“We take politicians for fairies”

Established in Rodrigues for ten years, Marcel Poinen is in Mauritius to undergo medical treatment while waiting to undergo surgery abroad. At 68, the author, singer and farmer is also the inventor of a “grener may” machine, not industrial but domestic. All these activities do not prevent him from taking a critical look at the political situation, in particular the positioning of elected representatives from Rodrigues in the National Assembly. For him, on November 10, the polls did not produce a 60-0 but rather a 64-0.

Health problems?

It was on October 14 that I was diagnosed with a health problem. For two months, I have been followed by doctors at Victoria Hospital in Candos. I am awaiting surgery abroad.

At 68 years old, you have spent the last ten years in Rodrigues between the fields, inventions and collecting intangible heritage. What do you want to convey?

I was in Mauritius for the big event, the 60-0. Unfortunately, I was not able to vote in my country, Rodrigues. I observed and listened to what people at the hospital were saying. I really felt people were full. It’s something I didn’t expect. In reality, it's not 60-0 but 64-0.

Because the elected representatives of Rodrigues decided to sit with the government majority in Parliament while their party is in opposition in Rodrigues?

It was the Republic that decided. This is unheard of. It's a lesson from the Rodrigues on how to be a republican. This shows us that the people can do things beyond what the politician had thought.

I was born in 1956 (Editor's note, he was 12 years old in 1968). Since Independence, we have seen that arrogance and corruption pushed towards the 60-0 of 1982. It was the birth of Mauritianism. Some speak of varied roots. I don't agree. There are various seeds that have fallen. The Mauritian is rooted in this land. In 1982, it was believed that politicians had magic wands like fairies. Bringing together 100,000 people at the thank-you meeting at the Champ-de-Mars is extraordinary. But hidden interests blocked the development of Mauritianism.

Does believing in change in 2024 mean taking politicians for fairies?

The Mauritian has learned lessons. But it is the politician who is caste too. They bring us together with slogans: “rainbow nation”, “unity in diversity”the “admirable people”. But among politicians, there are demolitionists, who have ethnic and sociocultural motivations. Except that the people do not buy this. He showed it in the last elections. During the thank you meeting (Editor’s note, at the Place d’Armes), we saw the quadricolor floating high, the crowd singing the national anthem.

Did you have a renewed sense of hope as a Rodriguan citizen?

Exactly.

Do you recognize yourself as a Rodriguan citizen now?

And I'm proud of it. I am part of the Republic. At the end of the month, it will be ten years since I moved to Rodrigues. As a poet, a writer, a citizen with a passion for his country, for the Indian Ocean, I feel that with the elections of November 10, a politician will lose his way. The PM said he got the message (Editor’s note, that of the people). What he understood, we made him understand that. There is an expression that “Hope is dashed”. I prefer to say that hope has fallen into art. The art of leading ourselves. It is up to these 64 people sitting in Parliament to lead us to the right place.

It's a repetition, but 42 years after the first 60-0 in 1982, aren't we taking politicians for fairies again?

Somewhere yes. It’s our model of living together that wants that. Hope will come from Rezistans ek Alternativ (ReA). The Deputy PM said so. She is hopeful about them.

These are only three elected officials.

But there is a party behind them. If the ReA proposals were included in the election manifesto, they must be respected.

Between the electoral manifesto and the upcoming keynote speech, there are sometimes disparities.

Very often, yes. But I believe it will be respected. It's also a question of age. At my age, when young people do things, i need to be quiet, watch them. I have my say but they are the ones who have all the time to continue.

Do you have the feeling that we are giving way to young people while key positions have been entrusted to personalities who, more than ten years ago, had already worked with the current leaders?

Without being a political scientist (smiles), I would say that the Mauritian necessarily knows someone who has an affiliation.

There is no neutral Mauritian?

We are still becoming.

Even after 56 years of independence?

Humans are eternally dissatisfied. But we are condemned to live together. It’s not just after a disaster that we need to donate. Mauritianism is recognizing the differences that teach us how to live together.

The poet, the actor, the one who valued the heritage of Fanfan as you did must have taken a look at the proposals of this government for culture. What do you think?

I appreciated Minister Mahen Gondeea's approach in a recent interview. Without pretending to be an art connoisseur, he answered questions. This is why he proposed the Assizes. I hope that with the resulting document, the ministry and the government will understand what artists really expect.

One of the faults of Les Assises is that the action goes into pause mode, right?

