Corruption has been kidnapped!

For the past three weeks, nobody has a clue where Corruption is. She was seen for the last time on a Saturday night at a private club in Grand Baie, and on Sunday morning her brand new Ferrari was found near a park at Floreal. But of her, there was absolutely no trace!
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The Kreol language

How can I accept that Kreol, my mother tongue, is inferior to other languages spoken in Mauritius? True, it has borrowed a lot from French. But, must it be considered, because of that, to be just a form of bastardized French? If this [...]

Do we need an Oliver Cromwell?

 
 
       
                   Oliver Cromwell’s speech to the English Parliament 
It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; you are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; you are a pack [...]

In the name of religion

This country’s exaggerated respect for religion over and above the ordinary respect of its citizens is becoming rather annoying. Ok, I don’t object that you have a right to pray. Far from it! I am even prepared to fight so that you can do so – as many times as you wish. But, really, [...]

La lutte pour l’existence

(Tou lé zour mo bizin tracé)

C’est fou ce que vous pouvez faire attention au détail quand vous êtes pauvre. Vous savez au sou près combine coûte un paquet de macaronis, une boite de sardines, un verre d’alouda. Vous savez [...]

The perfect hostess

I was once invited to a party at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Floreal. On the way, I was held up in a traffic jam and when I arrived, the party was in full swing. As I expected, the cream of our society was there: ministers, directors, advisers and “experts” from all walks of [...]

My neighbour’s first TV

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In 1965, my neighbour bought his first TV. Until then, he had been blisfully unaware of the countless friends that he had: long lost friends, friends of his youth, old school pals…
They would go out of their way to bump into him on the street and then make as if it was a perchance encounter. 
“Fancy [...]

Give us a starry night!

Mauritius used to be known as the land of shooting stars. But, I am afraid it can’t aspire to that title anymore! With all those lights of civilization thrown towards the sky, it’s becoming harder to catch sight of a star, let alone a shooting one!
 
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a bright street lamp. [...]