The video of Attorney General Maneesh Gobin’s dance on the MSM stage on May Day made the rounds. Keeping the same beautiful grin on, he merrily danced and danced. And – as looking a fool never killed anyone – he even found dancing partners to join in the beautiful show.

Show of what exactly, some compatriots were wondering. What is it they were celebrating with such glee? It couldn’t be the school children and Bangladeshi workers they stuffed some buses with to make up the numbers for our national propaganda machine to flaunt in the evening. It couldn’t be the briani, rum and coke they had to dish up to lure idle people to go and stand in the sun. Nor could it be the money allegedly given to some participants according to their ethnic profile. So what was the happy message?

The message was a defiant one. It was Gobin’s way of saying that no matter what the press or public opinion say about his eventual connection with dangerous drug dealers and his involvement in state land gifted to them allegedly against bribes, no one can touch him. Not us, not you and perhaps not even his boss! Missing in the picture was the ICAC director playing the music to justify his purported Rs650,000 salary, and PPS Rajanah Dalliah singing a tune to show how untouchable one can be if one belongs to the right camp. Missing also in this gig is Ivan Collendavelloo, who pleaded again with his supporters not to withdraw their support to the MSM as that might result in the Rs650,000 man waking up to do his job. Also missing is Yogida Sawmynaden, whose embarrassments are also being kept safe in a drawer where the sun won’t shine for a long time. And of course the maestro of Angus Road, a film we shall never see the end of.

That clip alone tells an eloquent story of the depths of moral corruption the country has sunk into. Worse, this corruption is underscored with a sickening impunity that creates an intolerable sense of injustice in citizens at the receiving end. Families are watching helplessly as drug dealers are setting up outlets for their business in the heart of their own cities and villages in full sight. Parents are heartbroken at the sight of their children turning into drug addicts with all the social evils that entails. Misery, sadness, tragedies… Those who believe that this dance will soon come to an end at some point or that the grin will be wiped off the face of Gobin or Dalliah must be dreaming with their eyes open. Do you think Gobin would be dancing so joyfully if there was any chance that the Rs650,000 hand would reach out for him one day? Perish the thought.

The ICAC will continue to question Rajesh Ramnarain. Neither Gobin nor Dalliah will likely be inconvenienced by any investigation. This show will continue for as long as it takes. Usually until the next scandal which will dislodge the eat-and-drink party from the headlines. Then everyone will go about their own business. In the meantime, the PHQ Special Striking Team might  land at some hapless political opponent’s and drag them to the police station where they will be kept in custody for a few weeks before the court eventually wraps the police on their knuckles and orders the release of the victims. The arrest will, in the meantime, be used to show that the drug war is being waged against drug dealers.

I fear the silent resentment of the audience. History is replete with examples. Nothing lasts forever. Not even an indecent dance.