The post office problem

I have come across a report signed Patrick Hilbert entitled:

?Relations industrielles : Les employés de la poste se mobilisent? in l?express of the 13th October 2003.

I have also had the chance to see the agenda of the meeting presented by the four Trade Unions of the postal service. This appears to be quite fair. The case had to be presented and the public support seems to have been sought about the matter. Furthermore, the support of the Common Front comprising of other trade unions seems to have been obtained.

To my mind, the approach has been rather vague. The fundamental issues seem to have been overlooked. The main points are, according to me, privatisation, General Post Office building and conditions of work and salary.

When we talk of privatisation, we mean business, we mean profile, we mean that the post office has to be run in such a way as to stand on its own legs, meet its own expenditure in the form of salaries and otherwise. But we should not forget that the postal service is a utility service for the public just like other social services for the good of the public. To make profits and to increase salaries, the postal service has to increase the rates and that is to the detriment of the postal service users. It should be clear in our mind that the postal business is no business as other businesses. It is a special business.

Regarding the General Post Office building, it seems that generally the security aspects are totally ignored; the public needs to react to it. There was a project for a post office building with all the necessary safeguard years ago. The project appears to have been overlooked. A famous Italian architect came to Mauritius and presented a maquette fulfilling all the conditions. This maquette was reproduced in a post office stamp. It was a certainty that this post office building would take shape but no government has so far taken care of it.

Regarding salaries and conditions of work, privatisation might not bring the desired results. It is fair enough to say that if the post office business is a special business and the service needs competent staff, the conditions of service and salary should be commensurate. Moreover, the staff should be maintained at the same present level of perfect honesty and reliability. To run the post office business, there is a need to have people of expert post office experience and knowledge. It is not a question of only a person of knowledge of general business.

Independent Observer

Education v/s Contravention

A first article on the problem of Traffic??Collaboration v/s Repression? ? elicited considerable verbal feedback from motorists but none from the authorities. The author revisits the subject in this article.

I am entirely supportive of Government action to reduce death and accidents on the road. Who would not? It can be done however, with or without the collaboration of motorists. Needless to say which will be more successful.

In a recent first page article, the Daily Mail (UK) supported the view that stringent fines for traffic offences were alienating the entire motoring community ? professionals, cadres, the family, and all those, such as salesmen, lorry drivers, delivery personnel, who have to drive for a living.

The fines are too high and the automatic recording system leaves no leeway for the traditional discussion between cop and offender which often results in a warning (?Sir, I?m sure you are aware that this is a residential zone where the legal speed limit of 50 km/h makes sense! By going at 70 as you did you could kill a child. We count on you in future to respect that limit. OK? Thanks for your cooperation.?).

I would argue that Education has a better chance of reducing motoring offence (hence saving lives) than harshly applied contravention. But in the Mauritian context, I would not dare suggest a system open to temptation by both motorists and police officers! Hence the suggestion is (for a first offence) a neatly worded letter to the offender along the lines of the warning reported above. Pictures of badly damaged vehicles could be attached ending with a personal appeal to the driver. At a second offence, a similar but very stern letter would be sent with, for example, a copy to the DPP. In the case of an offence involving defect in the vehicle, the warning would include a fixed period of time for putting the defect right with, if necessary, a report back (e.g. driving to a police station or fitness centre to show that this badly worn out tyre has been replaced).

Alternative punishments of a social nature are also extremely valuable in keeping the goodwill of drivers, while attaining the desired goal e.g. hours of community service, viewing of film on good driving etc.

(Dr) Michaël ATCHIA (Environmental Management Specialist)

<B>Les alternatives à l?euthanasie</B>

Le Dr Vèle Pillay soutient qu?au moins 30 % des médecins du pays sont en faveur de l?euthanasie et la pratiquent. Voici que ceux qui ont pour profession de soigner et d?alléger les souffrances trouvent normal de se servir de leurs connaissances pour pratiquer le meurtre assisté. L?euthanasie a pour unique but de hâter la mort. Les motivations, enrobées du jargon ?mourir dans la dignité?, camouflent cette sordide réalité.

Que pouvons-nous apprendre de l?expérience de la Hollande, premier pays à légaliser l?euthanasie en avril 2001 ? Selon un premier rapport officiel publié, le nombre d?euthanasies est apparemment à la baisse : 2 054 en 2001 et 2 001 en 2002. Si le ministère hollandais de la Santé demande que tous les cas d?euthanasie soient recensés afin de pouvoir exercer un contrôle et s?assurer qu?il n?y a pas d?abus, le même rapport souligne que de nombreux cas ne sont pas rapportés et que ces chiffres ne traduisent aucunément la réalité. Les médecins la pratiquent sans déclaration officielle afin d?échapper aux contrôles et réglementations en vigueur. Ils peuvent ainsi esquiver les enquêtes prévues par la loi. Les voici libres de disposer du droit de donner la mort à leurs malades, sans pouvoir être indûment inquiétés.

Le journal médical de Belgique, qui a légalisé en 2002, fait aussi état d?un nombre plus élevé d?eutha-nasies, qui sont en fait moins pratiquées que déclaré officiellement.

S?octroyer le droit de tuer soulève des interrogations de fond. A partir de quels seuils de souffrances insupportables, faut-il autorier l?eutha-nasie ? Abréger sciemment une vie devient plus important et plus expéditif que de soulager le plus possible.

Est-ce que les seules, mais grandes, souffrances psychologiques et morales des jeunes et de personnes d?âge moyen ne justifieraient pas leur demande de meurtre assisté ? Si c?est le libre arbitre qui devient le critère le plus important, à quel titre alors leur refuser l?euthanasie ?

Atténuer des souffrances ne devient-il pas une excuse officielle pour se débarrasser des malades qui dérangent parce qu?ils exigent de soins coûteux et continus ? Il n?est plus question de les abandonner dans des hospices et des hôpitaux mais simplement d?abréger leur vie.

La demande d?euthanasie ex-prime une angoisse qui appelle au secours. Les soins palliatifs permettent de répondre à cette grande détresse. Quelles structures doivent être mises en place pour cet accompagnement dans la patience et dans la tendresse de ceux qui perdent courage à cause de leur souffrance dans la solitude ?

Alors que dans le monde médical, certains infirmiers et médecins s?octroient droit de vie et de mort sur les malades dont ils ont la charge, Mère Teresa de Calcutta, à l?honneur dimanche dernier, a prouvé par son travail que les mourants ont surtout besoin d?être aimés et accompagnés.

?La pire maladie qui puisse frapper un être humain, c?est d?être indésirable, écrivait-elle. Avant tout, nous voulons que ces mourants se sentent désirables, nous voulons qu?ils sentent qu?il y a des gens qui les aiment, qui veulent vraiment, au moins pendant les quelques heures qui leur restent à vivre, qu?ils connaissent l?amour humain et divin.?

Monique Dinan