St Jean flooded : the metro’s full-fledged EIA again and again !!!

After facing the rising waters near the St Jean cemetery during the recent heavy rains, the local habitants and our ecologists have been querying whether the metro construction works have not contributed to these abnormally high level of water accumulations.

In today’s l’express : …..’Le chantier du Metro Express à quelques mètres y est-il pour quelque chose ? Une source avance qu'avant la construction du Metro Express, ce problème n'existait pas. « je me souviens qu’il y avait des accumulations d'eau à cet endroit mais pas d'inondation comme c’est le cas actuellement » lance un habitant de Quatre-Bornes. Il est rejoint par Adi Teelock, écologiste. «Il n'y avait jamais eu d'inondation à cet endroit. Il y a au des accumulations d'eau lors des cyclones mais pas avant la construction des voies du métro » Elle s’interroge. «Est-ce que ces inondations sont liés aux travaux du Metro Express ? » Selon elle, il y a eu de gros travaux d’infrastructures « piling » faits dans cette région. «Comme il n'y a pas eu d'ElA, comme on ne sait pas quels genres d'études géotechniques ont été faits et quels sont les résultats, comme il n’y a pas eu d'études sur le Storm Water Management, on a le droit de se poser des questions»

You will recall that, in reply to a PNQ on 9 November 2018, Nando Bodha refused to submit a copy of an EIA report (..."more of a sort of monitoring plan") from the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise consultant. He simply made it clear that the report’s recommendations are being followed by Larsen and Toubro and that the government has no legal obligation to make the report public.

Some of our evironmentalists were amongst the first to sound the alarm when the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Nando Bodha, announced that the project would be exempt from a general EIA. “The government has made a big mistake by allowing this crucial step to be overtaken because it wants to rush the works. An EIA would have helped to prepare an environmental and social management plan. Now they will have to bear the consequences.”

In their zest to get the project started without adequate planning, the authorities have now to deal with a whole can of worms. Really disturbing !!!

We are coming to regret the absence of a full-fledged EIA and now we are having to bear the costs! The worse is yet to come with the ease with which cronies, the private sector and some foreign investors, via EDB , are securing the EIA certificates.

10Prakash Neerohoo, Paul Lismore and 8 others

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54 years of Independence- a reassessment !

The official version :

“Over more than half of a century after the dire prognosis about its future, Mauritius has steered itself from an impending ‘Malthusian crisis’ to an exemplary developmental poster-child. Supported by a conducive environment of political stability, rule of law, strong domestic institutions and policy continuity, Mauritius has successfully transformed itself from a low-income, mono-sector economy to a middle-income and temporarily High-income one with a diversified flourishing economy by carving out special niches in sugar, textile, tourism, financial services and ICT. In terms of purchasing power parity, its per capita income was more than three times and five times higher than the average of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa respectively.

Mauritius' economic performance has been invariably labelled as the “Mauritian miracle" and it has often been cited as the “African cub-Tiger”. It ranked, on the basis of the 2020 Human Development Index for 189 countries, 66th globally, 44th among developing countries and first in Africa and was classified in the High Human Development quartile globally. Mauritius was also ranked among the top African performers in terms of international competitiveness and 13th out of 190 countries according to the discredited World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report 2020. Life expectancy at birth, adult literacy and income distribution improved significantly to surpass average levels for upper middle-income countries.

Over the period 1970 to 2000, the impressive average real growth of 5.6 percent compared to 3.8 percent for Sub-Saharan Africa was outperformed by only a few countries namely the formerly known East Asian tigers and Bostwana. But its economic trajectory has, however, not been smooth over the years. It has been shaped by various growth cycles. From a take off in the 1960s, the economy gathered momentum in the period 1970-77 but slowed down in 1977-84 and picked up again as from 1984 to 1989. It subsequently stabilized to annual average of 5 percent up to the beginning of the millennium and thereafter dipped to an average of only 4.5 percent.” ……..

