Avons-nous une conscience internationale ? Je me pose cette question tant j’ai le sentiment que la diplomatie de Maurice est en panne sèche. Cela fait plusieurs mois que le pays est privé d’un ministre en titre des affaires étrangères. Depuis le départ de Madun Dulloo en mars 2008, c’est le Premier ministre, Navin Ramgoolam, qui a pris le portefeuille des affaires étrangères, cumulant ainsi, outre la primature, la défense, les affaires intérieures, la fonction publique et les réformes administratives, Rodrigues et les territoires d’outre-mer du pays. Il va de soi que c’est trop pour un seul homme. L’île Maurice a besoin d’un vrai ministre en titre, une réelle vision pour notre diplomatie, parce qu’ailleurs le monde bouge, et rapidement. Le Chef du gouvernement ne peut pas être en constant déplacement à l’étranger en qualité du ministre des affaires étrangères.

Il n’est pas acceptable que le Premier ministre tarde à nommer un vrai chef de la diplomatie pour des raisons purement électoralistes et partisanes. Certains diront qu’il attend de savoir s’il doit ou pas organiser une élection partielle dans la circonscription d’Ashok Jugnauth, pour éventuellement faire savoir aux électeurs de la circonscription que son candidat serait ministre dans son gouvernement. Ce qui serait une motivation supplémentaire de l’électeur pour voter pour son candidat. Faire passer l’intérêt de son parti avant l’intérêt national est, bien entendu, fort condamnable et mérite une sanction sévère.

Le monde est aujourd’hui, comme on le dit communément, globalisé ou est devenu un village global. Un ministre des affaires étrangères a un rôle crucial à jouer dans le développement de son pays, dans l’interaction avec d’autres pays. Il ne fait plus de la seule représentation à l’étranger. Il met en œuvre une diplomatie d’influence suivant une stratégie ou une géopolitique bien réfléchie pour le bénéfice, le développement économique et le rayonnement de son pays.

La République de Maurice n’est pas un si petit État, même si nous faisons partie, avec raisons, des États insulaires. La République est composée de plusieurs territoires ou îles, répandus dans l’Océan-Indien, indépendamment de nos revendications sur les Chagos (dont Diégo Garcia) et de Tromelin. Nous sommes composés au moins de Maurice elle-même, Rodrigues, Agaléga, l’archipel Cargados Carajos (St-Brandon) et d’autres dépendances comme les bancs Saya de Malha (40,808 km² de sable émergé) et Nazareth et des îlots. Nous avons, en possédant de tels territoires, notre destin international à forger.

Il ne serait pas inutile de souligner que la République de Maurice a, au minimum, une Zone Économique Exclusive (ZEE) reconnue internationalement large de 1.294.000 km² ! Alors que le Royaume-Uni, à titre comparatif, ne possède aujourd’hui que 3.973.760 km². La Zone Économique Exclusive est les 200 milles marins (370,4 km) à partir des côtes du territoire national constituant le territoire marin (ou mer territoriale). Autrement-dit, la République de Maurice rayonne dans l’Océan-Indien. Ce territoire pourrait s’accroitre (devenir approximativement 1.900.000 km²) si Maurice récupère sa souveraineté sur les territoires faisant actuellement l’objet de contestation, à savoir, les Chagos et Tromelin.

Au 21^ème siècle, on ne peut pas négliger l’importance de l’étendue de notre territoire, qu’il s’agisse de terre ou de mer. Cette question a trop longtemps été négligée. Avec les nouveaux moyens technologiques et scientifiques, toute partie du globe peut être exploitée. A titre indicatif, le pôle nord, autrefois laissé à l’abandon des seuls scientifiques est aujourd’hui l’objet de la plus grande convoitise entre les grandes puissances. Le Canada revendique son entière souveraineté alors que les États-Unis affirment que les eaux constituant le passage nord-ouest font partie du domaine international, donc accessibles à tous. Il en serait de même du pétrole ou d’autres ressources si jamais ils y sont découverts !

En ce qui nous concerne, notre espace marin nous procure d’emblée des ressources marines énormes. Par ressources, on entend celles résultant de l'exploitation de ses eaux pélagiques, du fond de l'océan, et du sous-sol de celui-ci. Les exploitations de surface sont également visées. Les parties émergées peuvent être exploitées à des fins touristiques. La mer peut aussi être exploitée à l’instar de ce que fait Dubaï quand bien même nous n’aurions pas les mêmes moyens financiers. Le moment pourrait venir un jour où nous disposerons le financement ou les promoteurs nécessaires. Il est également question aujourd’hui de fabriquer de l’énergie grâce aux vagues un peu comme les éoliennes grâce aux vents.

