SAFFIYAH EDOO
Three very important international days are celebrated during the month of December, namely the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd of December, International Anti-Corruption Day on 9th of December and the International Human Rights Day on 10th of December. But whether the relationship and connection between certain fundamental rights and corruption are sufficiently understood is a question worth posing, particularly in these challenging times. As the lethal spikes of COVID 19 keep on claiming lives of fellow citizens almost on a daily basis, we should stop to reflect on the quality of governance in the country. While we all agree that the COVID 19 crisis was not the doing of the government, managing the crisis and protecting the citizens of the country is certainly its responsibility. What the people of Mauritius need most, particularly at this juncture, is accountability, transparency, reliable information, care and compassion.
While almost every single person condemns corruption and sees it as immoral and a crime to be punished, very few actually pay attention to how growing corruption siphons off resources away from the fundamental rights of people. The latter are not only to do with civil and political rights, that is free speech/liberty of expression, freedom of assembly, the right to a fair trial, right not to be tortured etc… but also with economic, social and cultural rights (access to adequate food, health, education, housing and work). This in no way suggests that the civil and political rights are less or not important – far from it. In fact, they constitute the very foundations of modern democracies and in many ways contribute to making the latter tick and become vibrant spaces. However, making democracies more meaningful demands that the quality of life and welfare of people be enhanced. This can only be achieved through a rights-based approach to development along the lines of what Amartya Sen refers to when he speaks of development as freedoms – freedom from poverty, from hunger, from disease etc… Ensuring these freedoms and in so doing promoting and fulfilling people’s basic rights requires a proper and ethical management and allocation of resources. Allowing corruption to gnaw our country and watching its corrosive effects reverse the gains made so far on sustainable development goals such as Goal 1: No poverty, Goal 2: Zero hunger, Goal 3: Health and well-being etc…, also means allowing the erosion of our basic rights. It is a moral imperative to not stay silent and this is why People’s Voices Network was born whereby everyone who wants a better, cleaner and safer society for themselves, and for future generations, are able to raise their voices collectively.
It is very disturbing that, at a time when citizens are seeking for greater transparency and accountability, the country is sinking further into opacity. The recent passing of the IBA Amendment Bill testifies to this. It is shocking and revolting that while vast segments of society rejected the IBA Amendment Bill, the president of the Republic, who, by virtue of his function, is the guardian of the constitution, gave his expedite assent to the bill, permitting it to be proclaimed and gazetted. If he persists in this direction as a seemingly rubberstamp president, he will certainly go into the history books as being part of the pool who sounded the death knell of Mauritian democracy.
One element of the IBA Bill which is most worrying to us is Section 18. Although it does not overtly refer to the word ‘source’, it demands a modicum of intelligence to understand that this is what is being referred to. Isn’t this symptomatic of the slide towards greater authoritarianism which has become the hallmark of this regime? Needless to say that such a piece of legislation will impact heavily on the potential for investigative journalism. And the chances for citizens to be appraised of what is truly going on and be given the space to participate and ask for greater accountability will more than likely shrink. Those of us who are convinced that we have the ‘right to know’ and who are still waiting for the long-promised Freedom of Information Act, will increasingly feel suffocated.
The billions of rupees spent under emergency public procurements, exemplified by Hyperpharm and Pack and Blister are only two examples of how money has been allegedly channeled. When the narratives around these two examples are compounded with the multiple alleged cases such as: The “Serenitygate”/film rebate scheme scandal, the St Louis Redevelopment project, The Glen Agliotti case, the Yerigadoo/Bet 365 scandal, the Alvaro Sobrinho scandal, the Dufry scandal, to name but a few; one cannot but interrogate the complacency of the government. While we await answers to the pending cases above, we cannot help but question the effectiveness of ICAC, not to mention the huge sums of money being spent on the institution.
As we watch the unfurling of events, we wonder whether those holding the reins of power realize what governance responsibility and delivery of development is all about. It is often argued that ‘gouverner, c’est prévoir’ but we, at People’s Voices Network, believe that it is also about prioritizing in favour of people’s needs and concerns, and more so in these times of crisis. In that vein, we believe that there are more pressing matters to be passed into laws, such as the Disability Bill, the status of Artist Bill, the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Bill, which are closer to the people’s concerns than some bills presented these days and being expedited through.
That COVID 19 has disrupted our lives and wreaking havoc all over is undeniable but whether the MSM-led government understands this and is capable of examining the consequences in a dispassionate, disinterested manner, show empathy and come up with solutions to alleviate the pains and sorrows of the people, is a question that will run in the minds of the citizens for a long time to come should there be no shift in the manner of governing. Turning the tide against corruption is essential if we are to achieve the SDGs, promote peace and protect human rights.