Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Honourable Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam – Congo – US Chevron Corporation.



Too often intrigue, hatred and killings make the headlines in International news.

By contrast, the overwhelming power of good old fashioned friendship, love, humility and discreet diplomacy seldom gets the kind of much needed exposure that could plant the seed to make the whole world a better place.

In the last week killings, the issuance of false passports, alleged terrorists arrests and the accidental slaughter of a group of innocent people killedby arms gone wild made the news around the globe!

While the wild choose to kick and kill, the wise pick the path of diplomatic skill.

Last week our honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam scored a most newsworthy victory on the world scene through quiet diplomacy.

Yet, to date it has had no world media coverage! Is it because our Prime Minister’s arms are made for hugging and not for killing that his outstanding achievement got no global coverage?

Two Mauritian citizens working for the US giant Chevron Corporation were arrested and thrown into jail after uncovering alleged corruption in the affairs of the Chevron Corporation in the Congo.

Where and when the power of a US company the size of Chevron failed to obtain the release of its employees, our Prime Minister stepped into the foray to obtain the freedom of our citizens.

On the local news our Prime Minister humbly stated that where other means had all failed, he had achieved that international feat through friendship and love.

Our Prime Minister told our nation that the President of the Congo is a personal friend of his and was also a friend of his father, the late most Honourable Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. The long lasting bonds of friendship alone were at the root of the ‘miraculous’ release of those Chevron employees who were luckily citizens of Mauritius under the leadership of Dr. Navin Ramgoolam!

Decades ago, our Prime Minister’s father, the founder of our nation, had told my father: “Fernand, we are a small nation. We have no resources other than our spirit. We have no military arms other than the arms God gave us. We are bound to use our arms to hug the whole world community regardless of creed, color or race.”

Decades later, our Prime Minister is most wise to be still walking in his father’s footsteps. Should the world media not report such a transcending accomplishment? It might just be like a breath of much needed fresh air on world air waves.

It would highlight the supremacy of love over hate, the superiority of friendship over the power of the military. Are friends not a lot easier to deal with than foes?

In November 2008, shortly after the election of President Obama, under the heading: America – Dream beyond all frontiers… I wrote in this blog:

“Does Obama have much to learn from our Prime Minister? Having crossed so many horizons and observed so many different Government leaders from so many different worlds, I unreservedly say: “YES!” Mauritius is a small country. It hosts a great nation under the exemplary leadership of our Prime Minister! Mauritius under Navin is worthy of world stage recognition."
In deeds “…how big a player does our Prime Minister deserve to be on the world scene? God knows best. And I trust that God will thrust Navin on the International stage to help the US urgently establish better relations with the world community.”

Is God using Navin once again to set an example to the rest of the world? Should the world community not be better informed about the power of love as illustrated in this critical instance? Come on Associated Press! Come on CNN! Come on BBC! Come Reuters! Where are you all?

Come on Chevron! This meaningful victory may not be worthy of a Nobel prize. But is it not worthy of a novel prize?

At the very least, the successful involvement of our Prime Minister should well deserve a token prize taken from vast reserves.

Our Prime Minister offered the very best of his winning diplomatic spirit, skill and friendship to resolve an International impasse. Our Honorable Prime Minister will ask for nothing in return. But to recognize the immense value of Dr. Ramgoolam’s intervention should the Chevron Corporation set an example? Should Chevron offer a novel prize in the form of some tankers of oil and gas to reward the leader of a country whose only natural resource is its boundless spirit of love, goodwill and diplomacy?
Chevron could seize this opportunity to lead the way in starting a new trend. A trend that would recognize that human arms are mightier than military arms. A trend that would reward the supremacy of diplomatic skill over those who choose to kill! A trend that would highlight and encourage the resolution of international conflicts by peaceful means!