by Ryan COOPAMAH

For what now seems like ages, Mauritius has been at a crossroads. Decision makers have been doing everything except taking... decisions. Mauritius stagnated while the rest of the world was speeding ahead. Our sails never quite caught the winds of change that were blowing globally.

Our sugar and textile industries did not come under threat overnight, but few had the innovative ideas to tackle the issues head on. Until last week. For some, it is absolute lunacy. For others, it is incredibly bold. The line between genius and madness has always been thin and blurred, but the Duty-free Island is here to stay. Slashing taxes has switched the engine on. Mauritius has already slipped into first gear.

In four years, the duty-free paradise will be at cruising speed. In an election year, no one will contest the political motives of the tax cuts. Admittedly, politicians rarely serve their interests and the country at one go. However, Duty-free Island, like free education in 1976, has the power to unleash Mauritius into the future on brand new tracks. It can turn Mauritius into a powerful trade platform.

Most reactions to last week?s announcement have missed the point. Once in full-flight, Duty-free Island will sure offer low prices for everyone, but its main aim is not to satisfy the locals? insatiable appetite for shopping. It will boost tourist spending and turn Mauritius into the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean yet again.

Trade is the new order of the day. Small and medium enterprises do have cause for concern. The Duty-free Island will wipe off all those uncompetitive companies. For too long, a handful of Mauritian companies have been happy playing substitution industries snubbing changing times. Today?s biscuits are as bad as those baked 25 years ago. Times are not as bad as in the roaring seventies but they are definitely as challenging.

The time has come for a new breed of entrepreneurs: those who are ready to innovate, take risks, dive into uncharted waters and have the stomach to fight in the international arena. Instead of falling to the floor and wailing ? the usual easy option ? SMEs should really look at the broad picture. Instead of copying La Redoute catalogues, the shirt-maker could create his own brand, design his own products, invest in an ideally placed shop and target high-spending tourists or even sell online. In London, the most expensive clothes are not made by Armani but by the tailors in Savile Row. Why should the shirt-maker ride a moped for ever when he could have a BMW in seven years?

The Duty-free Island is the chance of a lifetime to turn a crisis into an opportunity. It is high time to let the Mauritian genie out of the bottle. For too long, the Mauritian society has been inward-looking, happy to rest on its laurels instead of taking risks. The local enterprises have always relied on government to open up new sectors. Even now, CEOs of big businesses have been happy slurping caviar while overlooking Caudan waterfront, firmly sitting on their prejudices and misconceptions. It?s no longer good enough to compare ourselves to Africa. The benchmark should be global. The future belongs to a nation which thrives on challenges. This enthusiasm will only emerge if the government puts the money where its mouth is. Duty-free Island is a first step. It is high time to be daring and embark on a huge modernisation programme.

The Light Transit System, for example, needs the green light. The State should also set standards for shopping malls. After all, the tourist won?t shop duty-free in Arcades Salaffa, then take a dodgy ?taxi marron?. Taboos need to disappear and fast. Taxi owners should realise their vehicles are means of public transport and adopt a common livery. Let?s flush away all the ?politically sensitive? clutter. When it can?t be done, do it. If you don?t do it, it won?t exist.

The crossroads is way behind now. We can no longer afford to look back or inwards. We need to jet forward and go for gold. Mauritius is open for business?