Disgraceful. Absolutely disgraceful. In case you’re wondering what I am talking about (and saying to yourself; oh God, the woman is moaning again), I’ll enlighten you and you’ll probably forgive me this once. I am talking about the way governments manage my and your money. Shameful, for want of a better word.

Now if you haven’t read the summary of the audit report in the papers, I suggest you do. And if you believe, like I do, that the people we send to Government House to manage this country for us, are accountable, then you should do more than just read the papers. You should find yourself some spare time and go on the net, to the government portal - I’ll even give you the address, good citizen that I am: ttp://www.gov.mu, then double click on government, then go to others and then on to National Audit Bureau.

While I was browsing through the report the day it came out, it occurred to me that, if those people managed their own finances the way they manage those of the ministries under their responsibility, then man, they would be on the streets right now. (Instead they live in big houses). Then, I chastised myself for being so silly. People don’t waste their money, do they? People actually tend to be economical to the point of stinginess when their own money is concerned.

It is only when they think they are dealing with what they believe is the bottomless till of the state that they allow themselves such generosity, that they think they can afford to be reckless, that they think they can indulge in any luxury they want. See, the problem lies with us. We always think government money has nothing to do with us. That ministers and high ministry officials can dispose of government funds any way they choose. And, because we think this, high officials and ministers also continue with this warped thinking.

What is a minister? Contrarily to popular beliefs, a minister is not just defined as someone with endless power and bodyguards. Oh, am I shattering people’s illusions? As well as a few former and present ministers’ delusions? I’m ever so sorry. Ok, next one, what’s a high official? Oh no, wrong again. A high official is not just somebody who knows – and gets on well with – the minister. And drives a big car. No, those people, surprising as this may sound, do not just have privileges, they have responsibilities above all. Even though you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise…

Prime minister Ramgoolam said, when he took up office, that he wanted 19 good managers at the head of ministries because he wanted to be rid of wastage, because the management of the affairs of the State should be done with vigour and within principles of good governance. Great. That’s what the auditor has been recommending for years. Recommendations that have always fallen into deaf ears. Will we rise to the challenge this time? The thing is, we are left with two choices: we either do it right this time or we scrap the audit bureau altogether. There is really nothing else to be said.