Friday 2nd June 2023 is one of these days in life. A day where nothing else matters apart from some rapturous cheers of joy from members of the national assembly and some powerful sessions of “tap latab” to express their appreciation of how OUR money will be spent. The minister responsible for our preciously taxed rupees will be the centre of attention. His photo will be plastered everywhere; the national hero of the day! Making an impact statement has never been so critical in a whole year. Each and every single movement of his will be thoroughly dissected, analysed and reported; his perfectly well-pressed suit, how many glasses of water he will gobble up, how long his poor legs will keep upstanding or how parched his throat must be at the end of the budget speech. A veritable marathon record set. Breaking news indeed.
Did I forget to mention the obligatory smiles that our parliamentarians need to sport for the photographers and reporters who are eager to capture their enlightening reactions about the daily hardships of the normal lives of normal people? A wonderful day to be dressed to the nines, be papped and show off the glitz, away from the stark reality plaguing the rest of commoners. Unsurprisingly, the latter will not be able to escape from the fangs of the ominous future awaiting them, despite the minister’s best claims that he is fighting unequalled battles to keep the economy afloat. Away from the glamour, the majority of us will sigh and keep our minds busy about how to spend the next rupee. 
Hunger Horrors
Every rupee counts. With a drastically reduced spending capacity, the average Mauritian is very much concerned with bread and butter issues. Will the budget enable him to fulfil his basic needs in terms of dietary exigencies? As a heavy importer of foodstuffs, Mauritius has found itself squeezed in terms of the depreciation of our humble rupee. It is tough to keep up with the fluctuations in the world market, with the dollar and euro mercilessly crushing us at every single opportunity. Each second spent in the kitchen is a reminder of the inequality that divides the population; the opulence of the champagne and caviar delicacies on the plate to please the posh palates of the 1% that holds the reins of power versus the “dhall and rice” or “apollo noodles” that have become a staple for many hungry stomachs.
Of course, being frugal is a quality but when multiple foodstuffs are out of reach, then it is a hangry problem. From dairy products to meat, from pulses to cereals to vegetables…One could argue that subsistence farming could be a solution. However, one should bear in mind that the prices of seeds have spiralled out of control. When one feels the pangs of hunger, one’s mind automatically travels to one’s wallet. Would the Honourable Minister please reassure us?
Baby Bust?
With an ageing population lurking precariously, foreshadowing troublesome times, it seems that the baby-making desires of many people in Mauritius have been quenched. There is no baby boom! Only a baby bust! And why? What could be behind the mystery of the lack of procreation?
Just have a look at the prices of baby nappies, food and milk! That is definitely not for the faint of heart. And yes, despite the appeals of the government to welcome more babies, one would understand that to bring new life into this world, crispy bank notes are a must! Even a simple visit to the paediatrician’s costs an arm and a leg. As the child grows, so do the expenses. Like simultaneous equations. Dear Minister, could you please help out to promote a baby boom?
Shopping Showstopper
We know! We know! The dollar and euro, the freight charges…so many factors have had an adverse impact on our spending power. As a young adult starting off in life, be prepared for countless fainting sessions if you so decide to embark upon a shopping spree. Want to buy a refrigerator, television set or a living room set? Window shopping could be a tip for novices. You have to weigh your options cautiously, ensuring you still have enough for food at the end of the month. For some rudimentary comfort, whether it is a mattress, a chair or a couch, the stinging feeling of being depleted can be oddly depressing. For those struggling on the bottom rung of the social ladder, hire purchase which initially looks like a haven can become a booby trap. Shopping can either be a showstopper or a heart stopper!
One day, even the humble “savat dodo” could be out of reach for the common lot. Furthermore, the satisfaction of having one’s own house or apartment has become somewhat of a challenge. The price of raw materials has skyrocketed and people have to get into debt to fulfil their dreams of a decent shelter. There is the surreal fear of a construction calamity which has become a new source of angst. Could the Respectable Minister investigate and soothe our woes?
Road and Rage
There is either road rage to express your utter exasperation at inept drivers or literal road rage, where you are enraged at the infrastructure you are contributing towards. A gentle reminder: the government members are paid from public funds, the very funds we actively but involuntarily help to nurture. A look at your pay slip followed by the remorseless deductions can be an extremely overwhelming exercise. With the money that you have contributed, you are urged to be thankful that there is infrastructural development throughout the island. Well, unless we are all missing a fundamental point here, the fact remains that it is our hard-earned money that is being invested. Why are we pushed to thank people we are paying to merely do their jobs? Why is there the yearning for that repulsive need to be thanked systematically for doing one’s job?
There is currently a huge divide between the central and local governments objectives, with hardly any follow-up. This explains the horrendous road networks in some parts of the island which have been cruelly neglected after votes have been garnered after the last general elections. Most municipal councils have given up, leaving a stench of rot behind. With potholes chronically tormenting our lives, rundown state buildings ruining the skyline, coupled with a lack of transparency and accountability at all levels, it is no wonder that poor roads get on our nerves. Meanwhile, some prodigal beings are treated to tax free vehicles, chauffeurs and bodyguards, courtesy of the tax payers. Oh genteel Minister, could you please deal with the lame ducks, curtail unnecessary expenses and give back to the community?
Blue-eyed Boy Bonanza
To be the recipient of blue blood is in itself a sign of the highest degree of ascribed favouritism. To compensate for the lack of a royal family with a legacy of aristocratic blood, Mauritius has tried to up its game. This accounts for the creation of a new league of blue-eyed boys who have found themselves blessed at each turn. They seem to have deciphered the secret of the Midas touch; whatever they lay their little finger on turns to gold. The country in itself has turned into their personal bonanza. These chosen creatures are everywhere; bagging state contracts, getting nominations one after the other despite their appalling track records, going on overseas trips…there is no use competing with them. Plus, they donate to political parties. Oh!
Just content yourselves with hanging your diplomas on your living room wall. Nothing more will happen if you are not part of the blue-eyed boy club. Business is after all a family affair, to be preserved scrupulously and zealously among one’s inner circle. Can we therefore blame the thousands of Mauritians departing for other shores? The brain drain is here to last. Dear upright Minister, could you please ensure that opportunities are available to retain talented people who can do so much more instead of go-getters bent on filling their own pockets?
Bugs and Bones
Actually, the prevalence of bugs in schools in the whole country is an omen accounting for the rotten state we find ourselves in. The bugs are leeching off our blood till our bones and if this trend persists, then very soon, there will be nothing left of us. For so long, we have been lagging behind in many fields; there has been no major revamping of our public sector: Information Technology, health, education, environment, sports and general infrastructure among others which need a major upheaval.
Instead of “tap latab”, this Budget Day should be a time for reflection where flaws are acknowledged and dealt with, where courageous measures should be introduced to relieve the suffering of the people instead of working them to the bone. O worthy Minister, could you kindly eradicate the bugs and parasites in our public sector and finally have the guts to deliver the country from evil?