The last time I saw Peter Craig in person was at the office of Radio One on 2 July last. Soon after the interview of Finlay Salesse on the criminal activities of a communal and extremist violent group, Peter Craig drove back to his Radio One office to meet and congratulate me for my courage. But his main aim was to accompany me back to my village because of some vocal threats. Forget about his reassuring words and high praise for my daring interventions. The fact that he escorted me once more proved his warm, caring and paternal character. He had not changed ever since I knew him from close in the 1980s. For sure, he was not an ordinary person among my friends. He seemed to be born with such a rare quality in nowadays materialistic world. He has spent his whole life living for and helping others!

Come the aftermath of the ?soixante zero? 1982 general election. I came to know Peter from very close through a common friend. The latter ditched both of us for his own interests! But in his customary magnanimity, Peter maintained that deep friendship. My limited culture did not allow me to be that big-hearted, generous, high-minded and ungrudging.

Still, he helped me a lot to launch the Le Socialiste newspaper in late 1982. His immense experience in journalism was a great asset. He was very hardworking and down-to-earth. He was simple in every sense of the word?dress, thoughts, action, speech, writings and whatnot. He was so honest, practical and direct that very often he knew better than anybody else the heartbeat and feelings of the common man, He was not born in Mauritius but he was a great patriot when it came to understanding the pangs of the suffering lot. No surprise, he was part and parcel of the working class all throughout his life.

Another trait of Peter will always serve us as a reference. He controlled his emotions. I can?t recall a single instance where he flared up. Even in the worst of a cyclone, he was as calm and relaxed as the Buddha. Indeed, he was a gentleman to the core. A dictionary and living legend!

More so, he stood for principles, justice and fair play; whatever be the situation he was in. Take this vivid example. It was during the dying days of the 1983 electoral campaign. Peter, who was attached to Le Socialiste ? the ?organe de presse? of the MSM/LP/PMSD alliance ? came to see me at Belle Terre at one o?clock in the morning. He informed me that he had submitted his resignation. Why? Because despite his desperate plea, some people had decided to publish twelve almost naked photos of the wife of a political personality of the opposing camp. Later, Robert Ng, too, threatened to resign. Remember, I was Deputy Prime Minister and the campaign manager of the MSM/LP/PMSD bloc. I took instant decision. We went down to the printing press at Plaine-Lauzun. Instead of 12,000, they were printing 35,000 copies. We had to ferry them all several times till 5 a.m. to Pointe-aux-Sables, to the house of Peter. There, we burnt all of them. Had that sage not informed me, we would surely have lost the elections. Peter acted more on a question of principle than saving us. Why attack a defenseless lady who had nothing to do with politics and the polls? Notwithstanding, the country owed him a debt of gratitude. Thank you Peter!

<B>At Sarita?s house</B>

Another living proof of his ?grandeur d?ame? speaks volumes. Sometime in the second quarter of 1990, Peter rang me at Le Socialiste. He wanted to meet me discreetly. He picked me up in his car and drove slowly along the highway for some two hours. He was attached to the Prime Minister?s office. Anerood Jugnauth did not trust Satcam Boolell. He badly needed the support of Gaëtan Duval to pass his budget proposals in the National Assembly. They could not talk to the PMSD leader directly as he was arrested, jailed and later committed for trial at the Assizes.

We all met at Cassis at the house of Sarita. Gaetan Duval imposed one condition for his support: withdraw the Assizes case. I personally spoke to a top civil servant at the Prime Minister?s office. Without surprise, hardly a few days passed by, when the case was prematurely withdrawn. Some people are still alive to testify same, if needs be. All said, the fact remains that Peter saved both Gaëtan Duval and Jugnauth. Whether he utilized foul or good means; or still, whether or not he acted legally, is quite another matter. For sure, Peter was a great negotiator. He was calm and soft-spoken like Koffi Anan. No wonder, he succeeded with his serene character when others failed with their rash, rough and tough methods.

Think of his achievement in Washington. He dwarfed all the Mauritian diplomats by his remarkable feat. I don?t think there is any Mauritian, dead or alive, who has helped so much Mauritius and the African continent in trade affairs. He was a real professional who struggled and sweated for each and every dollar he earned. He spun a formidable web of friendly ties with some of the leading US senators and other White House decision-makers. Indeed, the country was safe and sound with his presence there.

Come the 2005 elections. The country was shocked when that great negotiator, counselor, protector and tower of strength was sacked with unceremonious haste. He was sacrificed on the altar of cheap politics. It was a ?gaffe monumentale?. But with all his Washington contacts at the highest level, he could have stayed in the States ?en permanence?. Peter elected to return to Mauritius because he loved it more than his own country of origins.

All told, he was more a Mauritian in thought, spirit and action than anything else. He lived and breathed but for us. Riverlike, he flowed nonstop and provided water for others to drink and live. He, himself, never drank a single drop! Candlelike, he burnt himself to death whilst lighting the way of others. Don?t worry Peter. In death, we all have recognized your great work and human values. The torch will be passed on. Your flame will never flicker or die. You have given Mauritius so much. Thanks for everything.

<B> Harish BOODHOO</B>