C’est pourquoi je pense que notre conscience territoriale doit demeurer un élément essentiel de notre diplomatie. La reprise sous notre souveraineté des territoires ayant fait historiquement partie de Maurice (les Chagos et Tromelin notamment, outre éventuellement comme l’a indiqué Paul Bérenger, les îles Glorieuses, Amsterdam, et St-Paul) doit constituer un axe principal de notre diplomatie. Ce ne doit pas être un simple sujet à évoquer, comme le fait l’actuel gouvernement, lors des rencontres internationales, pour avoir bonne conscience. Il est d’ailleurs fort regrettable que les autorités n’ont pas donné suite aux conférences de Paul Bérenger au cours desquelles il a fait la démonstration, arguments solides à l’appui, de l’appartenance à Maurice d’un certain nombre de territoires. Maurice (ou Isle de France) était le chef-lieu des Mascareignes et peut le redevenir.

Au-delà de la question territoriale, la République de Maurice est un relativement grand pays de par sa diversité culturelle et linguistique. Les grandes villes du monde, Londres, Paris etc., deviennent aujourd’hui cosmopolites à l’instar de ce que nous sommes déjà. Nous sommes constitués de cette diversité dès la création même de notre État. C’est un atout considérable à mettre au service de notre diplomatie. Pas seulement en faisant de la figuration ethnique lors des déplacements d’une délégation mauricienne à l’étranger (par exemple, mettre des sino-mauriciens dans la délégation lorsqu’elle va en Chine), mais en multipliant notre présence effective dans plusieurs pays. Il est bien malheureux de se rappeler que Maurice était absente lors du vote de l’adoption de la Convention sur la diversité culturelle le 20 octobre 2005, ce qui constitue un faux pas qui n’est pas passé inaperçu auprès de certains pays. L’absence de Maurice a été interprétée comme un soutien à la position, très minoritaire, des États-Unis et d’Israël. La République de Maurice devrait être à l’avant-garde en matière de diversité culturelle parce que nous en somme l’exemple vivant d’une grande réussite en la matière. Or, nous avons laissé passer une chance historique.

Par ailleurs, nous ne disposons pas plus d’une vingtaine d’ambassades auprès des pays étrangers malgré notre grande diversité culturelle et religieuse. Nous n’avons aucune ambassade après des pays du Golfe Persique alors que c’est une région qui connaît un développement économique d’envergure avec l’émergence de puissances économiques comme l’Arabie-Saoudite, les Émirats Arabes Unis, le Qatar etc. Ces pays se sont lancés dans une diversification de leur économie en faveur des nouvelles technologies, du commerce et du tourisme de luxe et des affaires. Nous devons y être présents pour récupérer une partie de ce développement à notre bénéfice. Nous avons aussi une relation cultuelle forte avec notamment l’Arabie Saoudite de par le nombre de pèlerins mauriciens qui s’y rendent tout au long de l’année. Notre absence dans ce pays n’est pas justifiée. Nous ne sommes pas présents non plus en Amérique Latine alors qu’un pays comme le Brésil fait une percée sur la scène internationale. Le même raisonnement vaut pour l’Afrique du Nord qui connaît un boom économique. C’est le cas du Maroc et de la Tunisie. Inversement, très peu de pays étrangers de la planète ont une mission diplomatique chez nous. Nous devons les inviter à mette en place une représentation chez nous. La situation actuelle ne correspond pas à notre capacité de rayonnement sur la scène internationale.

Il est urgent pour Maurice d’être présente auprès de tous les pôles économiques de la planète. Les mauriciens, en tant qu’individus, y sont présents, d’ailleurs presque partout dans le monde grâce à l’émigration. Il n’est pas inutile de rappeler en ce sens que le mauricien, de manière générale, réussit très bien son épanouissement à l’étranger et surtout dans les grands pays de la planète en Europe et en Amérique. Notre diversité linguistique et culturelle nous le permet.

Avec la mondialisation deux langues se sont imposées ; d’abord bien entendu l’anglais et ensuite le français. Nous sommes un des rares pays, outre peut-être le Canada, à pouvoir pratiquer de manière générale le bilinguisme anglais-français. Nous pratiquons aussi d’autres langues non négligeables. C’est un atout considérable que nous devons davantage exploiter pour notre rayonnement. Nous avons une avance. Cela nous permet par exemple d’abriter des instances internationales ou, du moins, africaines ou régionales. Il est malheureux que par la faute de autorités actuelles l’île Maurice n’a pas pu accueillir en son sein la Cour Africaine de Justice alors que Maurice présentait des atouts considérables : tradition démocratique et droit mixte (common law et droit civil français) et accessibilité aisée et pouvait être un consensus entre anglophones et francophones. Avoir chez soi des instances internationales est très important pour être mieux connu dans le monde. Cela participe à notre image, nécessaire, nous le savons tous, pour notre développement économique.

