30 MARCH 2013 – eleven persons die in Port-Louis fl ood. The roadworks in the Port- Louis area appear to be at least partly to blame for the deaths.

3 May 2013 – ten persons die in a horrific road accident involving a bus of the National Transport Corporation. Again roadworks at the spot of this tragic accident could be partly to blame.

Could these deaths have been avoided? We all know that nothing said or done – despite the amount of money handed out to the relatives of the people who suffered in the floods or ministerial statements that they act without fear or favour – can undo the terrible pain which those who lost their loved ones continue to endure. One of the ways to assuage their pain is to set up a full-scale enquiry on all aspects of the double tragedy and stress must be placed on whether or not the design of the roads in this officially “plaisir” country – which by no means is one at present – is in conformity with international norms after taking into account local conditions and features. The families of the victims need reassurance that such tragedies will not recur and if corrective measures need to be taken, they should be taken at the earliest.

Mauritius must be the only country in the world where the motorway is subjected to variable speed limitations. One must get from 110 kmph to 60 in a space of less than 100 metres and Pandit Bachoo wants to reduce road traffic accidents. In any event, could the speed cameras, which have been purchased at huge expense to the taxpayer, have prevented the Soreze accident? The problem lies elsewhere.

Mauritius at large feels for those who tragically lost their lives and is with them in thought and prayer. The country can do nothing else for the time being except to call upon the authorities not to allow these tragedies to become mere “faits divers”. The prayers of Mauritians are genuine prayers unlike those socio-cultural orchestrated prayers in the presence of ministers which in any event have not been effective. Those who lost their lives in the floods and in the road traffic accident should not be forgotten. How they lost their lives must be probed and those who are even remotely accountable must be brought to book.

These deaths will reduce the media visibility of the financial scandals for some time but the authorities of Mauritius are under an obligation to give meaningful follow-up on all that has happened in this year. The deaths of the innocent victims must not push the other scandals out of the glare of publicity. The saying that “un scandale chasse un autre” is unfortunately likely but the public must hold to account the Government if it fails in its duty to clean up the mess. The country deserves better. There are those who attach great significance to the 13 in the 2013 and who believe that nothing can be done to prevent tragedies this year.

All the same our profound sympathy to all those who are grieving.