?Dad, you really annoy us sometimes but we are proud of you and we love you.? Alexandre thus insisted on paying tribute to the education his father, Alain Jeannot, has given him as well as his brother and sister. The author launched his second book, Letter to my Kids, last Thursday in the boardroom of Air Mauritius Building in the presence of the former president of the Republic, Cassam Uteem, who not only wrote his foreword but was also his guest speaker. Alain Jeannot was ?extremely relieved and happy that the message could be passed on. It was important to gather these articles into a book because books leave imprints.?

Letters to my Kids is in fact a collection of various articles Alain Jeannot wrote regularly in l?express between January and December 2006. ?When I wrote these articles, I did not even know it would become a book? but many people encouraged me to do so and this is how it all started.? They are short articles in a simple language and each one contains a special message for ?children, young people as well as adults?, according to Cassam Uteem. ?Our society is dangerously sick but hopefully not terminally ill,? he added. For the former president, it is up to the fundamental institutions to react to this ? family, school, church, police as well as political leadership.

«When I wrote these articles, I did not even know it would become a book? but many people encouraged me to do so and this is how it all started.»

While the family is supposed to bring shelter, love and affection, it often shows that it is ?unable to cope with children or does not have sufficient time to spend with its children?. Young people could easily go astray unless the family assumes its responsibility for making home a really sweet home.

As far as religious institutions are concerned, Cassam Uteem denounced the bigotry that does not help to make society any better, that fails in inculcating moral values and helps foster communal tensions. ?There are some institutions like the Catholic Church that give some ?training? to fiancés or future parents. I believe this should be extended to an ?Ecole des Parents? for all.?

Schools are also overwhelmed with their mission of inculcating values such as discipline, respect or altruistic values. Teachers are obsessed with the ?rat race? fostered by the system. ?This prevents pupils from enjoying their childhood.? This system has to be reviewed because it creates failed students likely to become failed citizens.

The police need to be trained adequately to make sure that law offenders are punished. ?Walking alone in the street will soon become dangerous,? he added.

Finally, the former president of the Republic focused on political leadership that is ?expected to give the good example. It is hoped that they are able to save the little credibility still enjoyed but which is dangerously diminishing day by day?.

Luckily enough, Alain Jeannot has touched on most of the aspects dealt with here?