It must be a lonely place where Pravind Jugnauth is standing right now. Watching him yesterday in parliament while the legacy of his father is going through the worse storm of its existence, I felt sorry for the guy. I sure was glad I was not in his shoes. They must feel most uncomfortable.

How do you deal with such a crisis? The MSM leader cannot keep acting like the proverbial ostrich, he cannot keep pretending not to be aware of what?s going on in his party. For a long time now, we have been hearing rumours of discontentment on the part of some MSM members because they do not agree with the leadership of Paul Bérenger. Regardless of the fact that it is not Bérenger who leads the MSM. But as former minister Choonee puts it, ?the MSM had become a mere instrument in his (Bérenger) hands, a ready and most willing partner to perpetuate his power.? To say how true or untrue this opinion is, would mean taking a stand. The problems within the MSM only concern us in terms of what happens on the political landscape. If Pravind Jugnauth wants to help Bérenger stage his one-man show, I suppose the choice is entirely his; after all, he has been given a free hand in the management of the Sun Trust. Is it so unreasonable, however that those who have helped SAJ build the MSM should disagree with this strategy? Is it so unreason-able that they should forget ? in the words of Mukhesswur Choonee that ?the MSM was created by people who opposed the autocratic style of Bérenger (?)??

If this is the reason why most MSM members are going, can we blame them? We could, I suppose reproach them the delay in leaving. If you are angry and feel you cannot be part of a team, then decency demands that you walk out. Straight away. The most important thing is now for what remains of the MSM after all other dissidents have left, to decide in which direction they want to go.

Now that the socialist party that was for many years synonymous to its founder Anerood Jugnauth is being undermined, what is to become of the new MSM? Blend into the MMM as some observers think will happen? Or will it get a new lease of life after the old school has left?

In any event, it is now for the leader to decide what the next step should be. It seems a bit late to try and turn back time and to keep feeding us with the lie that the ?MSM is united and members will stand together.? Now is the time to take stock, learn from past mistakes and to build for the future. Now is the test. Pravind Jugnauth will no doubt pass the test if he is his father?s son. The times ahead are bound be rocky but what is that saying again? Reculer pour mieux sauter ?