Even if, as one of Murphy’s Laws rightly states,“a proliferation of new laws creates a proliferation of new loopholes,” a person can still tell a lot about a country from its laws. Yes, they’re passed by self-important types in the cosseted bowels of Parliament, far from the reality they’re meant to regulate.

But one has to admit that they give an idea of the general philosophy of government, whether it’s of a progressive or repressive bent, etc. More telling still are the laws that don’t exist, the ones that our politicians daren’t pass out of fear that they undermine their authority, an authority that has been reinforced by practices that fall someway short of those usually associated with democratic values. Here are three pieces of legislation that are unlikely to see the light of day anytime soon.

The Equal Opportunities Act: Anyone remembers Billy, the Prime minister’s classmate who became a cobbler simply because he was denied the same opportunities as his illustrious friend? Navin Ramgoolam never tires of boring all and sundry with tales of how this revolutionary law will change the very fabric of Mauritian society by ensuring equal opportunities for all.

Even if his pet law has been voted, it has not been promulgated. And it’s very unlikely that it will be in our lifetimes. For the simple reason that it would throw a monumental spanner in government’s pathetic habit of doling out jobs to people simply on the merit of their political affiliation rather than their competencies. It’s a pity for Billy’s kids really. And ours.

The Freedom of Information Act: How distant 2005 now seems. Back then, the “Alliance Sociale” were vying for power with a wondrously progressive manifesto that would’ve put Barack Obama to shame.

One of the Alliance’s main pledges was the promise of a Freedom of Information Act that would usher in a new era of transparency. Indeed, thanks to this law, citizens would have the privilege of requesting access to information that hitherto had been kept under wraps.

Dirty secrets would be exposed, the guilty parties punished and everyone would live…to see the exact opposite happen.

Oh yes, we’ve since discovered the hard way that Navin Ramgoolam and his lickspittles prefer to keep freedom of information on a very tight leash. In a cage. In a dark room. Somewhere in the region of Jin Fei. And anyone seeking to challenge this state of affairs can look forward to being arrested, fi red, boycotted, ostracized or all four. Remember this though - information flows, no matter how much you try to suppress it.

The Whistleblower Protection Act: In government’s defence, it never pushed ridicule to the point of promising a piece of legislation that would encourage both civil servants and private sector employees to denounce wrongdoings in their workplaces.

That would’ve been a bit of a tough act to follow for an administration that has condoned numerous wrongdoings in the name of maintaining an unchallenged stranglehold on power. The absence of a Whistleblower Protection Act shouldn’t, however, deter people from speaking out on excesses, abuses and other wrongful acts. After all, while we’re being asked to live exemplary, disciplined lives, our leaders are paragons of human weakness. This is for them,

“Either practice what you preach or shut up!”