<B>By Deepa BHOOKHUN</B>

There are few things that can stop us in our tracks while we go about our business of pursuing whatever we feel we have to pursue ? wealth for some, power for others, all ultimately in our quest for happiness. One of those things is the honest and unflinching gaze of an innocent child.

Now that we have stopped, caught off guard, how do we look away? Oh, it probably isn?t that hard. Such is human nature, isn?t it? Shying away from uncomfortable things is second nature to us.

But do let us stop for a minute. How do we explain to the children of the squatters from Belle Mare that their parents have to be evicted because they are engaged in an illegal activity? That the answer to not having something is not to grab what doesn?t belong to you?

How do we explain to them ? and others who go to bed on an empty stomach ? that it is not their fault if their parents are irresponsible human beings? How do we say to them, who didn?t ask to be born, that their parents have never heard of family planning? But, above all, how do we tell them that the very fact that they are living the lives that they know, is the cruel proof of the failure of the state to ensure that everyone of its citizens lives in dignity? How do we explain to them that it is not about them? That they, in truth, are collateral damages?

Seeing that we are in interrogating mode, let?s go on. How come, in a country where jobs are created on a daily basis, where workers have to be imported because the country is not able to provide an adequate workforce, those squatters say they can?t find a job?

Is this the truth? Or is that just an easy way out?

Construction companies are struggling to complete their contractual obligations because they don?t have enough manpower. Others are desperately looking to employ secretaries, maids, drivers, gardeners, plumbers, etc. but they can?t find any. Or so they say. I fail to see why they would lie. And yet, many people ? the poorest of the poor - will tell you they cannot climb out of poverty because they don?t have a job.

Is it just me or is there something that doesn?t add up?

The answer to poverty is education and employment. Our education is free and jobs are available. Assuming that everybody in the equation is telling the truth, then somebody out there is not doing his/her job properly. And yet, with only 1% of our people living in poverty, the challenge, you will agree, is nothing like parting the Red Sea.

So who is going to volunteer to look those children in the eye, as we celebrate World Poverty Day today, hold their stares and tell them the uncomfortable truth? The truth that they are living this life, because of our incompetence.