Anyone travelling along the motorway from Port-Louis towards Quatre-Bornes would have come across at least three black boards standing on wooden pegs, with writing on them, next to the bridge in the Bagatelle area. Presumably, these boards are intended by law to give notice to the public about any proposed development on land use. At a time when there is denial of Freedom of Information legislation, it is healthy that the public is made aware of what developments are planned. The purpose of the black boards with writing in the white colour is to provide an opportunity to any member of the public to lodge objections or to make representations against or about the projected development.

If that is really the purpose intended by the legislator, then there can be no doubt that it has been soundly defeated by the tiny characters used on the board. Besides, the location of the boards is fraught with all sorts of other problems.

Knowing the visceral curiosity of island people –which we all are fortunately or otherwise, we are tempted to read what is on the board and temptations are what Mauritians cannot resist. Since the boards are placed at a spot where the speed limit is 110 kph, anyone wishing to read will have to get his or her vehicle to slow down after applying the brakes very hard. When this happens, then other things like road traffic accidents will also happen with a knock-on effect on other road users especially at busy times.

People may decide to stop their vehicle in order to read what is written on the board, since the writing on the board is there to be read. But they cannot do this as this is not allowed and, should they still do so, they run the serious risk of being booked by the Police officers who seem to be always on the lookout at that particular spot. And the price for such bookings keeps going up, as all those who have the responsibility of fixing the fines believe that fines for contraventions are a cash cow for the State.

At best, there are two possibilities with regard to the location of the black boards at such a dangerous place. Either those who have put them up there do not intend anyone to read them, and this can be gauged by the amount of writing in small characters on a tiny board, or they have devised a clever ploy to increase the workload of the Police. Whatever might have been the scenario that was contemplated, it is necessary for anyone wishing to read the writing on the boards to be equipped with a magnifying glass so as not to further damage one’s eyesight.

There could be a third scenario as well. In fact, the boards are just a gimmick to demonstrate that, after all, nothing much can happen at a place which is so aptly called “Bagatelle”. Whatever development is being envisaged will remain mysterious and the boards are so designed as to defy any reading. It is just a “bagatelle”.

by Anil GAYAN