Law and Order - Me Yatin Varma: "The Feeling of Insecurity is Now Deeply Rooted"

Title: Law and Order - Me Yatin Varma: "The Feeling of Insecurity is Now Deeply Rooted"

Content: Violent incidents, travel advisories issued by several countries, and a growing sense of insecurity: the issue of Law and Order in Mauritius raises significant concerns. In the show "Au Cœur de l’Info," Murvind Beetun and his guests analyzed the situation and outlined potential solutions.

The state of Law and Order in Mauritius is increasingly raising questions and worries. Recent events have reignited the debate on security, the role of authorities, and the country’s perception internationally. It is within this context that the show "Au Cœur de l’Info" dedicated a thorough discussion to this topic, bringing together Sydney Pierre, Junior Minister of Tourism, Me Yatin Varma, former Attorney General, and Roshan Kokil, former Assistant Superintendent of Police.

Right from the start, a concerning observation was made: Law and Order is going through a troubling phase. However, Sydney Pierre called for a nuanced understanding. "There is a difference between a complete absence of law and order and a degradation of law and order," he explained. According to him, several factors contribute to this climate, notably the rise of drug-related issues, the frequency of certain crimes, and cases of corruption.

The Junior Minister of Tourism noted the perceptual dimension of insecurity, fueled by comments disseminated in the press and certain statistics. He cited indicators showing "74 points for Mauritius regarding daytime safety, whereas at night, this figure drops to 38 points for walking alone."

Me Yatin Varma, for his part, took a more alarmist tone. "There is a degradation of law and order, and we must acknowledge that this is a serious problem," he stated. According to the former Attorney General, "the feeling of insecurity is now deeply rooted."

Roshan Kokil echoed this sentiment. He questioned the emergence of a culture where "people take the law into their own hands."

Causes and Identified Flaws

The issue of drugs recurred throughout the discussions. Sydney Pierre acknowledged that "the country is becoming more dangerous due to the number of people falling into drug use," labeling this scourge as a priority for the government. Me Yatin Varma was more critical, arguing that "all governments claim they will fight against drugs," but this must translate into "concrete actions." He questioned the role of intelligence services. "Don’t the intelligence services know where drugs are sold and what the source of the problem is?" he asked.

Impact on the Country's Image

Beyond the numbers and analyses, the speakers emphasized the tangible impact of this situation on the population and on Mauritius’ image. Me Yatin Varma pointed out that when "major countries issue warnings about being cautious in Mauritius, it harms the country." He stressed the imperative to recognize the existence of the problem to "find solutions."

Sydney Pierre reminded that "an attack on a tourist is an attack on the country," as it directly affects the tourism industry and, by extension, the national economy.

Roshan Kokil warned against denial. "If we are in denial, we will not make efforts to find solutions," he cautioned, highlighting the importance of a clear diagnosis to restore public trust.

Short-term Actions

Regarding immediate measures, Sydney Pierre emphasized the need for better law enforcement. "All laws must be respected and all police officers must be able to impose sanctions on those who commit offenses," he stated. He also highlighted that "it is not up to the Prime Minister or experts to dictate their work" to the police, but rather that the police must act firmly.

In tourist zones, the Junior Minister of Tourism acknowledged that "there is a problem." He indicated that the Ministry of Tourism has held meetings with the police to enhance police presence in Grand-Baie and Flic-en-Flac. Me Yatin Varma advocated for strengthening police personnel and resources while pointing out a "leadership issue" within the police force. "We must accept that there should be more police officers and provide them with more resources to perform their duties," he declared.

Roshan Kokil called for "ending offenses" through visible actions on the ground. He suggested that fines exist, but that "sanctions must be enforced" to deter risky behaviors.

Medium and Long-term Solutions

In the medium and long term, several solutions were discussed. Me Yatin Varma proposed better computerization of systems to more effectively track individuals in irregular situations in Mauritius, referencing criminal cases involving foreigners in illegal situations.

Roshan Kokil suggested the establishment of a permanent crime observatory, with quarterly reports, to provide updated data and reduce the gap between official statistics and the population's lived experience. He also noted that the Safe City system is underutilized rather than ineffective.

The issue of prisoner rehabilitation was also addressed. The Commissioner of Prisons, Dev Jokhoo, spoke about existing programs, stating that there were no major dysfunctions. However, Me Yatin Varma advocated for personalized follow-ups for former inmates, while Sydney Pierre emphasized the importance of reintegration programs, regardless of the length of the sentence.