"So what exactly will a high-powered committee on squatters
do?" The question was recently addressed to the reader
by a Columnist.
Even a dim-wit has the answer : no matter who are at the helm,
the debate is so explosive that they will simply huff and puff
and … squat! Explosive because often one has to clear the
mess left behind by predecessors. Most politicians (and some journalists,
too) are given to hyperbole and they (politicians) can't stop
shilly-shallying with committees to make decisions.
As regards the medals promised by the columnist, for sure the
latter should be aware of the scandals surrounding the honours
lists in UK, a tradition to that we have inherited, a tradition
to award outstanding persons for their contributions. However
with lavish distribution, the titles became subject to ridicule,
like our local version of colonial MBE. Out of respect of the
so many deserving fellow citizens of Mauritius, I would not like
to spell it out as it had gained currency on the streets. None
of the titles was spared specially by comedians and naturally
by disgruntled citizens:
OBE : Order of the Bad Egg
CMG : Call Me God
KCMG : King Calls Me God
GCMG : God Calls Me God
All British governments had been selling honours, of course prudently
and with some decorum, to deserving beneficiaries. But under Lloyd
George the niceties were dropped and a price list was established.
A knighthood cost £10000 - 12000. A baronetcy cost £30000
and peerages started at £50000. (Source : Nigel Cawthorne,
Political Scandals). In Mauritius the Government, any Government
for that matter, is not known to sell but they do honour citizens
for their allegiance, some with changing allegiances. A heavy-weight
politician, holding the Marxist party hierarchical position of
Secretary General confirmed the practice in a radio interview
on 01 September 09, promising rewards to their party workers.
As for putting in a good word for me, I know that the columnist,
unless belonging to the inner circle, was kidding. Anyway, no
thank you! As much as I would like to, the best I could aspire
for is the title at the lowest rung, MSK, dubbed, Master S…
of the Kingdom. If S stands for success, although the village
barber has a blasphemous reading, then I'm definitely out.
How about you, my dear columnist ? Game for OBE ? If you can do
it at River Walk, I might try to have a word at 10, Downing Street.
Dharumvir TAKOOR
