I made up my mind many years ago to come and spend my last days in my beautiful Mauritius. Alas! Since I arrived here I?ve had the unfortunate experience of learning that a certain number of mainly young people are terrorising tourists by robbing them at knife-point in Port-Louis in the north of the island. I hear of break-ins into bungalows whilst the occupiers are away. Women are also targeted if they are walking alone at night outside the immediate grounds of hotels.

Our roads are no safer. Mauritius has ?the world?s highest rate of traffic fatalities per capita?, quotes the Consular Information Sheet (CIS) of USA. A certain number of drivers have their own way of interpreting the highway code. The old and infirm are certainly the most vulnerable. Politeness on the road is a thing of the past and reckless drivers are getting away with murder.

Being part of a group of expatriates, who have invested millions in this country, we have a right to ask the responsible authorities for their proposals for tackling these serious problems in our society. The situation is not getting any better. Where we are heading? If things do not improve soon, it may be too late to save our image abroad. Mauritius is slowly getting a bad report from a few European countries whose tourists come every year to enjoy our climate and beaches.

It?s not too late to stamp out these evil-doers. Punishment meted out by magistrates, etc. will have to be tougher for law-breakers. More policemen need to patrol our streets. Above all, our prosperous tourist industry must be protected at all costs. It is a matter of life and death for this island.

<B>H. Krishan Shaw</B>