Governments all over the world are in crisis in different degrees since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent war between Russia and Ukraine. No country has been or will be spared the full blast of the far-reaching effects of these two disasters. Vital sectors of the economy like food production, energy, trade and services have been severely dented.
The IMF latest forecast on the world economy is very grim for the next few years. Likewise, the World Bank thinks that millions more will suffer from hunger and poverty. Small economies like Mauritius, depending almost entirely on other countries for the supply of essential goods, will bear the brunt heavily.
Prices of commodities and petroleum products are skyrocketing on the world market, impacting instantly on the local market. We have seen how the recent price hike on petrol and gas has had a cascading effect on many commodities and sectors. The electricity and water tariffs are likely to be increased. The spiraling of prices has already led to protests and agitation in some parts of the island.
What is our government’s response? Send Police to disperse the protestors, without letting them express themselves?! What if the protest movement spills over other areas of the country, like in Sri Lanka? Does the Police Commissioner have a strategy to grapple with such a situation?
We need a pro-active government to come up with intelligent and mature solutions and not to allow itself to be led by events. The population is not aware of any updated strategy to boost food production and reduce further our dependence on fossil energy, to attain a large degree of food and energy self-sufficiency. Tragically, we do not even have full-fledged Ministers of Agriculture and Commerce to deal effectively with the new situation. Who is in charge here?
Parliament has not been appraised of any sound government proposed action. If the Prime Minister, as Leader of the House, allows a dispassionate debate on the full-scale of the crisis, surely the Opposition will come up with their ideas and we may then move towards some consensus on a road map. We need leadership to make this happen.
The Prime Minister has made some vague comments on the need to work together, but has shown, so far, no concrete action to follow.
DWM will continue to make proposals in the national interest. At this stage we are not re-tabling the idea of a Government of National Unity (as proposed by one of us for DWM on 30th May 2014, in Le Mauricien and retabled again by an ex-minister recently). But as an effective governance structure, we strongly recommend that representatives of the Government, the Opposition, the private sector and the civil society consider urgently the setting up of a National Crisis Committee. To listen, discuss, propose appropriate measures and communicate with the population. In the present circumstance, we sincerely believe that this is the best way forward. Will the Prime Minister take the lead? The ball is in his court.
DWM Team
Note : Le Team de DWM demeure un groupe indépendant et non-partisan. Comme toujours, nous attendons vivement les commentaires, contributions et surtout les critiques de nos fidèles lecteurs. Bonne lecture. Si vous appréciez notre bulletin, diffusez-le auprès de vos correspondants. Merci.
NOTE : Les points de vue exprimés dans cette rubrique ne reflètent pas nécessairement ceux de la rédaction et n’engagent que les auteurs eux-mêmes.
