It is interesting to read that more and more people are voicing their opinions in favour of a private television station. There are a few compelling reasons why the government should allow private television to start beaming its programs on our television screen. The first that comes to mind is the poor quality of our state-run television. It is nothing short of mediocre in what we have now come to expect of a real TV station.

Many years ago, the MBC used to be the most viewed TV station. Not because of its exquisite programming, but simply because there was nothing else to watch. Then came the famous ?Antenne Réunion? and those who could afford it, swiftly switched over, its French quality newscast quickly became a daily event not to be missed, dinnertime was before or after it. But most people stuck with the MBC in the absence of anything better. But that is not the case anymore. We have access to different channels and different programs from elsewhere. If access to these fill our need for entertainment, there is, however, one important part missing. Local news. That part must still filter through the MBC.

Are we not entitled to have access to quality local news? It can get downright depressing to watch the MBC primetime news with hardly any relevant local news, other than the permanent politico-cultural PR showcase reminiscent of a PM touring the country during elections.

It seems that the PM ? not just this one but others before him as well ? wants to monopolise the news and let people know only what he wants them to know. If there is a scandal, not a word about it on the newscast. Yet, the people need and want to know about it. That is nothing short of an autocratic attempt to control the flow of local news, depriving the people of vital information they are democratically entitled to have access to. The MBC has become a mouthpiece ? truly a press organ ? of any ruling government, although all ruling governments have failed to realize that its influence alone has never won them re-election. So why keep and finance a behemoth money-sucking agency that gives back very little of what Mauritians want and expect from their flagship station?

Interesting sharing of ideas

Using private radios as yardsticks, not a soul would find their advent a bad event, except for those whose vested interests are harmed by their very existence. But private news outlets are not in the business of pleasing people, they function as watchdogs over those presiding upon national interests; if they say the truth, what is wrong with that ? If they truly are at the service of the people, again what is wrong with that?

Private television stations can bring enormous benefits to the country. It will bring better entertainment values to viewers than the current state-owned station. It will not be shackled by erratic bureaucratic decisions on what we need to see on our screen; our remote control can do that just fine. We can finally have real and interesting sharing of ideas by people who won?t have to toe the line of the government, lest they are not invited again ? if they are invited in the first place - because of opinions and views not shared by those in whom too much power is vested. Private televisions listen to their viewers, state-owned stations do not.

Private television will transform the country in general. A vibrant country does not function with only one state television. Controlling the flow of information usually means that someone is trying to hide something. If everything is done in the open and in accordance with the rule of law, there is nothing to fear. Today, the current PM has the upper hand, he won?t when the next PM comes in. He will then surely complain about not having enough airtime on the MBC. With a private TV station, there will be more fairness in giving airtime; of course, to those who deserve it. Who knows? It may even work to his advantage. It is not unusual for us to like what we use to loathe the most.

If this government is truly determined to democratize Mauritius, it should also include the democratization of local information in the process.

Saoud BACCUS [email protected]