We should be careful! There is a growing feeling of insecurity in the country. We were never naïve enough to think that we were living in a country where violence or crime was inexistent but the number of cases ? weekly or even daily ? has become frightening. I do not really know if it was better a few years ago; it could even have been worse. But, when crimes are perpetrated under the eyes of witnesses who stay put or avert their eyes, then we?re faced with a double and disquieting problem.

Let?s take one of the latest examples. A woman alleges that she has been the victim of sexual assault in public. She asserts that the street was full of people around but they did not do anything to stop her aggressor/s. We have other examples that have proved true where witnesses of violent acts have not done anything to prevent the attacker/s from perpetrating his/their acts.

This makes me believe that we are living in a society where there are less and less values. People are ready to do anything for money; but worse than that, there seems to be an escalation of gratuitous violence. Discussions degenerate into deadly fights; family conflicts end up too frequently in battering and manslaughter.

The problem is that it is not just a social problem. When violence reaches such proportions, it becomes an economic hurdle as well. At a time when we?re trying to boost tourism and organise big events like the recent ?Assises du tourisme?, such violence does not appear as the dream advert for the destination?

And the authorities will probably say that we?re not helping by publishing all this violence in our newspapers. It is true that it does not help to sell the destination but I don?t think the solution lies in what is published or not in the press. Everyone has his/her own responsibilities and theirs is to give our visitors and ourselves the certainty that we are living in a safe country. So, instead of passing the bucket to another, the government should take its responsibilities?

During his last press conference, the prime minister made it clear that the ?increase in the criminality rate was there well before the advent of his government?. Fair enough; he may be right. However, I do not think he is sending the right signal to those who want to come to Mauritius or who wish to send visitors to our country.

Instead of tackling the problems and taking the necessary steps to change this situation ? thus reassuring the local and foreign public ? the government is content to say that it is the former government?s fault.

It's time to stop politicking. The former government left high rates of violence behind? and so what? It is now the government?s duty to show the population that it was right in believing that it would change their lives for the better.

We?re not asking for miracles. Everyone is aware that the economic situation is bleak on an international scale. With this in mind, tourism remains the biggest hope for the immediate future. We should not play with this 'joker' and we should make sure we do our utmost to keep welcoming tourists on our beautiful island. We should ascertain that, after being concerned by the chikungunya, tourists will not be scared off by a more serious epidemic: violence.