Spare a thought for Navin Ramgoolam. His government appears to be the victim of a media conspiracy (elsewhere it would be generally preceded by the word Zionist).

When it’s not the local press trying to sully his sterling track record, it’s the illustrious Times of India telling the world that his administration is not entirely averse to pulling a Chagos on Agalega.

More frightening, foreign institutions (BIANCO) and governments (Sarkozy) have also gotten into the cheeky habit of challenging his government’s statements. Does their deviance know no bounds?

For argument’s sake, let’s say that all these agents provocateurs are not being entirely disingenuous, that there’s a kernel of truth to their increasingly frequent rebuttals of his government’s declarations.

Is it possible that the prime minister isn’t telling the whole truth, nothing but the truth?

In case you dare answer in the affirmative, you’ll probably be taxed of being a village idiot, a malcontent, a sell-out or all three if you ever have the temerity of saying so. It’s sad but true: we might be in 2012, but questioning this government’s decisions is being treated more and more like a crime of lèse-majesté. And because lately third parties have often contradicted his version of events, Navin Ramgoolam has to resort to thinly-veiled insults about the moral and intellectual integrity of those who disagree with him. This is not behaviour befitting of a prime minister. When he engages in such derogatory rhetoric about international actors, it reflects badly on all of us.

Like it or not, he is representing the country as a whole, not just his government or party. More worryingly still, the prime minister is demonstrating a propensity for weaving his own narrative, one that is increasingly at sixes with sevens with the reality on the ground. Whether this is a deliberate tactic or a mix of misinformation and paranoia is moot. What it’s certainly not though is healthy. The current economic and social climates are tense enough without the head of government playing mind games with the population. There’s work to be done and he’s not doing anyone any favours by constantly being stuck in denial mode. Having said this, the rot and squandering that’s set into our public institutions and, yes, his own government precludes Ramgoolam from suddenly having an epiphany. At least not if he wants to stay in power. That helps explain why he’s constantly defending dodgy people and practices (as those condemned by the Director of Audit) rather than leading the country.

Seriously though Prime Minister, the situation is dire and the population is getting fed up. They no longer recognise their own country. Do you really want that to be your legacy? If not, what’s your plan? The fact of the matter is that you’ve surrounded yourself with such a cabal of vested interests and yes men as to make any clean-up virtually impossible. By trying to pretend that those who state this fact are part of some big conspiracy against your government you’re only fooling yourself.

Seriously Prime Minister, something has to be done. And if you, of all people, are not prepared to do it, well, perhaps it’s time for you to explore pastures new.

Nicholas RAINER