They never learn, do they? When workers complain, they turn a blind eye to the grievances, when the public protest, they explain it away, when they are called to account, they get on their high horse. And when workers refuse to toe the line any longer, they threaten.

“We won’t tolerate this”, bellowed Shakeel Mohamed, “this strike is illegal, you will lose your jobs!”; “Go back to work”, added Bachoo who had the nerve to say that he didn’t understand why the NTC employees went on strike.

Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Where have Bachoo and Mohamed been all this time? What, Bachoo didn’t know that drivers and ticket collectors were asked to risk their lives every day by boarding those poor excuses for buses that the NTC provides for commuters every day? He didn’t know, he who thinks his mandate is to run the NTC, to poke his nose everywhere it’s not supposed to be, how fed up workers were? He didn’t know that they have been threatening to strike for about a year now? Mohamed doesn’t remember why he rushed to have the amendments to the labour laws voted earlier this year? To prevent a strike at the CNT and in the harbour? Oh I’m sorry, that’s right, that wasn’t at all the reason for the Labour minister’s haste, was it? It was because “evil” Ashok Subron was brewing agitation because hey, he gets a kick out of it. That’s at any rate what government will have us believe soon.

Except it’s getting a bit late for such nonsense. The disruption by the NTC strike is directly attributable to the way Bachoo has been running the NTC and the decision to deprive the NTC of profi table routes was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

In case you’re wondering why I’m blaming the minister and not director Robin Soonarane, that’s because I happen to know that the director spends his days in Bachoo’s office, taking orders directly from his minister.

You might be interested to know that Anil Bachoo feels that the main reason for the problems at the NTC is due to a lack of genuine spare parts for the buses. Spare parts for some makes of buses are simply not to be found, dear Bachoo tells us. What kind of buses has the NTC bought then? Hearses to better kill people? The minister’s attitude when the NTC requested the Central Procurement Board to launch a tender for the purchase of 65 buses is telling. He wanted the board to amend the tenders so “other” companies could take part in the tender exercise. When Ashwin Dookun, the Chairman refused, the tender exercise was cancelled. Do you know why? Only one company qualified- ABC- and their offer was deemed too expensive.

Yes, let’s not buy expensive buses for our people; let’s buy hearses rather; who cares if we can’t find spare parts for the buses, later?

And then, they are surprised when there’s a revolt. I told you, didn’t I? They never learn.