From thereon, follow our version which is more in tune with more recent facts and figures

A reassessment:

Mauritius at crossroads: But at the cusp of the millennium, after more than three decades of remarkable progress with sustained economic growth and significant improvement in the standard of living, Mauritius found itself at crossroads. It was in the midst of a challenging environment- a new era where the protected environment in which it was evolving so far was withering away. It started facing daunting challenges with the entry into the world economy of vast new sources of hard-working and highly motivated cheap labour from economic powerhouses such as China and India; the unbundling of the production chain across frontiers is accelerating across frontiers in manufacturing and extending more deeply in services; the reliance on trade is rising almost everywhere; the gradual phasing of external trade preferences for its textile and sugar and the volatility of prices; prices of labour-intensive manufacture and tradable services were falling while the prices of commodities, notably energy was rising. Mauritius has been increasingly affected by these developments.

The lost decades: Growth dwindled to an average rate of only 4.0% over the past two decades, nearly a two percentage points below the heady historical trend.

Why lost decades ? The improvements to the macroeconomic, business and investment climate and the adoption of a more simplified and growth-friendly tax and hiring system were short term and piece-meal reforms that were not accompanied by the more broad-based and inclusive reforms to tackle fundamental bottlenecks and generate sustainable growth. The low level of capital investment and the absence of sector reforms to generate productivity improvements in agriculture, industry, public utilities, health, education, public sector etc, did not prepare the economy enough for greater resilience and sustainable growth thus undermining the medium to long-term growth prospects.

We avoided making hard choices. The reform agenda remained unfinished and critical constraints to economic development became increasingly evident.

These economic constraints were more sectoral than macroeconomic, and in the absence of sector reforms to generate and enhance productivity improvements, the long run growth potential was insufficient to absorb the unemployed and growth was not broad-based enough to achieve the desired above-average growth rates.

On the social side, over the past twenty years, the proportion of households in relative poverty showed a general increase - the poverty rate decreased from 8.7% in 1996/97 to 7.7% in 2001/02, and then continuously increased in the next 15 years i.e. 7.9% in 2006/07, 9.4% in 2012 and 9.6% in 2017. In 2017, the estimated number of households in poverty was around 36,500, around 3,000 more households as compared to 2012. Similarly, the proportion of persons in relative poverty increased from 8.2% in 1996/97 to 10.4% in 2017, but with a drop to 7.8% in 2001/02. In 2017, the estimated number of persons in relative poverty reached 131,300, up from 122,700 in 2012. From 1996/97 to 2017, poverty depth, as measured by the income gap ratio, increased from 21.0% to 23.8%. At the same time, poverty intensity went up from 1.7% in 1996/97 to 2.5% in 2017

The WB report, “Mauritius - Through the Eye of a Perfect Storm” highlights that “Over the medium term, the growth process itself tends to lead to income inequality as the demand for skilled workers relative to supply widens the wage distribution and creates the evident risk that those with less education will be left behind. While the economy has been generating a healthy supply of low-skilled jobs, these have often been filled by migrant workers while many low-skilled Mauritians have stayed out of the labor force or unsuccessfully sought higher paying jobs for which they may not be qualified. Improving social protection therefore needs to be accompanied by renewed efforts to integrate more Mauritians at the bottom end of the income pyramid into the labor market. This includes targeted measures to address the specific disadvantages faced by women and youth. Additional reforms of the education system, focusing in particular on the crucial early years and the provision of second chance education to early dropouts, is key to a more inclusive labor market. “

Lost decades also in the sense that by the early years of the new millennium, when we peeled off some of the layers of the success story it uncovered a fragile underlying fabric which, for quite some time now, was being gnawed by a typical Mauritian virus - the dodo virus. Yes the historical dodo virus had caught up with the African cub-tiger. Like the dodo, the cub-tiger was cosily enjoying the spoils of its success that it has lost its competitive and enterprising drive. Indeed, the tiger needed immediate treatment. It was still a well-cocooned economy, where the economic agents haven't learnt all the tricks of competitive trade and business practices. “Markets and free competition are limited by the actions of the oligarchic families who dominate major plantations, financial institutions, real estate, trade and telecommunications.” And an education system that is no longer responsive to the needs of the economy and we had too much excess luggage on board- an over-burdened bloated public sector and unsustainable social maintenance programmes among others.

