It’s been weeks since we entered the festive month of December, 3 days remain before Christmas and less than 10 days before the end of 2021, a year we all would like to be over. Nevertheless, the atmosphere is not the same of the precedent years. Despite being in celebrations and being exposed to the typical decorations – Christmas pines, lights and so on – people seem to have lost the ‘Holiday Spirit’. Malls are not as overcrowded as they used to be this time of the year and less ornaments are seen on houses.
From our island’s perspective at least, we can easily see why people are in these humdrums… the reasons to be worried or stressed are almost endless. Ranging from the rising Covid deaths, the collapsing economy, or the political confusion, we had been through a lot and most of us just wish to experience a prosperous 2022 and throw the previous one in an abyss.
A major reason for this mourning-type of atmosphere is due to the sanitary crisis going on. With the recording of around 200 deaths in 3 months, Mauritius has reached a new lowest. Despite the rapid vaccination campaigns made, even for teenagers starting from 12 years old, the daily number of cases are not plummeting. In fact, with the Omicron variant, there are no signs that we are approaching the end of the predicament. For, that mutation seem to be extremely spreadable and not easily countered by vaccines. As a result, a feeling of turmoil and panic grows among the population where many of us especially the elders fear to go outside as they risk perishing from the coronavirus.
Related to the pandemic, the media coverage upon the topic is also one which generates unrest especially on social media like Facebook. It is undeniable that one should be informed through a neutral organization like Express or DefiMedia and that freedom of press should prevail. Nonetheless, sometimes, the articles published feel exaggerated as they tend to emphasize on the traumatizing details to attract greater audience. For instance, the deaths of the frontliners in Mauritius, most of the details were upon the interview of their mourning relatives and friends rather than on what had happened to the deceased. Conversely, articles not as scandalous are boycotted as they do not draw in as many audiences. For instance, accidents and tragedies are neglected with the Covid crisis.
Furthermore, even politically, a pandemonium exists. The decisions being taken for the country are unordinary as the happenings are extraordinary. As a result, everyone is walking in a fog where nothing can expect how this will eventually end or if we will ever see its end by next year. In parallel, there is an increasing number of dramas surrounding our politicians… no one is spared. From fraud to stealing or even corruption, the population is being exposed to an overflow of our governors being themselves exposed. Subsequently, one can only wonder who is really fit to be in charge while people are becoming increasingly angsty and wary about the political position our island has as a fair one.
Being aware of all the burden one feels, one can easily feel hopeless. We cannot simply ask for better for these problems fall outside our control. At this point, only wishes and prayers might work. Nevertheless, many heart-warming movements of solidarity happened this year… the debate to offer frontliners additional fringe benefits or higher bonuses to reward them or the unwritten agreement to limit the use of firecrackers this year to respect the tragedies of the year. All which can be done right now is to feel grateful for the everything which we live through and hope 2022 will not be as traumatic as 2021. On this note, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Blessed year 2022!
By AH-VON Tyler
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