Mauritius, which is proclaimed to be an island ‘PLAISIR’, seems to continue to suffer from an insufferable complex of divisionism reminiscent of the apartheid era. Anyone who happens to come by air to Mauritius understands that the Immigration queues are divided into lanes for residents and non-residents. This is perfectly normal and no one has raised any issue about it. But there is an issue about what comes after one has gone through – successfully - Immigration and Customs.

Then Mauritius and the airport authorities operate their policy of segregation. There is one exit for the residents for whom Mauritius is anything but a “PLAISIR” and another one for the chosen non-residents. This separation is controlled and constantly monitored by Police officers and, should a Mauritian returning resident dare to use what has been designated for others, he is taken to task. Normally it will be a ‘he’ who will dare as the ‘shes’ know where the demarcation limit lies.

This is not the whole story. Mauritians are made to walk a long way towards the car park while the non-residents are comfortably given an easily walkable and soft inclined ramp. Should the Mauritian wish to take a shortcut, he is confronted by a flight of stairs which are forbidding for any returning Mauritian laden with luggage packed on a trolley which cannot go up the steps. This separation is disgraceful and must be stopped.

By the way has anyone seen anywhere in the world an airport which charges a sum of money for a simple -off? While it is agreed that an amount is payable if a parking space is used, it is also acceptable that the amount payable would depend upon the length of time taken. Whoever came up with this idea has never travelled in the world or, if he has, he failed to keep his eyes open. The Rs 20 charge is robbery as it is paid by all Mauritians who seem to accept whatever is thrown at them by the authorities. Somehow these countrymen and countrywomen of mine – or should they be reversed in the name of gender propriety? – make me despair for their “jaaide’ attitude. For those whomay not know what this word means as it has become so much part of the Mauritian psyche, “Jaaide’ is an expression which expresses a sense of helplessness and unwillingness to do anything about that helplessness.

But this charge for any vehicle which simply s off a passenger is oppressive and must be removed forthwith. In Reunion Island next door, anyone ping off a passenger at Gillot airport has nothing to pay. The same applies in all the airports of the world where vehicles just go to passengers.

While money is necessary for any institution, making money in this way is shameful. But what makes it even more disgraceful is the temerity with which some people are thinking of increasing the charge. Making the airport facilities more appealing and getting people to come and enjoy the flights landing and taking off will bring more in terms of parking charges than this unmitigated robbery.