Some of our academicians, economists and thinkers were starting to question the very basis of our development model -a failed economic system that was not delivering for large parts of the population. “It is a model that cannot extricate us from our current inegalitarian low-growth economy because it encourages private sector connivance with the public sector resulting in rent-seeking activities, restrictive markets and crony capitalism.”

"Why do we have to continue with the smart cities and real estate schemes with the result that a large part of the population is being crammed into smaller and smaller and relatively poorer areas? Why do we continue to graft on our economy imported concepts of economic development like the tax-centric Global Business Sector and unproductive FDI inflows that have not delivered in terms of competitiveness, technology, management know-how and jobs ? But is this what the population really want or is it a development model imposed on us by a detached ruling elite out of touch with ordinary people’s lives, realities and hopes? -A model of an unhealthy coalition between the family-dominated political elite and the island’s few families-dominated economic elite whose policies have remained too eurocentric, and have thus been hampering our diversification strategies in markets and products.

The tourism sector, our Africa and IT strategies are paying the price today. Digital technology, for example, is moving at a fast rate often driven by the private sector, leading to doing things in new ways: more bottom-up, more plugged into outside networks and with a greater willingness to accept the risk of failure. But here our private sector is slow to move things up a gear. Where are the new emerging local and global services industries? Is our family-dominated private sector too conservative, too claustrophobic to open up to top IT firms from India, Korea, China and other Asian economies?

How can we talk about self-sufficiency in food when our strategic land assets are being sold to foreigners when they should have been put to productive use? There is also no coherence in our policies for a more optimal utilization and sustainable use of land and other natural resources, the development of our coastal regions and protection of marine life, agro-industrial production for food security and a thriving fishing industry….."

It is not the discourse that we are hearing today ; much of the talks and discussions limit themselves to the necessary constitutional reforms that would enhance gender inclusivity, abolish communal representation, and introduce elements of proportional representation. (Cast a look at the different editorials in the mainstream media, the interview of the ex-president, the "message" of the leader of the opposition and many others...). Not a word about the need for an alternative economic system...There are still many doubters about an alternative economic model for our economy to meet its future challenges.

Fighting for a change of the political system is not enough , it will be limiting our demand for social justice in very narrow terms, satisfying ourselves with the few crumbs left by the economic elite for a subservient political elite, without re-examining the use of our resources in relation to the country’s needs, including social and community needs, the natural environment and the impact of property development on our environment. Indeed, our quest “du vrai changement” should be, above all, a call for new economic paradigm that will dramatically change the socio-economic fibre of Mauritius, and especially one that will attend to the interest of "the many, not the few"..

The true discourse is the needed changes and reforms to our present economic model of development and the accompanying political system.

Let us hope that the next time we are given the opportunity of time-travelling the present unfolding development framework it would be an arduous but smooth climb all the way with fewer bumps and troughs to a firm economic foundation that has tamed the challenges to its advantage and met our expectations for a rising economic tide that could lift all boats instead of polarising the country between few haves and many have-nots.

7Prakash Neerohoo, Akhil Mishra and 5 others

Inflation, at double-digits unofficially, is being given a free pass !!!

You recall Mr Gerald Lincoln's advice to Government that “L’inflation ne doit pas devenir une obsession.” How could you expect our BoM boy to spurn such precious advice from our corporate friend?

Indeed, BoM seems to believe that by raising interest rates by a ridiculous 15 basis points and thus letting prices bubble for quite a while, they will not constrain growth ; nor will they discourage investment and employment and for sure, this small hike in interest rates will not be much of a burden for our debt-laden corporate friends .

They and the chatwa economists were queuing up to toe the line that “ le taux d’inflation est largement dû aux facteurs externes ” -putting everything now on the back of the Ukraine war. But core inflation, CORE 2 , which is non-food and non-fuel inflation, remained elevated at 5.8% compared to 5.7% in January 2022 and 4.5% in February 2021.

