Former Minister of Commerce Yogida Sawmynaden’s resignation is little comfort to a nation terribly shocked and hurt by the shenanigans of a government that has been sinking deeper and deeper in opacity with no regard for accountability and good governance. 

Had Sawmynaden resigned when the first whiff of scandals involving him and others in his government made the headlines, we would have saluted his sense of honour. Had he come forward and presented documents to the court and the CCID, showing that all the allegations are unfounded, we would have been reassured that we are in good hands. Instead, he tried all the tricks in the book before he bowed out, not losing an iota of his arrogance when addressing journalists and not allowing them to ask a single question. 

His recent move was a great show. He whizzed into the CCID offices for an interrogation under warning. Or so we are told. Barring the heavy presence of the police force, he nearly looked like a normal citizen. But, unlike an ordinary citizen, he did not have to present his ID card at the entrance to the notorious office before going up the CCID stairs. And unlike an ordinary citizen, he was not questioned after all! 

After three long hours – but who is counting? – during which Sawmynaden was afforded the opportunity to give his version of the story, here is, in a nutshell, is what his lawyer had to say: “He cannot be interrogated as the case is before the court in Moka, in Port Louis and the ICAC”! That’s it. Move along, nothing to see here!

You will recall that the DPP had asked for the case to be postponed to January 29, until a police inquiry which was supposedly under way had been carried out. You will also recall that the court had instructed the police to interrogate Sawmynaden, that they came to the January 29th session empty-handed and that they were sent back to carry out the investigation to get the other side of the story – if there was one.  

So, in court, Sawmynaden cannot say anything because the CCID is investigating and before the CCID, he cannot say anything because the case is before the court. Smart, isn’t it?

Except that no one is stupid: For anyone with a modicum of honour, an opportunity to clear one’s name should be jumped upon without delay. And, considering the embarrassment this scandal is causing the government, you would also have expected the prime minister to enjoin him to clear his name. The only alternative explanation is that there is no different version to the one given by the victim and her lawyers. For men and women of honour, that would be damning. But here we are dealing with a different code of honour.

Remember that the same delaying tactics are being used in the case of the electoral petitions. One year later, those in power – perhaps illegitimately? – are still objecting to scrutiny and a recount. Surely, if your legitimacy is being challenged and you have nothing to hide, you would welcome the opportunity to refute the challenge, wouldn’t you? Not those in power, it would seem.

Will Sawmynaden’s resignation bring us any closer to justice? 

When honour is a meaningless word, when impunity and opacity are the order of the day and when the independence of the men and women within institutions has been eroded, whether he stays or goes will make little difference to the victims! And we are all victims of a mafia-style operation with deep-rooted tentacles. 

So goodbye, Minister. But it is too little too late.