Trouble In Paradise

Mark Twain is often quoted for saying: God created Mauritius first, then copied Paradise .  Although he is quoted out of context, the quote couldn’t be any more appropriate. Those who have visited the island can attest! Its tropical climate, pristine beaches, lagoons, mountains, valleys, coupled with its remarkable biodiversity, makes it truly paradise on earth.

One of the most captivating aspects of Mauritius is its people, who hail from European, African, Indian, and Chinese descendants. This blend makes the island a true melting pot of traditions and cultures. This unique cultural tapestry and diversity is regarded by many, including Mauritian economist Eric Ng Ping Cheun, as the island’s greatest asset.

Regrettably, despite enjoying independence for over five decades, Mauritians have been unable to fully harness their potential. This stems from a persistent social malaise related to the injustices of slavery and colonization that has never been fully addressed.  This unfortunate situation is further exacerbated by the cunning political class that has taken advantage of the people’s misery with their ‘divide and rule’ strategy to stay in power and to effectively bar the majority of Mauritians from accessing the island’s most precious resource -its land. Case in point, the poorest community in Mauritius, is the Creole community, the  direct descendants of slaves collectively own the least amount of land.

Land inequity is the main reason for economic inequality. It prevents Mauritians from achieving their full potential, as it brings out great economic disparity between the haves and the haves not! The franco-Mauritian elite, descendants of the island's initial occupiers under Louis XV, still command 36% of the land and wield disproportionate economic influence.  Land issue has been further exacerbated by the ill conceived government policies to allow foreigners to take part in the real estate market, causing land to be further inaccessible to the majority of the population.  Without land, without correcting the injustices of slavery and colonization, the mass of the population will continue to suffer, irrespective of who they choose as their next government.

Another gangrene of Mauritian society is corruption. The corrosive nature of corruption has left the population weakened, enabling the political elite to exploit their positions and maintain their stranglehold on power. It's worth noting that five of the top ten wealthiest individuals on the island are former and current politicians!  Over the past fifty-six years of independence, corruption, bribery, and misinformation have kept two political dynasties in a revolving door of power. These dynasties have consistently safeguarded and served the interest of their true masters—the elite franco-Mauritians, also known as the Mauritian Monarchy.

Land inequality, rampant corruption, and unfair business climate continue to make it impossible for the young generation to thrive. More and more continue to leave the island, and those who stay often become part of the corrupt system.

The brain drain situation, coupled with an aging population and the alarming fact that over 24% of the population suffers from diabetes and another 8% struggles with drug addiction, has left Mauritius with a physically and intellectually weakened populace. In this context, it is increasingly difficult for the average Mauritian to fend for themselves, especially given the government's oppression and crackdown on political activists.

To make matters worse,  small island states like Mauritius are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, despite not contributing much to global greenhouse gas emissions. Located in the Indian Ocean, with a tropical climate, Mauritius is considered particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including increased temperatures, rising sea levels, coastal erosion, altered precipitation patterns, and an increase in extreme weather events.  Analysis has shown that the island has been warming at a rate of 0.0216 °C/year over the period 1971–2020, with an increase in precipitation averaging 2.29 mm/year over the 1981–2020 period. However,  the island nation has witnessed several climate-related shocks recently in the form of violent tropical storms and devastating flash floods that have severely affected the economy, the ecosystem and livelihoods of many. According to the World Risk Report 2021, Mauritius ranks 51st out of 181 countries for risk of disaster from extreme natural events.