Nous devons faire un effort en ce sens. De par notre ouverture sur le monde, notre diversité culturelle et linguistique, Maurice doit abriter des instances internationales. De même, il nous appartient de multiplier l’organisation de colloques et conférences ou sommets d’envergure internationale chez nous. L’actuel régime n’a pas beaucoup d’actifs à cet égard contrairement aux temps où la famille militante était au pouvoir.

Notre appartenance à plusieurs organisations internationales nous permet de faire un lien entre elles. Nous pouvons être un pont entre la SADC (Southern African Development Community) et le monde francophone. C’est dommage que cette idée, que j’avais lancée lorsque j’étais aux responsabilités, n’a pas été suivie par la suite. Nous pouvons également être un trait d’union entre le Commonwealth et la Francophonie.

Beaucoup de chantiers sont à ouvrir par notre diplomatie. Il ne suffit pas de faire venir quelques investisseurs étrangers chez nous. Parce que d’autres pays émergents économiquement font de même avec succès aujourd’hui.

Notre diplomatie doit faire œuvre d’innovation et de propositions au sein des organisations internationales et non pas simplement signer des conventions ou traités élaborés par les autres. Nous avons un devoir d’initiative. A nous de participer ou prendre l’initiative de la rédaction des conventions. Récemment, Maurice a choisi de faire partie de la zone libre-échange des pays membres de la SADC (SADC free-trade area). Avons-nous analysé les conséquences pratiques d’une telle intégration ? Je ne le pense pas. Car qui dit zone de libre-échange dit également, à l’instar du modèle de l’Union Européenne, libre circulation des personnes et des marchandises à court terme. Sommes-nous prêts à accueillir chez nous les ressortissants de certains pays membres de la SADC qui connaissent de graves difficultés économiques et politiques et administratives de manière récurrente ? Faut-il rappeler que certains des pays membres de la SADC sont dirigés par des régimes dictatoriaux et connaissent la rébellion, le génocide, et pratiquent la répression politique la plus violente. L’Europe est confrontée à des demandes d’asile politique de manière débordante des ressortissants de ces pays. Certains ne sont pas des États dits capables encore. Je pense que Maurice aurait dû émettre des réserves à ce sujet.

Notre diplomatie doit être plus prudente. Il serait mieux pour Maurice de s’engager dans une aventure d’ouverture des frontières avec des pays qui pourraient nous tirer vers le haut que vers le bas.

Dr Ismaël DILMAHOMED

Ancien Ambassadeur de Maurice en France

Article publié dans le Journal l'Express du 25 août 2008

Ek osi ki kan misye Bérenger ti premye minis, “He had not even inscribed it (Le Morne) as a National Heritage”.

Premyer'man

Si enn dan sa bann esklav maron ki ti zete depi montay lemorn parski li prefer lamor ki esklavaz, bann dimunn a'lepok ti truv so lekor ek fuy enn tom pu li, mo demann mwa si Navin Ramgoolam ti pu al dans robo lor lamizik sega lor so tom !

Le Morne an verite li enn memwar trist, pa enn plas kot al fer fiesta. Enn dimunn ki mantal'man korek zame pu kapav al met lafaya “dan enn simityer” parski swadizan lemond antye finn rekonet so valer... kot bann esklav maron ti prefer swiside ki ansene.

Mo donn misye Bérenger rezon pu pa swiv Mr Macarena & Band.

Dezyem'man

Ki sa finn avans nu ki Le Morne finn inskrir kuma enn Eritaz Lemond ? Sel diferans ki ena avek inskripsyon Le Morne dan Eritaz Lemond, guvernman finn truv enn nuvo mwayen pu depans larzan lepep dan met lafaya ek "sul" lepep. Si lalyans sosyal ti resi tir Moris parmi bann nimero 1 dan bann lalist nwar ki nu pei okipe dan lemond, lerla nu ti pu al fer la fiesta avek Navin, mem si nu pa pu kapav dans osi byen ki li. Me atansyon, pa dan simityer sel'man !

La fason ki zurnal'la finn pibliye sa lartik'la, ek bann kestyon lalyans sosyal, nu truv ant bann fraz enn insitasyon ver bann lekter ki suvan zot bann gob'tu. Zot pe rod fer krwar ki misye Blanc byen merd ar bann nwar. Enn fason pu gagn bann nwar zot vot dan prosenn eleksyon. Mo pu terminn mo reflexion avek enn kestion ki zurnal la finn poze dan la'fin so lartik:

“Got the message?”

Tahir Hussen Pirbhay
tahir.pirbhay@gmail.com
www.pirbhay.com

I was listening to someone’s a business idea a few days ago and that person seemed totally confident that the idea could be concretized into a viable business. In theory and in isolation, the business idea would have worked because it was based on a conventional model that satisfied the basic requirements of clients.

However, in the current Mauritian context, it was a replica of its competitor’s business model.  The core offering was identical to what the competition was already supplying on the market. It was just a conventional business idea that would definitely struggle in the increasingly competitive business environment we have today.

