Silver Linings for the Young

By Nita Chicooree-Mercier

Greyish clouds hang heavily in the sky, moving sluggishly at the whim of intermittent winds and alternating gentle sunrays that reveal the blue dome above. Indeed, the cool winter weather is a welcome respite from the scorching sun of an unending summer that irritates many of us throughout the year. Fair tropical weather is the most egalitarian blessing that people, whether miserable, downtrodden, well-off, or super wealthy, make the best of.

Fitness Gym in Triolet. Pic – Facebook

Driving between the several towers of Ebene Cyber City beneath the clouds, one cannot help but think that having so many offices, businesses, private companies, public bodies, and banks packed into a single location is highly practical and was an absolute necessity during the early years of the millennium in Mauritius. Indeed, the scarcity of land will inevitably result in a trend towards vertical construction for administrative purposes and private offices in the future. Apartment buildings are likely to follow the same trend. Despite the lamentations of many, no other alternative will likely emerge in the years to come.

What is in store for the younger generation?

Honestly, building a future with the basic need for a roof over their heads is quite a challenge for the younger generation under current circumstances. The zero-interest rate for the 18 to 25 age group, already experienced in France with positive results, is a noteworthy incentive. Although such an incentive to encourage young adults to borrow and invest at a young age may leave some sceptical, it proves effective for those who want to start a business. Twenty-three-year-old university graduates embarking on promising careers with clear future goals may find it useful to invest in purchasing land, building a house, or buying an apartment. Amid the bleak prospects of global climate change, geopolitical instability, threats to democratic institutions in major countries, and uncertainties about the future, the younger generation needs positive signals to start life with encouragement and confidence.

Stress caused by high-interest loans, which have traditionally been quite high in Mauritius compared to the 1 or 2% rates in some Western countries before the Ukraine-related crises, along with the collateral damage to health from monthly repayments, discourages young people from repeating their parents’ pattern of borrowing and repaying. Zero-interest loans alleviate this burden. In France, for example, zero-interest loans did not spark controversy; rather, they were a relief to parents who had invested most of their savings to assist their children. It is about wealth distribution in forward-looking countries to create fair opportunities for an increasing number of citizens. 

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Sports and Wellness

Generally, villages badly need sports facilities. At last, Triolet is set to inaugurate its first gymnasium. Now that the project, initially initiated in 2010, has materialized, inhabitants are very pleased that both the young and all citizens will have a place to look forward to at the end of the day and on weekends. At the other end of Triolet, Solitude – partly comprising former sugar estate longhouses – is a dreary, run-down place that would benefit greatly from another gymnasium. Can sports divert the youth from drugs? Currently, more than a hundred young men flock to police stations for methadone, a quite pathetic sight.

Needless to say, substantial investments need to be channelled towards the physical health and well-being of citizens. The recruitment of coaches and teachers in disciplines like yoga and jiu-jitsu to enhance the physical health and general wellness of boys and girls in schools is excellent news. Anyone concerned with improving the quality of life for our compatriots should welcome this development, regardless of political affiliation.

Internationally, fierce competition and conflict threaten global stability, with sophisticated bombings and fighter jets wreaking havoc. Western countries are overwhelmed by waves of both legal and illegal migration that threaten the social fabric of host nations. Meanwhile, life goes on, and countries do what is best for their national interests. While changing the world may be beyond our reach, we can begin by effecting changes locally.

The two disciplines the Ministry aims to promote—yoga and jiu-jitsu—focus on the flow of energy, self-control, and connecting with the self. Breathing techniques in yoga provide tremendous benefits in regulating breaths, raising awareness of the body’s biological functions, and creating a balance between emotional energy and mental peace. Such practices help promote reason and logic and enlighten seekers of truth. Saudi Arabia, for example, boasts 700 yoga teachers who promote yoga and bring peace of mind to citizens in several cities, thanks to the goodwill of a single lady. It stands as a shining example of setting role models. Don’t ask what a country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

We were fortunate to have our first yoga class at the age of 16 as part of an extracurricular activity at QEC. It was a life-inspiring series of courses that left a lasting impression. Most of us continued with yoga and made it part of our lifestyle. In those days, I found it unfair that boys and girls from other colleges did not have access to yoga lessons. The democratization of benefits to a greater number of citizens cannot be dismissed lightly. Every measure should not be labelled as freebies, electoral bribes, or unsound budget policy.

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Looking Ahead

All is not rosy for everyone, especially for the young facing stressful unemployment issues in specific sectors despite their high qualifications. The scourge of drugs wreaks havoc in society, taking a heavy toll on youngsters despite increasing arrests by ADSU and the police force. It is a multi-headed hydra that re-emerges after every network is dismantled. This issue deprives society of workers; a shrinking demographic requires a robust workforce and creates a heavy dependence on foreign workers. Is there a political party with a magic wand to eliminate drug trafficking from the island?

The public broadly supports the principle of law and order, as do the young. They are not easily swayed by the fleeting indoctrination that undermines authority in developed nations, leading mobs to attack police forces mercilessly. Such ideologies give a free pass to wild elements and signal the decline of civilized societies. Mauritian youths are not easily swept up by transient passions that grip minds abroad. Few attempts to imitate foreign anti-social behaviour are well received by the public and are quickly quelled to prevent the rise of anarchist groups in the name of freedom.

A few attempts to imitate foreign antisocial behaviour do not sit well with the public and are suppressed to prevent them from evolving into anarchist groups under the guise of freedom. On the other hand, there is a less flattering portrayal of our youth, despite the apparent wisdom they are said to possess in our relatively conservative society. Their lack of social interaction and complacency within overindulgent family circles hinder their full development and maturity compared to their peers in more developed countries. Additionally, their elders often react violently, seeking retaliation and revenge for anything that disturbs them, resulting in irrational and immature behaviour. This is a deplorable situation that needs to be addressed seriously.

In a climate of fierce competition for power, little thought is given to enhancing human development, promoting social interaction, and encouraging respectful dialogue to prevent emotional reactions that hinder rational thinking. Much remains to be done to uplift the quality of life for citizens. Opening natural parks with playgrounds for toddlers, children, and their parents should be a top priority. Villages and towns increasingly justify V.S. Naipaul’s branding of the island as an “overcrowded barracoon.” People desperately need public spaces to relax and unwind after a day’s work. Such amenities are currently lacking in most areas. Hopefully, these facilities will become feasible when the clouds clear for a brighter economy, provided that warring factions in distant countries lay down their arms and alleviate global economic woes.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 13 September 2024