Nepotism is one of the worst forms of corruption. It is always done at the expense of others. It reduces our productivity and impoverishes the quality of services we offer. It weakens our institutions, undermines democracy and threatens human rights and freedom as well as social justice and fairness. And it thwarts economic development. 

So no one is happier than I that you are investigating the 24 jobs offered to friends and cronies at the Ministry of Financial Services. I am sure that this sudden zeal to target Akilesh Deerpalsing and his former boss, Roshi Bhadain, has nothing to do with the fact that the latter is no longer in government and that he is hobnobbing with the opposition. And because I am convinced that you never guet figir (you are indiscriminate) in your investigations, I have a list of other cases you might be interested to look into. 

1. The first batch of doctors recruited by the Ministry of Health has some names that are eerily similar to those of members of government. Should you have some free time, could you please find out how they got recruited to full-time positions and if this was not done at the expense of more deserving candidates.
2. Naila Hanoomanjee was recruited at the head of Landscope. Since she is the daughter of the speaker of the national assembly, who is also the prime minister’s relative, it would be interesting to know how she got the job. Was the appointment by any chance tailor-made to suit her CV or was the process transparent?  
3. Sheila Hanoomanjee’s biscuits made many Mauritians choke on their tea. I wonder if you could find out how she got a contract with the MDFP and the Municipality of Quatre Bornes and whether a bank close to the government bought hundreds of thousands worth of these biscuits to give  to their clients as Christmas gifts. 
4. Yogida Sawmynaden’s brother-in-law was appointed to the Board of Mauritius Post while the former was ICT minister. Did you see any conflict of interest there?
5. Former Deputy Speaker Sanjeev Teeluckdharry’s wife was appointed as a full-time employee at the Human Rights Commission. Was there an advert that other possibly more deserving candidates missed?   
6. A Barachoix was allocated to PPS Sandya Boygah’s husband, who declared he was going to invest Rs100 million in fish farming. We would be interested to find out how he got the Barachoix for free in the first place, how much of the Rs100 million he has actually invested and the ripple effects of that on the rest of the country?
7. A clearance was given by the minister of fisheries, Prem Koonjoo, for an oyster farm in which his own nephew is a shareholders. Other than the nephew’s proximity with the minister, what made that farm so lucky? 
8. Did the appointment of Soorya Gayan, Minister of Tourism Anil Gayan’s wife, at the head of the MGI follow a particular procedure that we missed?
9. On what basis were Kailash Trilochun, Minister of Infrastructure Nando Bodha’s brother-in-law and Robin Appaya, a close relative of the speaker of the national assembly, chosen to reap such juicy fees as legal advisors?
10. Minister of technology Yogida Sawmynaden’s wife suddenly rose from anonymity to being one of the most highly paid notaries in the country. Any recipe for such an astoundingly quick success that she might want to share with us? 
11. In what circumstances did Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo’s son sign a contract with the State Informatics Ltd.?
12. And while on the Ministry of Financial Services case, would you please give particular attention to the appointment of Minister of Industry Ashit Gungah’s son, the recruitment of the son-in-law of Shyam Khemloliva (a member of the MSM and Mauritian ambassador to Russia) and that of the daughter-in-law of Nayen Koomar Ballah, currently the secretary to Cabinet and close to the Jugnauth family? 

These are a few cases to help you get started. Readers may think of more. We trust you will look into all of them with the same celerity and zeal. 

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