So I started talking about how the basic idea could be further developed into an innovative business model with an attractive proposition and transferable value. I talked about how we could study the target market and unearth new opportunities for which an offering could be developed. I proposed a fresh approach to building relationships with the target customers in order to give them an inspiring & memorable experience of the offering, which would also have a lot of human-touch. I suggested how to turn the conventional business idea into an innovative one.

But that person was not in sync with what I was saying as there was a fixation on using personal political contacts to make the conventional business take off and make money. In that person’s mind, it was clear that for someone to do business in Mauritius, they just needed good political contacts, and irrespective of what the business model and offering were, they’d be making money.

I guess that to some extent, what that person believes in can probably work for a short period of time. It could have been highly relevant and successful 10 to 20 years ago. But today, someone who has such a business mindset is definitely not going to build a lasting business. This is not the first time I am coming across such a business mindset - most Mauritian business owners have no clue how to innovate and revitalize their model and offering. And they also do not want to know as it seems they are quite comfortable with what they have acquired - They rest on what they have acquired and think it will sustain their success though time.

Whenever some people start talking about their business ideas or when you read their business plans, you can see that they think they have the best ideas that will enable them achieve great success and to be the best business. But when you look at their approach, it is the same like everyone else is doing. Unfortunately, things have changed today: What we do is important, but its how we do it that’s more important.

Profeser, to gra ek ingra !
apel 40 minit anplis
vilger ek insiltan,
dir ki zot pe sof ban
kan zot ena enn lalis travay pu fer

Zot pe kriye "al-dusma dan lekol",
Prezidan UPSEE pe revolte
Paraouty dir si bizen,
zot pu fer la'grev enn zur,
me bann zelev ki pu perdan!

Li resanble enn tet'brile
ki nepli konpran nanye
lamante ki bann zelev bizen reste zot si
kuma'dir bann ti'lespri
ranpli ar zaluzi

Purtan Minister Ledikasyon
kinn fer prev la'sazes
finn explik zot, sa bann ki ena disan pares
ki pe kul dan zot la'venn
ki bizen fer pu pa sof ban

Ek dan zot bann fonksyon
ki zot ena pu fer
dapre Minister,
Pena okenn kontak direk
avek bann zelev

Kitfwa bann profeser
pe anvi al lakaz pli vit kuma bann zelev,
alim tele ek sof sofa
pu get ti komik
ek nana ...

Uswa zot ankoler
parski letan egal larzan
zot finn prive 40 minit leson prive
eski zis rupi ki ena dan zot lizye ?
eski profeser...

... zot bann komersan ledikasyon ?

Tahir Hussen Pirbhay (Kabir Hussen)
tahir.pirbhay@gmail.com
www.pirbhay.com

4 Zilyet dan forum lemauricien ou ti dir ki anseign bann zelev an kreol dan lekol pa bon ek "Pou ki enn zanfan kapav ekrir bon kreol mo panse li bizin ena enn bon nosyon angle ek franse akoz ninport kouma, li pou bizin konn lalfabet…".

16 Zilyet dan mo repons mo ti ekrir ki :

2) "Alfabet romin pena nanye spesyal avek angle ouswa franse. Eski bann Italyen, Espanyol ouswa bann Portige, pou ki zot aprann ekrir zot langaz respektif, zot bizin al aprann angle ouswa franse? Enn zelev ki pa konn ni angle ni franse, ou anseign li kouma lir ek ekrir langaz kreol avek itilizasyon bann alfabet romin, li konparab avek enn zelev ki premye fwa pe aprann lir ek ekrir angle ouswa franse. Pou tou-le-de ki enn nouvote."

23 Zilyet dan ou repons ou ti ekrir ki :

3) "Mo dakord ki kapav servi kreol dan lekol pu explik zenfan kan zot pas comprend kitchose... Kreol li dans nu kiltir li un deban methodes plis simple pu enseigne zenfan pu ki zot kave assimile pli boku ek vite."

4) "Met autant lemphaz dans utilizazion kreol pas un bon lider ek si un zenfant aprann ecrire kreol avant un bon utilization anglais soi francais zenfant la pu ena un tendance kreolize anglais soi francais... un ti exemple : ze pars a la boutik..."

Argiman ki ou finn suleve li "tansyon nu kreoliz angle/franse". ME OU PA TI REPONN MO DEZYEM PWIN (get nimero 2 la'o).

31 zilyet, swit a'sa let'la, mo ti ekrir :

7) "Lanseignman dan langaz kreol ziska form 3 pena nanye a'vwar avek prononsyasyon bann mo angle ek franse... bann Indien koz angle boukou fwa plis ki bann Morisyen me mem sa, zot laksan mediok. Laplipar bann Indien kan koz angle, zot sonn vilin. Zot langaz maternel fer defo dan zot laksan."

