Published in MTimes 05 10 2018
This is how the younger generation is reacting to all the attention that the proposals for an electoral reform are receiving from all quarters. They are aware that the question of eliminating the compulsory declaration by candidates of their ethnicity is an urgency given the constitutional case put up by Resistans ek Alternativ before the Supreme Court. But our youngsters are doubtful of the sincerity of our politicians to find a solution to the whole issue.They believe that most of our politicians have ulterior motives and are trying to mobilise their partisans along their sectarian interests.
The younger generation refuses to tag along and they do not believe that there will be any iota of change for the good of the country even if the electoral reform is undertaken in its best possible form. They see it all as a ploy, given that the general elections are not too far, with the actual government trying to hold on to power and the opposition parties trying to throw them out. They do ask as to why do these political parties propose electoral reforms at the end of their mandates when they are unpopular and are no longer credible. “Is it not done deliberately to divert people’s attention from the never-ending scandals, the nepotism and profiteering, the social ills and the increase in insecurity all around?
The younger generation refuses to tag along and they do not believe that there will be any iota of change for the good of the country even if the electoral reform is undertaken in its best possible form. They see it all as a ploy, given that the general elections are not too far, with the actual government trying to hold on to power and the opposition parties trying to throw them out. They do ask as to why do these political parties propose electoral reforms at the end of their mandates when they are unpopular and are no longer credible. “Is it not done deliberately to divert people’s attention from the never-ending scandals, the nepotism and profiteering, the social ills and the increase in insecurity all around?
These youngsters think there are other priorities that the Government, the opposition, the media and the general public should equally be concerned about. These are the youngsters who do not have the means and desire to migrate to greener pastures abroad. They have presently few choices and few job opportunities. The youth unemployment rate, which is proving to be much more difficult to tackle, has picked up again reaching 27.5% in the second quarter of 2018 and many of the youngsters are among the 10,000 graduates currently unemployed or underemployed and their future looks bleak. Several of these same youngsters are being employed on a contract basis such as the YEP and NSDP with poor working conditions and they feel that they are being overly exploited. These schemes are mere palliatives. They cannot think of building up a future career on the basis of these short-term skill formations and placements. They need something more concrete, more permanent, more long term.
The present national concern for an electoral reform, they are convinced, is misplaced and a waste of time as it will not achieve much because identity politics will continue to polarise our society. They feel that we should be more bothered about the vision that we are crafting and its prospects which can make a sizeable difference to the younger generation. They want to see hopeful signs as precursors of the small steps being taken to meet the aspirations of our youth. What are these small steps that will make a difference to our young thus ensuring that they are not being left in limbo, that they are not deprived of the opportunity to acquire skills in their formative years, that they need not suffer needlessly for a lack of visionary leadership?
These small steps, among others, are a concerted national effort to realise growth above the 4% threshold, a drive towards more of meritocracy in both public and private sectors, genuine attempts at reducing the widening income gaps and eliminating absolute poverty, a redirecting of FDI towards productive sectors and bold and enterprising reforms that will chart out a new model of development propelling the economy to a new plateau of growth and opportunities.
Of what use are all these debates on electoral reform when our own younger generation finds that it is all a sham and a ridiculous show that they refuse to condone and be part of. They have seen it before. Lepep Admirab who votes for change every five years but nothing really changes. Paradoxically, for a country that will be requiring greater inputs from its youngsters in view of the greying society, we seem to be offering them more reasons for migrating to brighter places where the future looks less bleak and uncertain.
