Many
countries which have joined the Smart Cities bandwagon are actually countries
which are experiencing rapid urbanization. There is a demand for such cities.
This is not the case in Mauritius. We are already facing a glut in the real
estate market with many offices vacant in prime locations including in our
Cyber City. Supply does not necessarily create its own demand.
Mauritius has its own specificity. It needs a model of development all
its own to preserve its unique characteristics. One Singaporean once advised
us not to copy the Singaporean
model in turning Mauritius into another soulless
city-state -, quedubetonnage everywhere, but he did add that we need[1] not throw away
the baby together with the bathtub. We can still keep up the idea of a
Smart Nation. Please, let us preserve that unique beauty of our island , we
need not copy what others are doing . Let us try something more suited to our
own little Mauritius.
We all
know that the country is not presently in a position to meet the preconditions
and needs of a Smart City, whether in
terms of building materials, construction workers, technology,IT personnel,
broadband networks, web-based applications, and so on. The output from these
Smart Cities are expected in the medium term and in the short term,[2] it means that we will have to rely increasingly on
increasing amounts of FDI to match the bulging current account deficits. That
's a bit risky. What if the Smart City takes its own time to take off. !!! Can
we afford that ?
Last , but
not least , don't you think that we have other priorities at present. In due
time when Mauritius has generated enough of growth and specialized skills, together we will be in a
better position to think and take advantage of the opportunities of the city-
state. Now , when our own people are not ready for it, such development will
pass them by and like in India, they will end up as bystanders. We will only succeed
in adding another enclave in the already divided nation ; this time it will be
exclusively that of expatriates, talented professionals and the propertied
class.
No .....let us invest in our people first
---revolutionize our education system to meet the future needs of our Smart
Nation
