<B>By Deepa BHOOKHUN</B>

In 2005, the people were presented with a dream team who spoke passionately of their vision and promised to make a magnificent dream come true. This team managed, against all odds, to convince a majority of the voters to give them a chance to prove themselves and change people?s lives for the better.

This dream has not been shattered yet ? however much many would wish it to be. It is however in great danger of being fractured.

All for what?

Two men and their egos.

One is prime minister, the man who made it all happen. The man whose job it is to give the go-ahead to the proposals and strategies of others, including his minister of Finance.

The man who is the boss and who will not let others forget it.

The other one is the minister of Finance. The brilliant and cold technocrat, whose job it is to devise strategies, make long-term plans and manage the dwindling funds of the country.

And who submits his proposals to the prime minister for approval.

One of them has a paper dream that will remain a paper dream as long as the other one doesn?t give his acquiescence to it. The one who is more equal than others has the means ? and more importantly the will ? to convert this paper dream into a tangible and real one.

So how did the snake get in the apple?

There is no question of Ramgoolam having changed his mind regarding the budget and its unpopular measures he himself authorized. And I refuse to believe even for a minute that he did not anticipate the negative and violent reactions of people; he is way too clever for that. He not only anticipated them but he made a decision to ride the tide. There is something else that is bothering and unnerving the prime minister and Sithanen is the key to it.

I believe Rama Sithanen, in his enthusiasm and his haste to implement his measures, has a tendency to forget himself.

He forgets that he is but one of three deputy prime ministers. He forgets that Navin Ramgoolam is his boss and that one doesn?t treat his boss like just any other friend or colleague. And he forgets that one doesn?t tell the Prime minister to do something, one asks.

Sounds silly, huh? But people are people, whether they are prime ministers or just your regular gardener. Man?s greatest enemy is his ego and that?s the way things are. People, especially those in power, are touchy and the best way not to get what you want is to offend them and not treat them like they would want to be treated.

Navin Ramgoolam needs Rama Sithanen and Rama Sithanen needs Navin Ramgoolam. But as in George Orwell?s Animal Farm, all men are equal but some are more equal than others.

So come on, guys, sort out your differences. There is a country to run.

Oh well, what can you do? Boys will be boys?