Elections Regionales a Rodrigues - Victoire de l'OPR

OPR back in control of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly.
 I was in Mauritius in December 2011 and as a journalist, I discussed many things with my colleagues over there from L'Express, Le Mauricien, Weekend and Radio One.
I  know in Mauritius the journalists are well informed, they have many sources and their informations are pretty accurate.
As politics is the main game in Mauritius, we also touched on the situation in Rodrigues.
They were all adamant that Serge Clair will make a comeback. I was not so convinced, because Navin Ramgoolam had made Nicholas Vonmally, Minister for Rodrigues and as his party was in control of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly. The Mouvement Rodriguais had the upper hand on Rodrigues' business and were free to do whatever they wanted there.
This state of affairs was consolidated by Navin's nomination of Christain Leopold, another member of MR, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry for Rodrigues. This was another plus for the MR.
What I did not know and did not consider, was that  MR was administering Rodrigues in a very lavish style and favouring their people and political agents to the extreme. Those who are not on their side were marginalised. There was a climate of fear among public servants in patricular, and the public in general. Some were even comparing the atmosphere as tense, leaning towards dictatorship.
There was a sense of disbelief among the people and, silently they were not approving  the practice of favouritism and waste of public funds for their own benefits by the Commissioners. Some of the them were involved in corruptions and business of dodgy sorts, pocketing money indirectly from public funds and directly from business people for favours.
The removal of Johnson Roussety from the post of Chief Commissioner and his replacement by Gaetan Jabimissar did not change the prevailing atmosphere and the style of MR government.
I also read from an interview with a respected lawyer in Mauritius, Robert Ahnee, that the Minister for Rodrigues was very unpopular there. "Il n'est pas aime" he said. He was confident that Serge Clair and his party would make a comeback.
The electoral campaign was not a long one; it was even disrupted by a cyclone.
Many things came to the surface during the campaign. While the OPR was campaigning on self reliance and responsibility, the MR was campaigning on more reliance on the Mauritian government to provide more for Rodrigues. The MR was said to be echoing policies of Mauritian parties like the Labour Party and the Parti Mauricien Social Democrate. The MR is considered to be  their little brother i.e part of the same family.
The people of Rodrigues could be poor but they are proud. Turning them into beggars and making them feel inferior, do not go well with them. One politician even say " we are already poor, but we cannot be poorer if we do not rely on Mauritius." This is symbolic of their pride.
The MR used big logistics, money and bribes to buy votes during their campaign. According to a lady (quoted in L"Express -comments), they have never seen so much money floating around and so many gifts and "bagaz" given during an election campaign.
The OPR went about their business of talking frankly and sincerely to the people. Their team was young with many new comers who carried no scars of past political activities They could not be criticised of any previous maladministration or accused of corruptions.
On the other hand,  most of the candidates of the MR have been in power before, in one way or another. The strategy of having candidates with experience was  probably miscalculated.
The victory of the OPR is more the result of honesty and sincerity. It proved that money can't buy people's conscience and ask them to swallow their pride. This victory of OPR symbolises that money cannoy buy everything.
The MR thought that because one is poor , one has to succumb to the whims and wills of the rich.They were well entrenched in their ivory towers, enjoying a good life with all the privileges, at the expense of the people. They relied on propaganda and persuasion with material means.
On the 5 of February 2012, the people of Rodrigues cast their votes. The democratic process  delivered The OPR as winner and the voice of the people should be respected. Vox Populi Vox Dei.
There should be no boycott from the Central Government which should work in harmony, mutual respect and collaboration with the new Regional Government for the betterment of the people of Rodrigues.
The Prime Minister of Mauritius (and Rodrigues), should act with dignity and statesmanship beyond political considerations. I expect Navin Ramgoolam and Serge Clair to engage in a dialogue as soon as possible and on a regular and continuous basis with dignity and respect.
A democratic government is for all people, with all people, not only for a few and for friends.