With the 64-0, we can't do anything less. It will be necessary to make public the document, which will emerge from the Assizes. With a time frame. I would like to know how we are going to celebrate March 12, 2025, to see the change. Very often, the Ministry of Arts and Culture is considered not to be prestigious. But let's remember that for the official flag-raising ceremony, the Minister of Arts flag coast. It is the artists who give color and flavor to the celebration of March 12 and not the protocol and the military side.

Should the Special Mobile Force tank parade be abolished?

Be said in laughing. We are not in a Bashar al-Assad regime. Of course, protocol is required, all respect due to the flag. But the military side should only represent 10% of the day's program. The repertoire of the police orchestra that day, you still kone ki sawhile there are heritage songs. There is also a potpourri of languages ​​in Mauritius.

Let's imagine. We are at the Champ-de-Mars on March 12. Who would you like to see on stage?

We should hear our heritage: the mix typik and the geet phone. This is the basis. Next, we must show all the cultures that have sprouted in Mauritius, but without drawing a line of demarcation between them. There needs to be communion between them. So that as a spectator, I say to myself: 'Ah, the ya an alchemy. There's a zafer to roll it out”. And that the day after the celebrations, I am galvanized to take up the pole again and continue jumping.

March 12 is a symbol. But in concrete terms, what are the priorities to tackle in the cultural sector?

These are all the blockages, the taboos, the prohibitions, the “don’t do this”.

Earlier this month, two Israeli DJs, first authorized by the police, were banned from performing in Mauritius. Your comment.

No one has stood out to say that our country is about tolerance. We need to open up more. It is also an educational role that the press must play, so as not to fall into the traps of demolition workers from elsewhere. We need debates of ideas to dispel misunderstandings and better understand world history.

Is this a message to the new director of the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)?

Why not a set with journalists who really knows what they are talking about. And there are many. They will know how to invite the public to participate in debates, cultivate this intellectual side which helps us to better understand ourselves and the world. Too often in the activities that take place in Mauritius, we forget the Rodrigues. It would have been a great pleasure if we had had a Rodriguan vice-president of the Republic. When it comes to Rodrig, as they say we have a pity for it. Rodrigues is seen as a place that needs help. Rodrigues sorry for al ede. Rodrigues is part of the Republic, with its autonomy, of course.

Take it Creole Festival in Rodrigues. How much did MBC show Mauritius? Often what happens in Rodrigues stays in Rodrigues when there should be synergy, while respecting, once again, autonomy. There are specialists for that. There needs to be an artistic director on national television.

Are you applying?

(Laughs) I'm very artistic but no. This is a great weakness. We need an artistic director who really knows Mauritian and Rodriguan.

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Innovation: making corn shelling easier

Marcel Poinen is working on a project funded by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC). “We are 75% of the way through a project that will be patented in the future” and which concerns the invention of a machine for mechanically shelling corn cobs. “It’s to make the task of small planters easier. The traditional method of shelling corn cobs by hand is tedious. It causes pain in the hands and back. It’s a job that doesn’t attract young people. Zot pa perdi letan ar sa.”

Marcel Poinen hopes that his invention will revive the cultivation and processing of corn in Rodrigues. For example, “to make flour used for cakes, to make corn rice, to get chicken feed”.

His invention stands out from existing industrial machines. “My concept will allow a single person to install and operate the machine at home.” He hopes that potential investors will be attracted to the manufacturing of this machine. It was during the Covid-19 pandemic that Marcel Poinen had the idea for this machine, when the specter of a rice shortage arose after producing countries, including India, suspended their global exports. . “We were afraid of being rationed like in wartime while Rodrigues produces corn, a healthy food.” Marcel Poinen is also a corn planter in Rodrigues. “If I harvest about 200 pounds of dan mo lakour corn, I’m happy.”

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Mauritius Society of Authors (MASA) : reparlons d'autonomie

Marcel Poinen is a former president of the Mauritius Society of Authors (MASA). During his mandate, the autonomy of the copyright society was voted on at the general assembly. But it was never implemented. Since then, MASA has been plagued by numerous problems, including a dire financial situation.

“Why not grant autonomy to MASA? So that it is managed by the artists”asks Marcel Poinen. Is the constant tension within the artistic community an obstacle to possible self-management? “Yes, but often things start off badly before getting better. If a team, in which both the State and the artists trust, takes charge of MASA, we could see results. We must provide this company with modern managers. The law is there. But the problem is the payment of royalties which represents peanuts. How much of the hotel sector's revenue is used to pay royalties for songwriters? We forget that the artists own this company. It holds a general meeting. We have a lord for me.”