologiques.<\/span><\/p>\n

Je pense sinc\u00e8rement que l\u2019apport de ces courants politiques de nos camarades, Jack et Jooneed, ainsi que d\u2019autres encore, qui de facto d\u00e9passent le cadre de l\u2019animosit\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9gard de la personne de B\u00e9renger, peuvent contribuer dans le dialogue et par la pratique, \u00e0 donner un nouvel \u00e9lan \u00e0 la r\u00e9unification de la famille militante et la construction d\u2019 \u00ab\u00a0une autre \u00eele Maurice\u00a0\u00bb, dont nous avons v\u00e9cu avec ferveur les premiers balbutiements historiques en 1982. C\u2019est tout le bien que je souhaite \u00e0 nos militants et \u00e0 notre pays et pour lesquels nous sommes tous appel\u00e9s \u00e0 \u0153uvrer. The people of Mauritius do not deserve less. I have a dream\u00a0!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Fairy Tales<\/span><\/h4>\n

I must confess to some nostalgia on reading the \u2018Musings\u2019 of your correspondent SKR on the \u2018Spiritual Aspects of Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends\u2019 in last Friday\u2019s edition of MT. Formerly story telling was standard fare in the evenings in Bhojpuri-speaking families, complete with the songs that the characters used for conversing with one another. With the onslaught of the ‘civilisation’ that has come with the change to Creole as home language (I cannot think of anything more perverse than calling that change “civilisation”), those traditions seem to be gone for ever.<\/span><\/p>\n

Story telling was also standard fare in schools but one wonders what the situation is today. The first books that a child read were usually fairy tales; they were very useful in introducing children to the structure of the English and French languages indirectly while their minds concentrated on the details of the stories. Poetry reciting was also practised; English poetry was particularly useful because it introduced children the rhythmic nature of English words. Kahan gaye woh din?<\/em> In many respects we are progressing steadily backwards.<\/span><\/p>\n

PA Ram<\/strong><\/em>
\n<\/em><\/strong>Quatre Bornes<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Apropos BBC Complaints<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I wish to compliment you on the publication in your issue of Friday 25 March of the letter addressed to \u201cBBC Complaints\u201d on the radio 4 \u201cOk Coral\u201d broadcast on 2 and 3 March 2011, in the \u201cCosting the Earth\u201d series.<\/span><\/p>\n

The letter from Lord Avebury and others is soberly potent \u2013 enough to warrant considerable fears about the future of Nature and of humanity, let alone the Chagos Archipelago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prof. J. Manrakhan
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/span>Rose Hill<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

* * * <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cg<\/strong>rossi\u00e8ret<\/strong>\u00e9<\/strong> habituelle\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I refer to the point made by Lex in your edition of 11 March 2011, as follows: \u201c… I do not know what Pravind Jugnauth has said that Paul B\u00e9renger could qualify as \u201cgrossi\u00e8ret\u00e9 habituelle\u201d, but Paul B\u00e9renger should have been the last person to think so\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I totally agree that Paul B\u00e9renger should be the last person to give his opinion on the matter. His utterings during the last electoral campaign, as broadcast on our national television, verged on vulgarity \u2013 at times they were outright vulgar — and were condemned by one and all. However, this does not mean that whatever Pravind Jugnauth is reported to have said was acceptable. I do not know whether Pravind Jugnauth uses such a language \u2018habitually\u2019 and, to say the least, I do not really care. But for this one time I would definitely condemn whatever he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

All the \u2018grossi\u00e8ret\u00e9s\u2019 were taken up in the editorial of l\u2019express-dimanche,<\/em> 20 February 2011 — \u2018La Politique de la fellation\u2019<\/em>. The editorial was nothing but a recollection of all the swear words politicians have been using over the last decades. And, believe me, it was gross. I was simply disgusted and could not help asking myself whether this is what responsible journalism is all about.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a recent survey, Radio Plus<\/em> is the most popular radio in Mauritius. Whatever was said by Pravind Jugnauth was broadcast on the radio every hour or so. I find this quite alarming. The private radios will continue broadcasting such stuff and we cannot expect them to change overnight. However, our politicians can and should start acting responsibly. Pravind Jugnauth, besides being Member of Parliament, is equally a son, a husband and a father. Is it right to have recourse to such vulgarity? What will become of our future generations if other parents were to emulate such behaviour?<\/span><\/p>\n

R. Roshni<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/strong>Vacoas <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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