By Raj JUGERNAUTH

In the world of communication, perception is one thing and reality another. Perception is what matters most, however far it might be from the truth. Spin-masters labour hard to achieve a perception. Often the task consists in preventing a bad perception from settling down.

When he stood up this week to fight his case, minister Rama Sithanen did not probably realize to what extent the communication machinery of his office has miserably failed. In fact, the whole communication machinery of this government is an utter failure.

Fiscal policy and the closing down of Chitrakoot government school are two of the latest cases, which prove that government is wasting taxpayers? money in high salaries and duty-free cars for impotent press attachés and communication gurus.

The first and second budgets of Rama Sithanen were hailed as meant to strengthen the country?s economy in a world where preferences and quotas are fast dwindling. In a world where we have to face fierce competition.

It is thus shocking to see that, four months after his second budget, Sithanen has to explain again the philosophy behind his tax on bank interest, residential property, etc. Explanations he has firstly given to none else that an adviser of the prime minister!

Government?s incompetent communication and a non-stop campaign from opposition and economic lobbies have allowed a very negative perception to settle down. The perception is that Rama Sithanen is fleecing taxpayers while nothing is done with taxpayers? money to improve and modernize the country. Car owners keep paying income tax, a fuel surcharge on each litre of fuel for road development plus a very high road tax. And high fines too. Very often for petty offences, because traffic police has to book drivers to respect their daily quotas. Despite this, there has been no improvement in road infrastructure and traffic jams have become a nightmare.

To darken the picture, car drivers have to slow down, take to the road side to give way while the PM and his deputies ignore the bitter taste of traffic jams or road tax. Those who refuse to give way might end up in police cells and in court. Charged with attempt at murder!

The ministries of Education and of Commerce, with a total lack of communication policy, public opinion management and damage control policy are two other quarters, which feed the negative perception towards government action. Rama Sithanen might be paying for the actions... inaction and misbehaviour of other ministers.

And things might soon turn very explosive. Lurking in the public, but also in the opinion of some ministers and private sector managers, is the perception that there is a more humane way to achieve the goals Sithanen has set for the country. The saying that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush is unknown to the fickle-minded crowd.