by Ayesha (a voice from Plaine-Verte)

I have always wondered if it was clichéd to say that ?when Plaine-Verte sneezes, Mauritius has a cold?. Though I was not born in Plaine-Verte, it is the place where I have spent most of my life.To me this is the only place that gives meaning to being at home. Unfortunately, unscrupulous politicians have targetted this region as the craddle of drug barons. Under the reign of Jugnauth the region was highly stigmatised. I clearly remembered being paranoid about letting my schoolmates know I was from Plaine-Verte. Though I, much later, got to be really proud of being moulded by this region. And still boast about being a ?pedigree? of this region.

It was also the ?bastion? of the Mouvement militant mauricien (MMM), though it never got any special treatment whenever the party was in power. The so-called developments, the lifting of some strategic places was simply the basic services any government or municipality has to provide to its citizens. Anyway this is just a futile political argument better carried out in some restricted circles.

I cannot recall the riots of 1968 though I know it has left some scars on the inhabitants and change the region for ever. I have no idea about statistics as to unemployment or school failures for the region. I am sure a poll would reveal that politics or politicians play a major role in this region. Could be because the muslims make the majority here, and we all know that after being in the sidelines for decades, muslims are seeking their political identity.

There is no denying, anyone who wants to make a breakthrough in politic, has revealingly tried to capture the heart of Plaine-Verte. Surely Bérenger cannot differ with me here.

Now, we all know that there seems to be as many experts as there seems to be answers as to why the Alliance sociale won the last election. This is definitely not a journalistic debate, where people in ivory towers are trying to grasp what took place some two weeks ago. I cannot boast of any label to my name for I am no expert or graduate in politics. I can offer the explanation of someone whom our so-called experts dub as ?layman? or ?laywoman?.

To understand Plaine-Verte, you have to understand its psyche. You cannot gauge anything according to figures attending political rallyes or reunions and whatever. What is the use of having secret ballots if any Pierre, Paul or Jacques can give accurate figures before votes are cast? But let us not get side-tracked here.

Like everybody else I celebrated the only democratic day I have every five years by casting my vote. I can now publicly proclaim that I gave Lauthan a vote simply because I sympathise with the man. I confess I never was a crony of Bérenger and you may rightly ask me why I voted for a guy with whom I do not even identify myself? The answer may render a few ?perplexed? and this is, I believe, highly indicative of a trend for many like myself in the region. Though I later regret this emotional choice. It was simply because of the antics of a phoney Zorro. Our Zorro is a pathetic one and how far has he marred Plaine-Verte, I leave it to the experts. Though one thing he has achieved is: giving a boost to a very flabby Lauthan. Zorro added a burlesque touch to a very lack-lustre campaign. Even in Plaine-Verte nobody was that agitated, for it is no secret that the MMM has left a sour taste as proven by so-called die-hard like Zorro himself. Cehl Meeah, another heart-throb for many frustrated militants, was out of sync with the inhabitants. He could have made a difference if he had stuck to his own guns. He wanted to build bridges where he should have edified a new alternative force. And we all know that Plaine-Verte is very brutal to those it sees as ?traitors?. No offence mean t here, but it is time to listen to our voice, guys, if you want us to raise you.

Many heads are trying to fathom the 2-1 of Plaine-Verte and the answer is black on white for those who can face the truth. Lauthan is not a popular figure and he did not stitch back anything (if we take into consider the downfall and continuing downfall of the MMM). Anyway he did not even tried. He owed a lot to his arch-enemy Zorro who practically went out of his way to bring his downfall. But Zorro is remembered for welcoming Boodhoo, for his flip-flopping, for his let?s say putting a mask. After all the ex-chef de file did not even have 500 followers if we take a look at the figures. Do take heed for 2010.

Poetic justice, some would say. Or a clear example of ?one man?s meat is another man?s poison?. Anyway this was what prompted me and maybe those 4 000 or so voters who gave Sam a cross to bear... And bear it, he has.