<B>By Nicolas RAINER</B>

Modern society is increasingly inuring humankind against the need to obey its instincts, the very same instincts that allowed the human race to survive and eventually thrive against great odds. That we have thrived to the point of driving the planet to exhaustion is the result of thoughtlessness rather than instinct. The increasing presence of technology in our lives means that the importance of our instincts will slowly yet irremediably dwindle until the day when we?ll need a machine to tell us when to breathe.

That?s what was so refreshing about the Subutex saga starring Sada Curpen and Cindy Legallant. It came very close to claiming an illustrious victim on Monday when the Attorney-general tendered his resignation to the Prime minister. In an era where every politician seems to be hopelessly self-absorbed, Rama Valayden?s move was a novelty. He was obviously obeying his instincts when he threatened to withdraw from government and he would definitely have been a better man for it.

His subsequent U-turn, however, was a sad betrayal of these instincts and an even grimmer testament to the perfidy of the political game. When the news first broke it struck me that something mighty serious must be afoot if the Attorney-general had taken it upon himself to resign from a government that contains such controversial figures as Dharam Gokhool, Asraf Dullul and Rajesh Jeetah. One cannot help but wonder what a minister has to do these days in order to be disavowed by Navin Ramgoolam. Dislodging a minister from this government, be it for incompetence, influence-peddling, or both, is about as difficult as coaching a team of giraffes to victory in the bobsled event in the Winter Olympics.

That?s what differentiates Rama Valayden from the great majority of the Alliance sociale. Whilst most of his colleagues seem to hang onto their portfolios with white-knuckled determination, he willingly offered his resignation. At last, I thought! A member of the Cabinet who has the gumption to do the right thing! I was to be proven wrong before the day was over.

I?m not saying that he should have resigned because I dislike the man. On the contrary, one has to give credit where it is due. One can?t help but grant Rama Valayden a smattering of respect for his strong belief in the primacy of human rights over more politically-expedient considerations. He has always been firm in defending the need to respect people?s fundamental rights. The same cannot be said for most of his colleagues, some of who seem to show all the steadfastness of a wind vane in a tornado.

We also owe him greatly for the accession of the Aapravasi Ghat and Le Morne to the lofty status of UNESCO World Heritage sites as he was entrusted with task of defending the dossiers in front of the World Heritage Committee.

Rama Valayden could?ve departed with the knowledge that he had done a good job. Under the Prime minister?s influence, he chose to stay. The question that remains is, ?Did he ever mean to leave at all??.