A must read-The interview of Parapen Kugan of ReA in today’s l’express-“Les descendants d’esclaves et de coolies ne font pas partie du futur plan de elite économique

Some extracts:

« Le capitalisme ultralibéral nous avait présenté un système qui allait créer la richesse, la croissance, l'emploi et allait conduire Maurice vers le prochain palier de son développement. Or, ce sont les non-dits de ce système au moment de sa présentation qui sont à l’avant aujourd'hui:la cherté de la vie, L’inaccessibilité au logement, l'accaparement et la défiguration du paysage.Je vous done un baromètre tout simple et vérifiable. C'était la période des vacances en Europe, et beaucoup de Mauriciens qui y vivent étaient de passage à Maurice récemment Quel est leur constat? La vie est chère, même pour eux! Maintenant pour le Mauricien payé en roupies par un capitaliste qui ne cherche quầ maximiser ses profits, dans un contexte d'échec gouvernemental à maintenir l'équilibre, la situation est extrême. La façade, ce sont de grands chantiers, des immeubles en construction, mais la population n'en tire aucun bénéfice à l'exception d'une poignée et d'expatriés. J'ai commencé à parler de la gentrification en 2017. …. »

Need for BoM recapitalization !

Like in May 22, the BoM once again recorded substantial losses in Aug 22 that have wiped out its internal reserves and reduced its total capital and reserves to less than the Bank’s stated and paid up capital of Rs 10bn. (See Table below)

Getting our priorities right !

In this Sunday’s "Week-End" newspaper , we could read about the “ Pénurie d’eau à Triolet “ .

For two weeks now , hundreds of families at Triolet (and other places) are having to do with the untenable situation of dry taps and repeated cuts in water supply by the CWA . The inhabitants are fed up; they evoked the electoral promises of a 24/7 supply. Now 7 years later, they are still waiting for round the clock supply of water promised in successive budgets via the replacement of old and defective pipes across the island, the upgrading and increase of treatment plants capacities and the Increase in storage capacities by constructing strategic service reservoirs and new dams.

Some lessons from Gorbachev !

I came across this obituary on Gorbachev:

“Gorbachev explained that it was the 1986 nuclear disaster at Chernobyl that convinced him that the Soviet Union could not continue as it was: “I thought to myself, if the state cannot control a nuclear power plant of this significance, then the state is no longer functioning as a state. The state is kaput ...

When we see the devastation that splitting an atom can cause, then this is untenable; this cannot ever be acceptable. The Soviet Union was no longer viable; it has to find a new path—“

Are they taking us for a ride ?

Today’s issue of l’express gratified us with the proposals of different political parties on the economy, thanks to our very pertinent and hard-working journalist-L.M-responsible for the page " Le Journal de L'Économie".

Sharing two interesting articles : “Back to Chagos” and the book review of “ Nomad Century “

If you are squirming at our style of politics, persisting with the reminiscent days long past of dynasty, communal identity and opportunistic alliances which is no longer cutting ice with part of our electorate and you want a small break, here's some extracts from -

“Back to Chagos: They bent to their knees and kissed the sand” by Cullen Murphy in the July/August 2022 edition of “The Atlantic”

and for our environmentalist friends the book review of “Nomad Century: How to Survive the Climate Upheaval” by Gaia Vince in FT 23, August 2022

Interesting interview of Kevin Teeroovengadum in today's Hebdo:

Q: « La campagne électorale semble avoir été lancée à travers les congrès animés par divers partis politiques. Ne risque-t-on pas, dans cette tentative de seduction politique, d'affecter négativement l’économie par des projets farfelus ? »