As a child, I was traumatised to see my mum creeping behind the Christmas tree to gingerly place my spinning rabbit. I had to rather grudgingly accept that you are just a figment of my imagination and that Santa meant mum and dad. Like all children, I could only see your persona, your lovely bearded smile and your laden booty (obviously with my gifts) when reflected on TV and accept that the gifts left under the Christmas tree have been wrapped at Chin Tai Chong store and not by your elves. However, as an adult today, I want to revert to my innocent childhood and believe in your mysticism as there is nothing left to hold on to on this tiny island called Mauritius..We have it all, dear Santa : beautiful beaches, up to date technology, intelligent men and women but also professional thieves, callous murderers, paedophiles, expert witches and imported viruses and aliens in our midst. We have it all, indeed.

On the social scene, the level of crime is rocketing without an eye brow movement. It is startling and very worrying to see our society being labelled as one afflicted by such atrocities and with such celerity. No one expects miracles in seeing crimes curbed overnight but one needs to have faith in a legal system. Everyone understands the social costs of economic liberalisation and bla bla bla. However, dear Santa, we don?t seem to have made provisions for such contingencies. We do not all have bodyguards like those in position to take decisions which affect our daily lives, and we depressingly brace roadside goons on a daily basis. Now, for our Christmas gift, someone (can?t remember his name) has come up with an ingenuous idea to release some of the most notorious prisoners, as if unleashing oxygen for us to breathe. No one considers these recidivists as safe to have around and neither can we expect to be heard. Our legal system is in shambles. Let us Santa consider what our problems are, before I ask you to consider my wish list.

On what basis are the decisions being considered? Don?t know.

Who decides who can be released or not? Big brother, I think.

What is the definition of good behaviour from a correctional institution? No crimes committed whilst incarcerated!

What distinction is there between a paedophile and a small time crook? None, from the leniency of sentences.

Who has the right to pardon those prisoners? Harry Potter, by the look of it.

How will their rehabilitation in society be monitored? Not worth answering.

Will the victims of crime be protected? Tough luck.

In a nutshell what is happening to our legal system? What legal system? Whilst every single country in the world is trying cumbersomely to combat crimes and bring in tougher laws and sentences, we are waiting with anticipation for anarchism. The murder of Conchita is still fresh in the minds of people and yet what lessons are we giving the murderers? If they behave themselves in prison, they can be expected to be rewarded. Our country, dear Santa rewards prisoners and penalises victims: there is no compensation for the victims. Yes, Santa, that?s our life on the island. This pardoning of rapists, murderers and drug peddlers is just puerile and unwarranted. How are we expected to live in such a society ruled by make belief laws, rules and regulations? Election has come and gone with many promises yet to be fulfilled. All the mega big babbles about changes have been shelved and can only be expected to front the next election bid in 5 years time by the opposition party. It makes one wonder whether they are political tactics that give a leeway for future political campaigns.

Dear Santa, please bestow upon us some good politicians even if they come from toysarus. Come with your reindeer to cheer these ministers up as one gets the feeling that they are bored rigid and are having fun watching crimes unfolding and multiplying, like a satanic big brother. Bring some entertainment for them and let them amuse themselves with the latest Harry Potter broomsticks rather than play with our sanity and life. They might think that they are being very noble in their demeanour but please relay to them the disgrace and insensitivity of their actions if their ?leniency? is put to fruition. Tell them about the statistics which show that criminals are twice as likely to re-offend when they are released. Talk them through what a legal system should entail. Please appeal to their fatherly nature and tell them to put themselves in the shoes of the families who have lost their kins to rapists, paedophiles and other unwanted characters.

Merry Christmas to all.

<B>BY Rubina DOOBORY</B>