Law and Order - Me Yatin Varma: 'The Feeling of Insecurity is Now Well Established'

Title: Law and Order - Me Yatin Varma: 'The Feeling of Insecurity is Now Well Established'

Content: Recent violent incidents, travel warnings issued by various countries, and a growing sense of insecurity have sparked serious concerns regarding law and order in Mauritius. On the show 'Au Cœur de l’Info,' Murvind Beetun and his guests analyzed the situation and proposed potential solutions.

The law and order situation in Mauritius is increasingly raising questions and worries. Several recent events have reignited the debate over security, the role of authorities, and the country’s international perception. In this context, the program 'Au Cœur de l’Info' dedicated an in-depth discussion to this issue, featuring Sydney Pierre, Junior Minister of Tourism, Me Yatin Varma, former Attorney General, and Roshan Kokil, former Assistant Superintendent of Police.

From the outset, a concerning observation was made: law and order is in a troubling phase. However, Sydney Pierre called for nuance, explaining, "There is a difference between a complete absence of law and order and a degradation of law and order." He indicated that several factors contribute to this climate, including the rise of drug use, the frequency of certain crimes, and cases of corruption.

The Junior Minister of Tourism addressed the perceptual dimension of insecurity, fueled by media commentary and certain statistics. He cited indicators showing "74 points for Mauritius regarding safety during the day, whereas at night, this figure drops to 38 points for walking alone."

Me Yatin Varma, on the other hand, adopted a more alarmist tone, stating, "There is a degradation of law and order, and we must recognize that it is a significant problem." According to the former Attorney General, "the feeling of insecurity is now well established."

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

Identified Causes and Flaws

The issue of drugs repeatedly emerged in the discussions. Sydney Pierre acknowledged that "the country is becoming more dangerous due to the number of people succumbing to drugs," labeling this plague a priority for the government. Me Yatin Varma was more critical, asserting that "all governments claim they will fight drugs," but this must translate into "concrete actions." He questioned the role of intelligence services, asking, "Do the intelligence services not know where drugs are sold and the source of the problem?"

Impact on the Country’s Image

Beyond the statistics and analyses, the speakers emphasized the tangible impact of this situation on the populace and Mauritius's image. Me Yatin Varma stressed that when "major countries issue warnings that caution must be taken in Mauritius, it harms the country." He stated that it is imperative to acknowledge 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, stating, "If we are in denial, we will not make efforts to find solutions," emphasizing the importance of a clear diagnosis to restore public trust.

Short-Term Actions

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

In tourist areas, the Junior Minister acknowledged, "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 increasing police personnel and resources while pointing out a "leadership problem" within the police force. "We must accept that there need to be more police officers and provide them with more resources to do their job," he stated.

Roshan Kokil called for "ending violations" through visible actions on the ground. He believed that fines exist but that "penalties must be enforced" to deter risky behavior.

Medium and Long-Term Solutions

For medium and long-term solutions, several proposals were discussed. Me Yatin Varma suggested better computerization of systems to more effectively track irregular migrants in Mauritius, referencing criminal cases involving illegal foreigners.

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

The issue of inmate rehabilitation was also discussed. The Commissioner of Prisons, Dev Jokhoo, mentioned existing programs, asserting that there was no major dysfunction. However, Me Yatin Varma advocated for personalized follow-up of former inmates, while Sydney Pierre emphasized the importance of reintegration programs, regardless of the sentence length.