The conflict between Johnson Roussety, Chef Commissioner of Rodrigues Regional Assembly and the central government over the fishermen allowance was inevitable. It can be said that it was long overdue. As soon as Johnson Roussety was sworn in as Chief Commissioner it was evident by that time that with his speech about the Rodrigues specificity, he was going head sooner or later towards a confrontation with this government. Should we remember that as soon as the Labour Party came to power the first measure against Rodrigues autonomy came from the Ministry of Education & HR which took total control of REDCO.
Labour Party, in fact, campaigned during the last General Elections against Rodrigues, unashamedly alleging that the former government was giving millions to Rodriguans. This stand against Rodrigues comes from the arch conservatives of the Labour Party. We do find their staunch supporters amongst the Labour Establishment. It is for this reason that even if Johnson Roussety got full support from this government during the elections of the Regional Assembly, he was merely an objective ally to the Labour Establishment. The plan was to oust Serge Clair.
The movement of history is not final, absolute and sacred. This is the dialectical movement of history. It reveals the contradictions underpinning events. The stern position of Arvin Boolell has made Johnson Roussety talked about independence. Boolell will go down in history as the politician who succeeded to germinate a national consensus in Rodrigues over the independence issue. This will be amongst the ‘untold memories’.
The time is now for Johnson Roussety , Nicolas Von Mally and , especially Serge Clair as his own legacy to the people of Rodrigues to work together and pave the way for self-determination. This will be a long process. It will surely outlive them. But it should start now. When the movement will gain momentum and the people of Rodrigues will be ready to cross the Rubicon to meet its destiny, a Global Mauritius will by then not be able to deny this right to Rodrigues. Someday somehow Rodrigues’ independence will be natural and even politically correct for future rulers.
This will be a daunting challenge. But I think that the new breed of Rodrigues intellectuals which is emerging will be full of promises for a future independent Rodrigues.
Sir John Pope Hennessy who was British Governor in 1883 talked about ‘Mauritius for the Mauritians’. He got into trouble with the British officials in our island for this statement. If my memory is good, I do remember that on the day that Rodrigues was granted its autonomy or on the celebration of its first anniversary, Sir Aneerood Jugnauth declared that one day Rodrigues will achieve its independence. This was a shock to the Mauritian officials! As the saying goes, history bears witness and it may be repeating itself!
{{Jimmy Harmon}}