The MSM has lost another of its members to the governing Labour Party and this is yet another example of political poaching which heightens the public perception that politics are persons without any values and definitely without any sense of shame and dignity. But what makes this particular crossing of the floor even more revolting is the reason given by Ms Pratibha Bholah to justify her decision.

As a member of Parliament in opposition, she was unable to do anything for the “mandants” who were getting increasingly frustrated and terrorized by the powers in power at present. In these circumstances she explained how people who were coming to her political meetings stopped coming after they were getting transferred and the governmental machinery was used to unleash a reign of terror. Any sensible member of Parliament who puts herself forward as representing the common interest would have done the exact opposite of what she did. Instead of summoning all her courage – especially as all her children have completed their studies – to fight against the climate of repression she decides to join the repressors. She is suitably and immediately upon her leaving her party rewarded with the post of PPS. Now that she has got something for herself, she declares that she is in agreement with the vision of the Prime Minister. But it is the government of the same Prime Minister which was and is at the origin of repression which she so ably denounced in the media.

Any person who lives in this country knows that it belongs to the parties in power. All jobs, appointments and honours go to their people. Those who are in opposition are not considered as Mauritians and they have to eke out a living as best they can. All this is done deliberately and subtly to send the message that reward lies only if you belong in those parties. If you happen to stand against them, then the likelihood is that the institutions under governmental control will be unleashed. It is this environment which has made Ms Pratibha Bholah suffer and she has decided to stop suffering and to work for those who make people suffer.

What this sad episode once again demonstrates is that the political patronage and concentration of power in the hands of the Prime Minister are making our people sycophants, flatterers, seekers of “boutes” by any means, hangers on and those who want nothing of this and who want to preserve some self-respect are reduced to silence. In fact the saying “where silence is golden, it is folly to be wise” seems to have been absorbed in the innermost fibres of Mauritians.

Not only telephone tapping but the countless whisperers into governmental ears are doing great damage to the fundamentals of democracy and freedom. Pratibha Bholah, who is otherwise a nice lady, has done her gender a disservice and whatever she says or others will say in her defence will not wipe out the outrageous undermining of values that she has triggered.

She said her children have completed their studies. But are they looking for jobs?