Le 11 Out 2008, Dan ou repons ou ekrir ki monn al andeor kad. Eski ou kapav montre mwa kot sa ? Ek ou ti ekrir ki :

8) "... konsernan zelev dan lekol primaire sans aukun doute profeser bizin explik zot en kreol pu eclarci ban points ki zelev pas comprend.A mezir zelev la grandi dans enkadrement primare ,bizin diminuer lenpaz lor kreol."

konpar avek mo lide anseign'man bann size an kreol dan lekol ziska form 3.

9) "... mo tou a fait dakord ki sant dapel ek lindustri tourist pe prospere.Akos dans nu system ledikasyon aktuel nu inn met lanphaz lor anglais ek francais.Li vrai ki etranze perfer moris pu inplant zot sant dapel."

ek toutswit apre ou dir :

10) Mo ti envi met li claire ki li pas zis akoz ki mauricien ena un bon akcent.Ena lezot fackteur kuma [1]Nu deja ena infrastriktiire [2] Nu ena minndev bon marse.

Eski mo finn dir lekontrer ?

Eski ou finn deza tann afrikin nwar frankofonn koz franse ? Pourtan li koz franse tou'le'zour, me so aksan diferan avek enn aksan franse franse. Mem enn franse dan lavil, par exanp parizyen, so aksan diferan avek enn franse ki dan vilaz.

11) Mauricien ena bon akcennt akoz nu bilingue.

Par bileng mo panse ou pe fer referans avek angle ek franse. Komye Morisyen pa konn koz angle ek franse koura'man, me zot koz bann langaz oryantal san okenn difikilte avek enn aksan orizinal, mem si zot pa koz sa bann langaz'la tou'le'zour ? Ena boukou Morisyen ki konn koz Urdu, Hindi, Sinwa, tamil ek arab par exanp, koura'man, me zot zis konn debat dan angle ek franse. Ena pa mem konn koz angle ek franse.

Alor krwar ki angle ek franse pe beni nou laksan li total'man absird.

12) "Mo pu redire pu ki un mauricien kave ecrir kreol li bizin ena bon maitriz anglais ek francais avant."

Olye ou fer enn repetisyon Mamzel Mottee, mo prefer ou prezant mwa ek bann lekter ou bann rezon kifer ou krwar avek sertitid ki bizin konn metriz angle ek franse pou ekrir kreol (lir mo reaksyon dan nimero "2").

13) "Kreol li important,li nu kiltire,li nu eritage.Lavenir nu ti pays li dans un bon notion language etranze ecrit ek parle pu sectur touristik,buizness ek relation international"

a) Le 4 zilyet ou ti ekrir preske mem zafer :

"Kreol nou servi li dans nou lavi toulezour dan Moris ; se nou leritaz me nou zanfan bizin konn servi bon angle, franse, ek lezot lang pou nou kapav debat dan sa lemonn rapid-la."

b) Enn reket, sil'vou'ple, mo alerzi avek repetisyon. Si pena nanye pou dir, li bet pou kontinye ekrir sof si ou prezant bann nouvo argiman, explik an detay ou bann argiman ek reponn bann kestion ki finn poz ou. Enn fwa ou finn ekrir enn zafer, pa la'penn re'ekrir li apre. Repet enn zafer 100 fwa pa pu donn ou rezon.

c) Ou repete ki langaz etranzer inportan... pou sekter touristik. Eski dan mo prosin let mo sipoze ekrir "Ena lezot fackteur kuma [1]Nu deja ena infrastriktiire [2] Nu ena minndev bon marse.". Non, mo pa pou fer li. Pa parski ou finn fini ekrir li, me parski li souzantandi. Ou pe konpran seki mo pe dir ou ?

Tahir Hussen Pirbhay
tahir.pirbhay@gmail.com
www.pirbhay.com

We are talking about Mauritius in terms of economic growth, modern nation, and future Africa/Asia hub, but we don’t pay much attention to crucial aspects like social balance, equitable wealth spread, and a Mauritius that has a place for everyone. We don’t realize that these crucial aspects have a major contribution towards helping the country progress.

I understand that making this country good for everyone is not a straightforward task, but I was amazed by how oblivious a great majority of Mauritians are to what is happening in their own country. When I showed them this documentary, they were so shocked to see the level of poverty that existed in our country.

If we don’t even know what serious problems really exist, then how are we going to start talking about finding solutions. Mauritians are increasingly becoming self-centered individuals who just focus on acquiring wealth. We forget that others exist around us. We forget that we will have to spend this wealth in this very society, and if the society turns upside down because we forgot that others existed, then our wealth will not be worth anything.

Je découvre à l'instant un fervent adorateur des chats siamois, également célèbre musicien français.

Il s'agit de Maurice Ravel, qui vivait en compagnie de plusieurs représentants de cette race, dans sa maison des Yvelines (Le Belvédère, Montfort-l'Amaury, Île de France).

