Ministers and majority backbenchers met on Sunday to take stock of progress achieved hitherto, but, more importantly, to brood over the unfinished business of government. They came to the conclusion that they have delivered on 70 % of their 2000 electoral promises.

Then there were the usual talks of facts and perceptions, of bad communication leading to wrong impressions and, to cap it all, of the press depicting a most depressing picture of the country. For the population, though, what matters most is where we really stand. Did Sunday?s brainstorming session really answer the many questions of the common man whose purchasing power has been eroded over the years?

People want to see ministers showing greater leadership and initiative, but also being down to earth. The big challenge is to win people?s trust back without giving in to cheap politics. This government has promised a lot and that has raised stakes and expectations in many areas. They will have to face the frustrations if things are not going as planned.

We have reforms but some bolder shake-offs are needed, as the going gets tougher. The economy is not yet back on rails. Early 2005 will see the end of some textile quotas with the dismantling of the Multi Fibre Arrangement. It will take some fine diplomacy to keep preferential duty access to the EU and US. Mauritian apparel will have to compete with cheap garments from Asian countries. Our textile industry is under pressure. Unemployment is rising and job creation seems rather bleak.

But government cannot blame it all on world economy, which is improving. It can still exercise leverage to cut down red tape. Good policies can lose relevance and usefulness in heavy bureaucracy. Efforts to market our products and services abroad and the country as a sound investment destination have not always been daring and creative enough. First and foremost, government has been slow in reacting to international threats and opportunities.

There are some fundamental questions to be asked if the country cannot make the most of world economic recovery. If this is the case, it would imply that many of our problems are mostly homegrown. The country expects tangible outcomes, not on rhetoric ? of which the 70% accomplishment argument is one. It?s up to our leaders to come to terms with the people?s perceptions and not the other way round. Good communication is no substitute for poor policy implementation.

The MMM-MSM team has gambled its reputation on tackling the Labour legacy. Reforms are on, but the mid-term popular test that the Rivière-du-Rempart by-election has proved to be was a sharp reminder that this is the wrong course of action for the remaining two years of their mandate. The electorate usually has poor memory.