Small island but big problems

For an island usually described as paradise, the dark side of Mauritius is yet to be seen. Day by day, social issues are gaining ground despite the considerable improvements by the government and organizations. Problems such as drugs, poverty, corruption and domestic violence are harming the stability and prosperity of our nation.

 

Corruption is a growing problem in our society. Recent allegations and press reports on corruption scandals in Mauritius highlight an often overlooked issue by those new to or unfamiliar with the island. Upon first impression, Mauritius may look relatively clean, but with some digging – one may find questionable dealings under the surface. Despite the founding of Mauritius’ Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in 2002, the country still suffers from a pervasive problem. We are all aware of the existence of the number of corrupted driving licenses. This clearly compromises the road safety whereby the number of tragic accidents is also escalating. On top of that, there is the high paying jobs the relatives of our politicians benefit prior to more skilled and experienced workers. How can we rely on meritocracy in current times? As recent events have thoroughly demonstrated, corruption and abuse of power aren’t unique to any one party. Obviously, incompetency will lead to a decrease in the economy and taxpayers’ money will suffer. The experienced worker who paid a huge amount to obtain a degree and strives to earn a living risks his career if he brings the matter to the court where the lawyers ale also corrupted. We undoubtedly comprehend why Mauritius was ranked 3rd in Africa as a corrupted country.

The roots of these problems need to be tackled and more strict penalties have to be implemented so that the law is respected. Unemployment represents an adequate cause for the proliferation of various wrongdoings. According to statistics, there is a constant increase in the rate of criminal offences perpetrated in Mauritius. The police force that has the responsibility to manage law and order is overloaded with the number of crimes related to larcenies and sexual offences are reported.

The law enforcement agencies are trying all means to combat crimes but it seems that the culprits are one pace ahead of the police force. Thieves are using new methods to commit their tasks whilst very little facilities and support are provided to the police force to combat crimes. Moreover, there are certain lawyers who openly defend the culprits as latters pay them heavily with the money obtained illegally. Furthermore, the government has introduced CCTV cameras over the island since 2009 and we have seen a decline of 80% in crime rates. But how do you explain the fact that on national level, the crime rate has gone down by only 4%.  In fact, these CCTV cameras only shift crimes from one place to another. Indeed, progress will only come through a change of our mentality and with a better education system. We should stop giving politicians the power they have been receiving over the years to nominate people of questionable merit and ethics to lead our institutions. As long as people will remain silent, these social issues will never end.

Another social scourge is that of domestic violence. Most often, women are the greatest victims because after all, they are still considered as the “second sex” in certain midsts. According to statistics by Gender Links, around a quarter of Mauritian women (24%) have experienced some form of gender violence in their lifetime including partner and non-partner violence. Although there is a specific ministry dedicated to gender equality and female rights, much work is yet to be done. Domestic violence has today taken another dimension. Last week, a father was killed and his body was disposed of in a water tank by his own son as the father was reportedly having an extra-marital affair. This only points to the weakness of our society and the extent to which the family, in certain cases, fails to fulfill its purpose.