Voici quelques extraits retrouvés ici et là à ce sujet :

Maurice Ravel aimait les chats siamois, ses compagnons l'ont probablement inspiré quand il a composé la musique de L'Enfant et les sortilèges, poème lyrique créé en 1925.

Source : Asiacat.free.fr

Ravel habite seul le Belvédère, avec la compagnie de chats siamois et d’un chien appelé « Jazz » et avec l’aide d’une gouvernante qui vient veiller aux tâches domestiques.

Source : Yvelines.fr

Il aimait aussi beaucoup les chats et vivait avec une famille de siamois qui faisaient la loi dans la maison de Montfort. La violoniste Hélène Morhange racontait comment ils jouaient sur les pages fraîchement écrites du compositeur et y laissaient leurs traces de pattes boueuses.

Source : AbeilleMusique.com

During a conversation with a journalist, something was pointed out and I could not find its irrelevance: “We live in a country that is built on mediocrity & passivity”.

The negative side

We are mediocre in most of the things we do. We are not very original as we seldom create. We either bring ideas from other countries, or we just copy/steal (and even that is badly done in most cases). We are good at embellishing mediocre things  & people. We then make-believe these things & people are fabulous. 

I think our mediocrity exists because we are a society that feeds on hearsay. We have a tendency to gulp things that are thrown at us. We are rarely focused and accurate as we have not been taught to develop these qualities. Because of that, we have a big problem when it comes to sustainability and maintenance. Some would say this is a general worldwide thing, and it is true. But to some extent, it is THE BIG THING in Mauritius.

As for our passivity: people complain about the things they think needs changing or amelioration but how many actually do something about it? How many actually act? There is more talking that action. We wait for others to do the action. Then we forget.

The ‘à-peu-près’ & ‘fou-pas-mal’ mindset.

The source

It is extremely rare for a lot of Mauritians to analyze, dissect, deconstruct, explore, question, research or even do a simple benchmarking.

No-one/nothing in particular can be blamed/accounted for this Mauritian trait as its source is plural - our geographical location, demography, history, culture (or lack of it), identity crisis, traditions etc..., and the Mauritian context in general.

But I tend to believe that the most influential agent for this trait is our education. I think we are not taught to use our brain to think. Instead, we are taught to obey, listen, and ‘copy’. We are taught that things need to be done by the book. We are told what to do. We are spoon-fed.

The positive side

One good thing out of all this is that I notice a desire to improve. For example, some companies (banks & service orientated businesses) are conscious that they need to redefine their whole system if they want to survive through time. They are conscious they need to be more accurate and factual. I’ve noticed how some media establishments are working towards ameliorating their content by being more analytical and accurate. 

I hope this shift in mindset will reach individuals as well.

Sometimes, a desire is enough to initiate actions that will generate a whole new dynamism. What is lacking is a way to channel desires towards actions. This demands discipline, structure, organization, vision, missions, and most importantly, people with the right mindset. This is what we lack in Mauritius, but it is never too late to nurture it. As for our passivity, I think it helps maintain peace in Mauritius.

This is just a little note that might not mean anything to some, but which I think means a lot for a company.

Yesterday, there was the presentation of a new company & its offering to a distinguished crowd. 

I was not part of it but I was around there. I noted one thing about the hostesses’ dress code: elegant black evening dresses + a banner (the miss world type) wrapped around their shoulder... it said ‘Payment Exchange’.

Now, I know this was simply meant as publicity since the company is called ‘Payment Exchange’. I just hope people did not read the possible connotations behind it.

When a national figure’s job position becomes open, it creates a competitive tension between the postulants because such an opportunity represents a lot of goodwill and prospect, not to mention the attractive salary package that comes with the position.

Cellplus lost its job as the national mobile service provider when it was decided that Orange was better placed to do it. Surely, when we look at how the Orange brand has positioned itself, we are tempted to believe it can do the job better than the Cellplus brand. 

However, the national mobile service provider position should have logically been occupied by a Mauritian brand. Or maybe not...

The global trend is currently such that international mobile service brands are entering national markets with just their brand identity, philosophy and culture while using the networks and logistics of existing national providers. 

A fresh example is how the Virgin Mobile brand is present in India by using Tata Teleservices’ network as its backbone. Isn’t that almost the same scenario here in Mauritius with Orange?

In Mauritius though, Orange did not face any other postulants to compete with for the national mobile service provider position. The Orange brand’s ownership on that position was taken for granted. 

And this is where few questions arise...

Where was EMTEL? 

Nobody probed into that question.

EMTEL did not seize that opportunity to position itself as the only MAURITIAN mobile service brand. When everyone was talking about the loss in national patrimony, no one turned to the historic operator to remind him that he too, was also part of the national patrimony with its pioneer status. In fact, everyone forgot or feinted to forget, the days when people would say: ‘Pret mwa to EMTEL...’

