Open letter to Yatin Varma

In your letter "Tarnishing my name: enough is enough" (l?express 3 Aug 2007), you ask for a differentiation of your roles as barrister and as member of the National Assembly (MNA)? Is this realistic?

You are no «ordinary» MNA. Not only are you a member of the majority, but you are above all chairman of the committee overseeing Icac. This is an immense responsibility in view of Icac?s mandate to eliminate corruption in Mauritius. More than any committee chairmanship, this requires the highest standard of propriety. This fundamental tenet requires you to think out carefully each of your moves, especially those that may lead to conflicts. Suppose Icac were to investigate one of the government-linked institutions that you were to represent, which hat would you be wearing? Chairing a committee often calls for sacrifices.

Let me conclude with an analogy to drive my point. Suppose the MMM-MSM coalition were in power and Ms. Mireille Martin applied to MBC to read the news. Would she be credible?

Your fellow RCC brother,

Dr Singfat CHU Singapore