The lion?s part of the government?s publicity is being given to newspapers that have much lower percentages of readers than the more popular ones. For example, the weekly newspaper which tops the readership percentages gets nothing. Perhaps the people responsible for allocating the publicity could explain this logic. I thought that the idea of publicity was to attain the greatest coverage, perhaps not if based on the above reasoning. There is some truth in the saying: ?It is a mad, mad world.?

A parastatal body which also happens to be a monopoly is suffering heavy losses and to date the monetary deficit is in terms of billions of rupees. Yet, its president who is apparently a regular globetrotter informs us that he combines business with pleasure by visiting various organisations during his private visits and as a result saves money for the said organisation. I suppose that we must thank his lucky star to have such a thoughtful president because otherwise the losses would be even heavier. Believe that, you will believe anything.

The president of Zimbabwe is flouting all democratic principles and refuses to accept the verdict of the people. Yet, there is not much protest going on over here. A newspaper had as its headline ?Maurice opte pour la quiet diplomacy? to qualify the stance of the government. To me, it seems more like silent diplomacy. Come back Mr Dulloo, all is forgiven.

Inflation is likely to reach double figures by the end of this year which will be twice the rate of 2004. Prices are going through the roof and it is becoming more difficult each month to make ends meet. The poor are getting poorer, yet we are told by the government that all is rosy in the garden and getting better. It reminds me of a saying of the late prime minister of the United Kingdom, Mr Harold MacMillan: ?You never had it so good?. Next, they will be telling us to give them 200 days (inflation of time!) to change our lives.

369 cases of paedophilia since 2006, frightening figures and yet we do not have a sex offenders register for all those who have contravened the law by committing a sexual offence nor do we have a register for children at risk, all of which could do much to reduce the incidence. Are we really taking the problem seriously? Are we doing all that needs to be done? Are there the right people in the right place to tackle this increasing problem? I feel perhaps that sometimes the punishment does not always fit the crime.

Unheard of in the annals of Mauritian football, Seychelles humiliating us by 7 ? 0. A defeat would have been acceptable but a drubbing of seven nil is definitely unpalatable. The minister of Sport is telling us now that he means business. (...) Another minister lately tells us that despite his numerous differences of opinion with a number of his officials, bodyguards etc. the fault lies elsewhere. He feels that his enemies are powerful .. Perhaps eating a little humble pie and a lot of introspection would help him to see things clearly and realise that blaming others is not the way forward; otherwise he might find himself like his voluble colleague who spends his time backtracking in most of his decisions.

<B>C.C.C.</B>