These were the days when the ‘EMTEL’ brand name was synonymous with ‘mobile phone’. It seemed like big brands such as Motorola or Nokia had disappeared for EMTEL’s good sake.  

Maybe the pioneer status is not a selling point anymore? 

Only the market can answer that question.

ORANGE did not waste time to grab the NATIONAL mobile service provider position. Once it was launched, its brand communication and positioning accentuated its socio-cultural integration in Mauritius. It decided to accompany Mauritians in their daily lives. 

Could EMTEL, a purely Mauritian brand have assumed this position? 

It did not postulate for it, so we don’t know. 

Maybe it does not want to position itself as national patrimony.

By it’s website, The EMTEL brand is synonymous with technology, innovation and high quality. Therefore, we can deduct that the red-button brand’s positioning strategy turns around being a technology-centered provider that is driven by innovation and that thrives to provide the highest quality service to its customer base. That’s where we can guess it might not be interested to occupy the position of the national provider, as this requires  an approach based on socio-cultural integration into the brand’s identity, culture, philosophy and positioning, i.e. The Brand needs to create, activate a culture and be a participant therein.

However, are technology, innovation and quality attributes actual strengths for a brand? It really depends on what the brand is selling. 

If it is selling a product, like a mobile phone, then most probably they are good attributes - Mauritian Paint brands too can use these attributes as their brand strengths. But if the brand is selling a service, and most importantly, if a certain life-style is appended to that service, then it is important for that brand to create its own philosophy and culture. These should be relevant to the socio-cultural fabric of its targeted market or niche. This will help the Brand to differentiate itself from its competitors and will guarantee its competitive advantage.  Above all, this is what will help into building long-term relationships with its customers.

This is where Branding is essential.

 Some food for thought...

“Does the international trend, which has seen Orange stepping in Mauritius, mean that we are going to see more non-Mauritian brands takeover Mauritian brands?”

Today I went back to return the midget shirt that didn't fit.  You know that sound that a rabid chipmunk makes when his tail is stuck under something like your tire (or a bowling ball, whatever)?  That's the only way I have to describe the way the little girl in line ahead of me spoke.  She was yapping a mile a minute to the poor sales girl (whom I don't think knew the customer in any capacity except this transaction), "So like for my college I have to take this class that you have to test into it's called English and Communication 306 English and Communication in an Intercontinental Global Business Setting and you have to test into it but it's required and I think it's like totally stupid that you have to test into a required class if they make you test into it then it shouldn't be required if it's required they should just let everybody take it and at my college it's like really close to an army base or air force or something anyway it's a military base and so like all these guys in my class are in the military except for me and one other guy and we're just like uhhhhh oh my gosh and I don't know what to say to the army guys and stuff because it's kind of scary one of them is like really old like my dad.  Oh I have a coupon I bought like five 20% off coupons on Ebay for like 5 dollars it was so cool I can use it more than once right because I only have one for here I have one for Old Navy and I just used it over there and they said I can use it again and again as much as I want to I got one for like Kohl's too but I don't want to go there because that's more for like older people like my mom's age or like over 35 and stuff my boyfriend just bought a house so I like need to save money because I know I'll probably be moving in with him soon and I'll have to like buy stuff and stuff.  Why won't it read my credit card?"  Now, if the lack of punctuation didn't provide you some kind of clue about how fast this girl was talking, maybe this will.  She purchased one shirt.  She said all that in the time it took the sales clerk to ring up one freaking shirt!

I wonder what would happen if her college required her to take Differential Equations.  She would probably like soooo totally faint and stuff.  I took Differential Equations.  I even passed it.  On my first try!  Anyone who hasn't taken Diff E-Q, as we in the industry call it, does not know what they are missing.  Of course, it's not like they are missing all that much, just one of the most powerful tools in mathematics.  Or so I'm told.  I didn't say I comprehended it; I said I passed the course.  There can sometimes be a subtle difference in the two verbs.  Besides, in my humble opinion, the slide rule is probably the most powerful tool in mathematics; much more powerful than differential equations.  Slide rules are awesome!  In addition to using it to multiply numbers out to 42 significant digits, you can also whack people with it when they get out of line.  And conjugate verbs.  After all, NASA was using slide rules, not computers, when they sent a man to the moon for the first time.

By the time it was my turn at the register, my brain was so tired from listening to that girl that I could barely remember why I was there in the first place.  I finally got my wits about me and was explaining to the clerk that I had bought this shirt for my sister but it was the wrong color.  What?  You didn't think I was going to admit that I didn't know it was a junior size, did you?  For goodness sake, no!

