BHAWNA ATMARAM
“Vacoas pou vinn enn Manhattan”! I am sure that many inhabitants of the usually sleepy town of Vacoas fell off their seats in disbelief upon hearing those words confidently being enounced. It was not even about comparing apples with oranges. It was about comparing ‘Gato Piaw’, a roundish Mauritian delicacy with a big hole in the middle with ‘Oundé’, another spherical local delight with no hole. Literally, no comparison. Two concepts which are millions of light years away. Vacoas and a borough of New York City cannot be strung in the same sentence. Utter madness! 
Ever since that extraordinary announcement, binoculars have gone out of stock in the local town stores, as Vacoassiens have been scrambling to discover the rationale behind it. They have been peering religiously over any single detail that could have spurred this motive. I have to report that they have ended up throwing away the binoculars in frustration. Despite the best of intentions, could humble Vacoas ever aspire to the dazzling heights of Manhattan? Or better, should it?
Just like other towns, Vacoas has its fair share of issues which toy with the patience of its inhabitants daily. From potholes, narrow roads, traffic congestion, poorly maintained public infrastructure like drains, football pitches or public gyms with broken equipment, lack of recreational activities, street lighting concerns, a lacklustre town centre which is unfamiliar with urban planning…is there any ray of hope amidst the grey skies haunting us? Hail to market days which temporarily get rid of the dullness enveloping the town. Otherwise, there is a terrifyingly silent stupor which lingers.
Already the butt of jokes due to its unenthusiastic aura, Vacoas has now turned into a national laughing stock. Instead, the vision for Vacoas should be to focus on consolidating its tranquil vibe while addressing the issues mentioned earlier. We do not need to compete with the formidable skyscrapers of Manhattan. Mere concrete jungles are not welcome. We just need an efficient and dynamic local government system which is in sync with the requirements of Vacoassiens, while maximising green spaces. Out with the MAD-hattan insanity! Back to reality!
