REFLECTIONS – Expensive life: shy, but sincere...

The fiery red deputy from Port-Louis, Eshan Juman, opened the ball. He demands that 20% of his MP salary be cut for the next six months. That is Rs 32,000 of the base he receives, Rs 159,000, excluding allowances. Pleasant surprise: his gesture was emulated! Atish Aubeeluck, red municipal councilor of Beau-Bassin/Rose-Hill, wants a 50% reduction in his allowances. Another red, Ishmal Sumbhoo, municipal councilor of Quatre-Bornes, offers 60% of his allocations. In the same vein and also coming from the red inner circle, Shakti Dewoo, municipal councilor in Curepipe, will pay, for his part, his entire remuneration! Who says better? But we are not in a competition. And if some of our elected officials have understood and heard the distress of many families, especially those at the bottom of the scale, their gestures are saluted, appreciated and welcome. Gestures of solidarity that are more than sympathetic and which underline the sincerity of these elected officials who came forward, visibly coming to serve, and not to serve themselves. Obviously, these outpourings of support for the people are variously commented on. And with good reason. There are indeed several ways to support this population who voted for a blazing 60-0 in the last legislative elections. Just as these first wishes of mutual aid in cash certainly deserve to be welcomed, other avenues can and must be explored. Citizens are not beggars, it must be emphasized. One of the promises of the Alliance of Change was to relieve the burden of the common people. And that's all the better if some people want to go about it this way! The present government did not expect the cost of living to rise to this extent. Nothing stops anyone from setting an example. This is what these four cities have already done! Another elected official who often makes a difference in his approaches and declarations, Kushal Lobine, of the New Democrats, put forward the proposal for a sovereign solidarity fund. The idea is just as valid. And all initiatives that will come to relieve the wallets of our compatriots are welcome! Because the crisis that awaits us is harsh and far from being over. The already complicated global situation has been amplified with this conflict with the most worrying ramifications, triggered by the Trump-Netanyahu tandem against Iran, affecting Lebanon and in the middle of which the strait Hormuz became a direct hostage. Result: the whole planet suffers! Even if we are only a small pebble in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is by no means spared. The price surge is gaining ground. Everyday food and basic foodstuffs must not become luxury items. Especially for our children. Looking forward to other projects seeing the light of day quickly and