The clerk was very professional and very good at her job and didn't try to give me a bunch of heartache over the shirt.  While she was doing whatever they do to credit my debit card, another little girl walked in and asked for an application.  Oh wait, let me back up a little.  The sales clerk was also a manager.  Okay, where was I?  Oh yeah, this little girl walked in and asked for an application.  She was wearing knit tennis shorts that can only be described as having a 1/4" inseam; they were so short that, had she actually had a butt, it would have been hanging out.  Whereas a normal person applying for a job would wear a shirt, she had on a tube top underneath a wife beater tank top.  She was also wearing rubber flip flops and had her hair in a ponytail.  Don't get me wrong, this little thing was so tiny that she could easily pull off the look at, say, a volleyball tournament.  Now I'm not in retail, much less a manager of a retail clothing store, but I imagine if I were, I would not be thrilled about seeing someone dressed that way asking for an application.  But that manager, bless her heart, didn't miss a beat in handing her the application and wishing her luck.

After that, I went to Chipotle to pick up some supper.  Thankfully, they have their tomatoes back.  But now they don't have raw jalapenos.  Will the madness never end?!

On another note, I have a new sharp-eyed reader named My Dad.  Hi, Dad!  Sharp-eyed reader My Mom finally convinced him to come see me here.  Hi, Mom!  (My Dad can back a trailer too, just in case you're wondering.)

anyway, i'm having second thoughts now. first of all, there should have been a LOT more of edward norton.  i just got glimpses of the insides of the character and how he may be shy and conservative and awkward but still attractive... well, it just wasn't enough.

plus, there were factors of 'disbelief'- like, why did 'the hero' just had to vomit when he was sick? where was that dreadfull breaking? he almost died peacefully! 

anyway, i'd've gladly bought tickets again if i had to cause the story is yummi [which, of couse a boy and a girl would like for different reasons...] and there's ed nortons buttocks.........there's really really something ABOUT him

--------been reading room with a view again. i was lying green in bed so it took several days to finish it, which actually was better for understanding. watched the film again. now i'm slandering it all over IMDB.......
i've been looking for maurice the book online. nothing there [for free, i mean].
i hate shahriar kobir for his snobbish adventure cum teen romance books. unbearably stupid.offensive, i'd say.

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whenever i go through pride and prejudice [three times so far, i think] i regret the capacity that those people had [ may be not THAT much in reality, still] to observe other people's behaviour and judge their character and to think over before taking a decision and speaking up.......i wish i could do it even a little bit. i wish i would 'notice' how other people act and what they say. of couse i would have been a much better [and loved] freind if i want to selfish and self-centred. i can only think and care about me and about other peoples feelings about me, which is very inaccurate due to my self-centredness . there's no way to deny that.

i started reading 'where angles fear to tread' the e-book because i thought it would be vvery romantic and passionate, bit like lady chatterley, but it's not. i've read 3 chapters and i copied some part of it to send to anandi ar jimi. it's making the sad, the book is.

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watched history boys.

made me sad, the ending. how people spread over and how their lives take them to different places.....some of them die........

i wish i was one of the boys. a group that is wise and intelligent, reciting lines from memory, being completely silly at the same time. this is why i liked 'didimashir jin'. they were bright young students roaming around the baul mela , reciting shakespeare and joydeb........

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watched the room with a view. honestly, i expected it to be more passionate. for me it's just a visualization of important parts of the book now. it couldn't do justice to the first kiss in poppy field and i didn't like lucy. goerge was somewhat goodlooking. it was weird to see scudder from maurice to be fred here, but he looked the part. anyway, i was feeling udash (what can be the english for the word?) and i took up pride and prejudice again to go through the conversations of/on darcy and elizabeh.......

last week i read the translation of innocent erendira.

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i've been dying to watch Maurice and turns out i wasn't expcting too much. it had that old english look that i always love, a very handsome hugh grant with another equally beautiful man ( is that a strange word to choose, at least here?! may be it is: doesn't a man still have a right not to be called beautiful, even when he is gay? any way, i find some men really beautiful. u know, beautiful features, delicate details etc). the film is extremely romantic, it'a heart ranging tragic thing that ends in happily ever after ! plus, not only was there the gay dynamics going on, there also was the class difference thing...sometimes it reminded me of lady chatterley's loveer, of parts i loved. more accurately, parts that turned the engines in my head start whirring even if i decide not to 'think' rignt then. to top it all, there was a lot of male frontal nudity and also, two men kissing and fondling, most importantly, two men in love and were forbidden to touch.....it's a huge turn on!

i thought about the film several times during the day [watched it last night], felt that flutter of heart that i associate with very good and deep romantic movies....it was made in 1985 or 87 and brokeback got oscar. brokeback was a pathetic failed-attempt to depict everything that's here in maurice.it's not a gay romantic film, it's a romantic film and one of the bests of its kind.

and of couse there's male frontal nudity.

PORT LOUIS, Maurice, June 12, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Un accord de partenariat a été signé cet après-midi entre le groupe Aéroports de Paris et Airports of Mauritius à l'issue de l'entretien entre Anne-Marie IDRAC, Secrétaire d'Etat chargée du Commerce extérieur et Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM, Premier Ministre de la République de Maurice.

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