Your wee spirit friend has been thinking for some time about how to avoid the concentration of power in a few parliamentary hands. The answer may be the creation of a senate. It’s not a new idea – a former PM once suggested it – but it seems to have been filed in a bottom drawer.  In Roman times, the Senatus (Assembly of the Elders) was – at least officially – an assembly of wise and experienced citizens. As in many other countries, a second chamber here could review all bills passed by the Assembly before their enactment, particularly useful when an issue is contentious. It might only be able to refer a decision back for review but the more considered discussions of wise men might be difficult to ignore completely.

Given the controversy arising from many appointments to supposedly independent and other posts, a senate could also have the final decision in such matters, even interviewing those proposed. It might not eliminate cronyism or wipe out roders bouts – but it would have a better chance of doing so than insecticide. It would involve most state-appointed leadership posts, from the ICAC, the Police and the MBC to parastatals and companies such as the State Bank and Air Mauritius – except the judiciary and local authorities, meddling in which could be solved by making interference a capital offence. It would help too if posts were advertised, whether for candidates to apply or others to suggest suitable appointees.

Such a house could also be empowered to debate all kinds of issues and obvious topics would include matters where the public sector has lamentably failed, like the maintenance of infrastructure – which governments seem to forget about in their haste to lay foundation stones or hold opening ceremonies. It would be better able than the Assembly to take a long-term view on matters like the environmental impact of construction and the lack of appropriate planning measures – not to mention hold discussions on Agalega or clinically examine expenditure before others become privy to the debate.

Sectarian lobbies would immediately demand representation; others would emphasise the difficulty of selecting members. Indeed, some might ask how many wise and independent minded souls there are but it needn’t be a large house; twenty members might be quite sufficient. Although there are a few decent men heading religions or socio-cultural groups, they’d probably have to be excluded to avoid each grouping demanding seats. Incidentally, considering our gods included some powerful ladies like Hera and Aphrodite, it’s bizarre that women leaders are so rare in these supposedly less male-dominated times…

Unlike the Presidency, at least until recently, the seats wouldn’t be reserved for politicos.  Indeed, suitable candidates are far more likely to be found outside the political swamp. While it’s desirable to provide a check on government, members would need to be selected, as it might produce an American-style stalemate if a senate had the same elected legitimacy as the Assembly. As there’s little chance of any agreement locally, three or so elders from abroad could be asked to consider names. Pericles would have been the obvious choice if he were still available, but honest individuals who understand good governance do exist, although it might be invidious to make suggestions – at this early stage.

What’s more, when a member retires to the Underworld, even if the Assembly proposed names, it would be better for the senate itself to decide on a replacement. But what chance is there of any politico embracing change? Even when found with loads of dough – kept at home for safekeeping – they doggedly carry on. After all, giving up any powers, let alone resigning as a matter of principle, is rarer here than live corals in many of the lagoons.