The external factors, especially the oil’s impact, are being dwarfed by their policy of the deliberate depreciation of the rupee which has fuelled inflation reaching 9%, year-on-year, in Feb 2022. BoM is currently allowing the rupee to depreciate by about 1/2 percentage point monthly. As in the previous 3 years, BoM is likely to continue with rupee depreciation until June 22, to again distribute exchange valuation gains to Govt for spending.

From end Dec 2018 to end Feb 2022, the rupee depreciated by 27% against the currencies of our major trading partners. The rupee has lost more than a quarter of its value over the last 3 years! The BoM allows the rupee to depreciate especially in the first half of each year so as to accumulate valuation gains on its forex reserves, which are added to its Special Reserve Fund in June, at the end of its financial year, to be distributed to Govt for budget spending.

BoM has currently borrowed about USD 1 bn to support the current level of forex reserves, but is not doing enough to prevent rupee depreciation. A shortage of foreign currency continues to prevail. Govt should apply urgent and serious policy measures to stabilize the rupee, which has already lost a quarter of its value over the last 3 years.

BoM should stop the heavy monetary financing of the budget deficit, which is aggravating pressures on depreciation and inflation. The increase in the policy interest rate, i.e., the Key Repo Rate, by 15 basis points to 2% is not sufficient to tackle inflation. The Minister of Finance announced a plan for a “assainissement des finances publiques” recently. Where is it? It is time he stops impoverishing the population!

It's all excuses, highlighting our differences not our common humanity !!!

One of my ex-comrade in arms has posted the following:

"POUTINE. Il n'a pas brûlé la Syrie .. Il n'a pas détruit l'Irak .. Il n'a pas affamé l'Afrique .. Il n'a pas pillé la richesse des pays faibles .. Il n'a pas jeté de bombes Du phosphore sur les enfants de Palestine .. n'a pas lancé de bombes nucléaires sur le Japon .. n'a pas déclenché la guerre sectaire au Rwanda .. n'a pas détruit les montagnes de Tora Bora .. n'a pas fait exploser l'Etat de Libye .. n'a pas divisé la Somalie ....

Néanmoins, ils ont attiré dans nos esprits qu'il le premier ennemi de l'humanité. Quant à ses adversaires qui ont tué, détruit, déplacé et pillé des patries, ce sont des démocrates et des humanistes !!

C'est ainsi que les médias effectuent le lavage de cerveau du public "

My reply :

Yes , it is true that in many Western democracies , its concerned institutions , the intelligence agencies and media conglomerates, are determined to control the narrative on issues of interest to them and not allow an alternative narrative to take hold.

But there have always been pockets in the West and in other democracies that have stood up for objective information as opposed to their vile propaganda- In the US and elsewhere, we have had many protest marches and clashes/fights against McCarthyism, the Vietnam war, the Iraq war, ….citizens voicing their outrage against racial inequalities and the violent attacks of civil rights protestors ..…protests that continued for six days, marking a monumental moment that has inspired decades of activism within the LGBTQ+ community…

No, the Western media and cohorts, did not succeed in getting hold of all of us turning us into chatwas ; we were young rebels with a cause; we were always fighting back, condemning them, their imperialist policies and injustices; We were students then; you recall our protests, manning the barricades against the war in Vietnam, our solidarity with the Palestinian people , our call for the "Indian Ocean as a zone of peace ", rallying behind the cry ‘Down with imperialism and neo-colonialism!! Ran nou nou Diego !!!

And with the same fervour, same passion, we condemned the atrocities of Stalin, Mao, the Khmer Rouge…on the other side of the iron curtain and welcomed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the totalitarian dictatorships.

