Social workers are fed up with what they consider as the inaction of the authorities against drug trafficking and want to say so out loud. A protest was organised by the social workers in Port-Louis to show their anxiety about the rise in drug trafficking. As they submitted a list of 161 drug traffickers – a result of their own investigations in the country – to the commissioner of police, Ramanooj Gopalsingh, they agreed to grant the police a five-month period of grace before they take further action.

The protest was actually a response to the social workers’ call in Plaine-Verte last 25th of June – on the International Day against drugs – to mobilise public opinion against trafficking. They expressed their exasperation about the powerlessness of the police to react to this growing scourge. Hence, the protest in the capital was another way of showing the social workers’ as well as the public’s dissatisfaction with the way the police are trying to tackle the issue.

After the people had waved their placards and posters in front of the Line Barracks, seven of the protesters present went to see the CP in his office to give him the list of the 161 traffickers – intended to help the police in their investigations.

The social workers wanted the CP to understand that they would no longer show any patience with the police. Being “privileged” witnesses of the rise in drug trafficking, the social workers now want to take action. This is why they threatened to drop the body of an overdose victim in front of Parliament within the next month if the police do not take appropriate steps and no results are shown. After discussions with the CP, they however agreed to give the police more time to show results; they reached a consensus on five months before they carry out their threat… This time it seems it is not a joke…