It certainly could not have been a merrier New Year. Sales of alcohol reached a record high and the boys in blue caught 50 drivers for drink-driving. More red-nosed than red-handed. The balloon-happy bunch seem happy with their work : their pads are full of names and 50 people have had a very bad morning after the night before.

Drink-driving is inexcusable. These 50 people could have wrecked so many lives had they been involved in accidents. They could have maimed or killed. But above the clichés normally associated with alcohol, there lies another truth behind drink-driving in Mauritius : what transport alternatives do we have if we want to have fun far away from home?

Public transport is an absolute joke in this country. Buses are invisible on most routes in the evening and unheard of at night.

Mauritius has evolved from a third world country in the 70s to a developing nation in the 21st century but the ?last bus syndrome? still persists. There are simply no buses in most parts of the country after 7 pm. In fact, the only night buses are available on the Port-Louis-Curepipe route, and only until midnight.

Which leaves us with taxis. A very scary bunch indeed. In my town, the only place you can find a taxi after 8 pm is not the local stand, but the side entrance of a very popular bar. Those lucky to find a taxi after they?ve finished partying soon sober up after finding out about the fare. The law of demand and supply was certainly not devised by Mother Theresa, and the taxi drivers certainly use it at their advantage. They charge ridiculously inflated prices.

And please don?t mention the meter. Unless you want the door to be closed in your face.And by the time you realise what has been happening, the taxi will be a little red dot on the horizon. There are also the illegal taxis. Some are cheap and cheerful. Others drive while being high on dope. The choice is yours.

All this to say that public transport is a real joke in Mauritius. If you want to drink far away from your home, there isn?t much choice. You either stay home and drink, or you go out and don?t drink. We are not talking about drinking like a sponge lost at sea but mere social drinking. Then again, the whole issue does not only apply to alcohol consumption.

Mauritius is becoming a very sad country because there is not much entertainment at night. Even the few facilities available are not accessible to all because of a transport problem. What if a family in Rivière-du-Rempart wants to spend an evening in Caudan ? What if someone in Rose-Hill wants to have dinner by the Mahebourg Waterfront ?

Don?t say it loud but Mauritius is only an island. It is only 720 square miles. And yet, despite all the big talks, everyone seems to be happy that the tiger should sleep at 9 p.m.

Tucked in bed with a bottle of milk. Well, since we?re reduced to this, why not dream about a Light Railway Transit which would operate all day and all night and give entertainment a triple shot of tequila ? That?ll be the day.

Cheers.

P. COLO