The way forward
CHETAN RAMCHURN
(JEUNESSE MILITANTE)
No point in dilly dallying. Mauritius is sinking. Some will retort that
profits are on the rise, the standard of living in terms of GDP per capita
has bettered and the number of graduates is the benchmark at African level.
And still, I stand firm. This country is diseased. Indifference is gnawing
at this Nation’s Fabric. Solidarity and trust have gone missing from our
collective psyche, replaced by indifference and division. Lest, we become a
country where “One could not hear the cries of another”, there is the
need to renew our faith in change.
Our inability to be bold has logically dampened our resolve to attempt any system alteration. And since we were not courageous enough to fight against the capitalist doxa and corruption, we chose to embark on flimsy battles for quotas in an age crying for equal opportunities. The New Mauritius we need to federate around is one that is founded on truly empowered citizens.
What we need in today's darkness is a new vision for this country, sustained by capable leadership. Not of the kind that talks left and walks right. But one that has the mettle to put its ability to test by displaying flawless transparency. One that is not obsessed with power and hides behind tinted windows in the air-conditioned limousines or cowers behind bodyguards when facing the public.
Starting with the mainstream political class…
Something is inherently wrong with a country when the quality of a politician is gauged solely on the ability to get buses filled to the brim with populist means rather than the profoundness of one's thoughts and one's ability to translate them into reality. Getting the black sheep out of this sphere should be the first of our objectives. Sieving out those that have plundered and continue to profiteer starts with the disclosure of assets by all those that are or have been candidates for elections at local and national levels.
Transparency could be greatly enhanced by finally tackling the political financing issue. 2015 could be the starting point of a new era with parties financed by the state. A watchdog organisation could be set up to set the rules that all parties have to abide by to be funded. This would ideally include the refraining from
attacks and the ban of racist innuendos with severe penalties if
infringed. The incestuous relationship between private and public
spheres would thus be finally put to rest. This moratorium would then
come to an end in 2020. The latter would be the first general elections
after a long time where parties would have to finance their campaigns
solely with donations from individuals.
The new public sector
Taxpayers need to ensure that they no longer settle for the minimum level of service offered. This can only be achieved through greater transparency on behalf of public bodies. As citizens of this country, we need to know how the police force is dealing with our respective localities. We need to know what is being done to tackle crime. With greater interaction and access to information, the opaqueness associated with public bodies would be curbed. In the same vein, the health care services need to go through some serious rethinking. The sole concern of most people has been the obtaining of free medicines whereas the overarching ambition of such services should be to ensure the wellbeing of citizens at large.
With the same philosophy in mind, the state's role as protector of the people demands further efforts to break monopolies starting with the basic needs of people. This never materialised in the past due to lack of planning and foresight. But the motive behind such an intervention is a noble one and should be pursued by current and future governments.
The education sector should be revamped so as to reap individuals that can go beyond book knowledge to find creative solutions to issues. A more human view of education consists in having students stay in the same classes for as long as possible which would allow beings to cultivate a greater sense of bonding with their peers. Fewer hours in classes would undoubtedly do no harm to young souls in a land where memorised learning has been the norm for too long. Educators need to be at the forefront of this new movement and need to be given their due role in carrying out this task.
Wealth in the hands of the many…
Socialist parties cannot escape the debate on a more just redistribution of wealth. Would this involve additional levies on those that are at the higher echelons, or does this refer to constitutional reforms to reclaim land to achieve self-sufficiency in terms of food? Or on the Singaporean mode, should the State seek to have control over the most important firms of our island? Before pushing forward any such agenda, there is the need to educate people on why this is being done. Without resorting to division, with the help of thinkers and historians to understand why such an agenda is healthy for a nation that seeks to achieve growth for each and everyone, this battle for fairness will be won.
Our country's destiny is in our hands. Let us be bold and brave in crafting its future.
From the poem 'Biko The Greatness' by Benjamin Zephaniah
The way forward is an endeavour by the Jeunesse Militante that seeks to create greater awareness on a number of progressive thoughts, views and ideas. We welcome your comments on nouvo.maurice@gmail.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment