22. Come gather 'round people

Wherever you roam

Dear Friends

I have distance, but not the emotional distance required. (warning this newsletter contains pop culture references)

Part of what I do in my grown up space is understand and mitigate risk. In fact we all do it.

“The weather reports says it will rain today, so I should take an umbrella”

Now weather reports may get it wrong, but I may still take an umbrella. The weather is complex, we are getting better at prediction, but that is what we are faced with.

In Mauritius, MVS Wakashio has been separated. They have scuttled part of the ship in the ocean. With the complexities involved in marine science, and contradictory opinion offered by experts, it should have been an operation dictated by data, it seems rushed.

Anyway a tug carrying a barge from Wakashio sunk, costing the lives of sailors and presenting a minor oil spill. Already we are on an EU blacklist, our tourist industry is on is crippled due to the ongoing pandemic. The pandemic seems like a distant memory to Mauritians.

Friends who live abroad, keep an eye on us

Nish

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Mauritius - coming to a cinema near you

This seems like a film…

Episode 1 - Attack of Wakashio

For reasons as yet unknown, MVS Wakashio runs aground in Mauritius, threatening a pristine waters and nature reserves. Incompetent leaders fail to acknowledge the threat posed and understand the risk. What they said would not happen, happens. Wakashio starts to deliver its payload.

Whilst the government calls for international help, 12 days later. In the meantime an army of light assembles, an alliance of civilians and civil society united in purpose to defeat the evil attacking our home. Improvising with what they have and supported across the island, warriors go to battle. Battlefronts are opened against the spill, with volunteers turning the tide, as the government starts to take action, and people holding the government to account.

Wakashio is defeated, but it emerges that this is a battle for the future of Mauritius.

Episode 2- The rise of Bruneau

The screenplay is currently being written, but this is the story so far.

Bruneau Laurette having launched a civil action against two ministers in the previous episode, spearheads a mass protest against the government. He has done more to unite the people, the opposition political parties who are still seen as part of the problem, mobilise with him, but in apolitical way.

Forces allied with the government launch counter strikes, with a hastily arranged duty free sale, the same day as the march. Some religious groups are mobilised against this march, social media is awash with fake recordings and allegations against Bruneau.

We did the second march which is at the site of Wakashio and will see if the Mauritian people will stand. Bruneau is the hero of the moment, and one which Mauritius needs.

A bit about Bruneau…..

He is an ex private military contractor, krav maga teacher, activist and patriot, he has worked security against piracy. He is a trained firearms instructor and has instructed police forces across Africa. He is after transparency and accountability. The fact is that Bruneau was on the ground helping Mauritians before Wakashio, I contributed to his efforts without knowing. He is a lightning rod and his team are a force for good.

Maybe in the future we will see internet facts about Bruneau:

Bruneau Laurette never wet his bed as a child. The bed wet itself out of fear.

When Bruneau Laurette crosses the street, the cars have to look both ways.

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed... unless it meets Bruneau Laurette.

Episode 3

If all goes as planned we blow up the death star and the Emperor, without human cost. We then meet on the forest moon of Endor.

Well no, Mauritius and Mauritians need to ask themselves a question of what they believe Mauritius should be. Mauritians need to ask themselves who they want to be.

My view

I support transparency and accountability in government and society. These should have been by design, successive governments here have been mired by scandal, and have not corrected themselves. Over the years, successive parties and governments have mobilised communal support to further their power and patronage. The political scene has been dominated by the same people over the past 50 odd years of independence. There is a fallacy that politicians are still governed by a pragmatism of how the systems works. I am sure many people have entered politics to make changes within an existing system, as a real opposition is not powerful enough to make a difference.

I touch on realities in previous editions, the systems in place are self sustaining and difficult to get out of. The systems of patronage are entrenched, meritocracy is a joke.

Now everyone knows this. However the conversation around religion appears to be a constructed distraction, keeping eyes away from the problems of government.