And more recently, we joined the protests of the vast displaced/oppressed minorities condemning their mistreatment/killings/genocide at the hands of intolerant regimes-the Tutsis, the Yazdis, the Kurds, the Armenians, the Syrian Copts, the Romas, the Chechens, the Kashmiri pandits, the Rhoyingas, the Adivasis, the Tibetans and the Uighurs…u name it…

Now, we are back on the frontlines hollering again and again that “We want no war ! “ and unequivocally condemning, unlike China, India, Pakistan ,South Africa, and others …, that the Russian army’s attack on Ukraine is a flagrant violation of international law and the UN charter. There is no justification for war. Where are you , my friend, why didn't join us this time when we were rallying against these big powers war games ? why didn't you join us when we , ordinary civilians, were refusing to bear the brunt for the folly and ambition of these potentates caught in their dangerous imperialist schemes ?

We are aware that the West is not innocent; they did not do what they could to avert this war; what is now needed, is a comprehensive ceasefire, the withdrawal of all troops and a return to the negotiating table! The international peace movement must join forces to oppose any war policy in solidarity with the peace forces in Ukraine and Russia.

We have always maintained that in the new global context that saw the emergence of the nation-state in place of the multi-national dynastic empires or spheres of influence, US, EU and Russia are still clinging to or have problems in adjusting their imperialist ambitions…

We can proudly say that we did not get caught by their alluring promises about their dystopian “Brave New World” . We , convincingly and in no uncertain terms, challenged their psychological manipulation and classical conditioning .

But can we say the same of the people under intolerant authoritarian regimes who dare express diverse views……what is happening to the protesters commemorating the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, known as the June Fourth Incident; how democracy is being dismantled in Hong Kong ,India…!!! What was happening in Chechnya, Belarus, Georgia…, What is happening now to the protesters in Russia ? (The words “war,” “attack” and “invasion” are now banned from the media. Only information from “official Russian sources” – the defence ministry – is now permitted. Information about military losses or troop moral had already been classified since October. Any attempt to provide such coverage is liable to result in prosecution or inclusion on the “foreign agents” list.) Like other authoritarian governments, Russia is determined to tighten controls over the internet so as to track users, censor information flows and prevent the mobilisation of political opposition.

We have failed in supporting them. We not only allowed the media to call the shots, we have also been condoning these regimes like the “rightwing populists who express admiration for Putin, beginning with former US president Trump, who called Putin a “genius” and “very savvy” after his invasion of Ukraine. Populists including Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour in France, Italy’s Matteo Salvini, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, leaders of the AfD in Germany and Hungary’s Viktor Orban have all shown sympathy for Putin, a “strong” leader who acts decisively to defend traditional values without regard for petty things such as laws and constitutions. The liberal world has brought about huge increases in gender equality and tolerance for gay and lesbian people over the past two generations, which has provoked some on the right to worship masculine strength and aggression as virtues in themselves.”

Yes , the big media conglomerates and instruments are more powerful now but this is only part of the story; the other part is that many of us are looking and interpreting the world differently; we have changed glasses opting for the more tinted ones. We have been won over by the system; we have grown tired of fighting back , of our militancy ; as we grow older, we have turned reactionary. There is an odour of betrayal, of intellectual collapse - the consummate political apostate . We have become what we once abhorred.

Someone rightly said “ it was a loss of the Augustinian kind -the God that failed-it was an experience akin to watching a former self die." To erase this sense of insignificance that awaits any sentient person, he has to replace it by a new faith- a one-dimensional world view- reducing the complexities to false dichotomies of good and bad, us and them, and right and wrong. That’s about it.

These lines from David Horowitz, one of the famous political apostates, may perhaps help to understand those who abandoned the revolutionary hopes: “For the first time in my conscious life I was looking at myself in my human nakedness, without the support of revolutionary hopes, without the faith in a revolutionary future—without the sense of self-importance conferred by the role I would play in remaking the world. . . . I was nothing.”

When you are faced with such crippling despair, you seek refuge in identity or popular politics that thrives when ideas and practices enter and transform domains of life like family life, caste, kinship, marriage, ideologies and popular religion focussing on our differences instead of our common humanity .

Are you still there , my friend, taking sides ,witnessing this "carnage and destruction" in Ukraine !!!

Do you think that you are still fighting for a better tomorrow..?

I doubt it !!!

15Prakash Neerohoo, Paul Lismore and 13 others

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