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To The Director of the Outer Islands, Mr Soobee Norunghee

22 septembre 2018, 07:49

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Throughout history, states have banded together for their mutual defence and to reduce the risk of feuding. The EU is a fine example in modern times although Albion, not to be confused with a local petrol hub, has exercised its traditional perfidy and decided to cut off the Continent, presumably half way under the Channel Tunnel.

Athens thrived during the Golden Years thanks to the Delian League, formed by dozens of citystates for their mutual defence. It also handled the common treasury, rather like Berlin today. Parallels between past and present may not always be exact but Mauritius since Independence has had its own league of islands and, just as Athens assumed a somewhat arrogant attitude towards the other cities, Port Louis has treated its outer islands as if they were colonial dependencies, at least until a sage decision was made to give some regional authority to Rodrigues. How would the Chagos Archipelago fare if ever it were retaken? With few inhabitants from their ancestral motherland, many consider the other islands don’t matter anyway, although that may change once Agalega has a naval base.

In fact, a base would be far less intrusive on Tromelin. The French might even agree to withdraw as arms sales to the sub-continent are much more important than a weather station and China has already shown that little more than a sandbank can be easily converted. Geopolitics can be as much fun now as in ancient times although it requires more than rodeurs bouts or carapates to exploit them. By the way, rodeur has the same origin as rodent, creatures often imported on board ships. As they only sail from Port Louis to Agalega irregularly, only a select one or two ever land there. Until posts are filled on merit, the country will continue to go to the rodents, or at least fail to realise citizens’ expectations.

Given the recent imperial ineptitude, you shouldn’t be surprised if people wonder why the Hades you were ever appointed as Director. No doubt your ambitions extend beyond some kind of status and a nice salary, unlike so many other political appointees, but few know if you’ve presented any ideas. If you’d spent your days telling the overlords how to better the lot of the outer islands’ inhabitants, you could have avoided calls for your departure. Indeed, all of the public sector needs to be looking ahead and it would help to have a policy unit or policy-woman in every public body, to provide ideas and long-term plans – if only for after the next elections as serious change never happens as they loom. As for the poor Resident Manager, is he gaining experience or is it a punitive transfer? Mind you, anywhere might be better than Abercrombie.

There are obvious solutions. Despite its small population, Agalega needs a voice in the Assembly, its own MP. After all, some Port Louis constituencies aren’t exactly heavily populated. And by now there must be someone born on the island who could be the director – if it needs a director rather than a local council. Meanwhile, one of the Famous Five could transform the north island into a five-star destination – providing it agrees any plans with the locals. There could even be a small camp set aside for internal tourists as a sop to inclusivity.

By the way, does a spirit need permission to visit there – and, if so, why? Has anyone heard of freedom of movement, at least in one’s own country? Entrance to Agalega seems more restricted than to Mount Athos but perhaps there’s some religious or misogynistic reason I’ve overlooked.