Instead of repeatedly rehashing past social and other assistance schemes implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, people want government to competently address and resolve their current existential hardships
By Mrinal Roy
The government appears trapped in its contrived narratives. It seems blind to the tremendous hardships and increasing difficulties faced by the people to make ends meet in a context of continuously escalating food prices and basic existential needs and the sustained erosion of their purchasing power fuelled by the unchecked depreciation of the Rupee. People are fully aware through international news channels and social media that citizens across the world, including those in developed countries are also enduring similar distress owing to the surging prices of food and energy in the wake of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed.
Against such a grim backdrop, people expect government to take bold and decisive actions to alleviate their current distress. Instead, government rhetoric is trying to justify the slapping of four successive hikes of mogas and gasoline prices at the maximum allowable rate of 10% in the space of some 5 months by cock and bull narratives. The price of mogas thus increased from Rs 50.70 per litre on 28 December 2021 to Rs 74.10 per litre on 19 May 2022 representing a cumulative price increase of 46%. Repeatedly parroting the narrative that fuel prices are surging across the world and that the latest increases of local fuel prices are still lower than in a selected number of countries to mask the specificity of the gasoil and mogas pricing system in the country in press conferences, ministerial declarations at every opportunity does not make it right in the larger context of the financial distress of households. Read More… Become a Subscriber
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 27 May 2022
Dear Reader
65 years ago Mauritius Times was founded with a resolve to fight for justice and fairness and the advancement of the public good. It has never deviated from this principle no matter how daunting the challenges and how costly the price it has had to pay at different times of our history.
With print journalism struggling to keep afloat due to falling advertising revenues and the wide availability of free sources of information, it is crucially important for the Mauritius Times to survive and prosper. We can only continue doing it with the support of our readers.
The best way you can support our efforts is to take a subscription or by making a recurring donation through a Standing Order to our non-profit Foundation.
Thank you.
