The State has agreed to pay financial damages suffered by Belgian free trade company Polo Garments, destroyed during the 2009 looting. The compensation claimed by this textile factory was around 13 million dollars, equivalent to 60 billion ariary. After negotiation, the sum was reduced to 11 million dollars, or 50 billion ariary. A substantial amount that could have been used for development projects, improving civil servants' conditions, building classrooms, and equipping hospitals and health centers. But the State has its reasons that logic ignores. It has superseded the insurance company that refused to compensate Polo Garments to avoid bankruptcy. It took 17 years to settle the dispute. This is the price to pay for reconciliation with Belgium, which refused to accredit the Malagasy ambassador to that post until after Colonel Randrianirina's visit to Brussels last week. This is all the more important since the ambassador in question also ensures Malagasy representation at the European Union level. One understands the reasoning behind this. This gesture gives hope to the many Malagasy companies and enterprises that were victims of looting in 2009. Despite promises from successive regimes, they have never received a single penny until now. The financial damages suffered by these companies have never been precisely evaluated, but they would not be far from Polo Garments' amount. For the Tiko Group alone, whose assets were destroyed and looted, the damage is immeasurable. Besides Magro stores, other entities comprising the group such as Blue Print, Tiko Oil Product, Fanampy Rice, and Mana flour mill were all destroyed. Knowing these are ultra-modest industrial units, one can grasp the scale of the loss. Not to mention the number of jobs lost in this tragedy. Other companies, stores, and enterprises are no less significant, including computer equipment stores, jewelry shops, large distribution units, eyewear shops, high-end perfume boutiques, and designer bag shops. They too have been waiting for compensation for 17 years. Having already mourned their losses amid State indifference and preferred to abandon hopes of compensation, they deserve fair and equal treatment. Looting constitutes a major obstacle to attracting investors, a risk that deters those interested in coming to Madagascar. Victims hope the State will not apply double standards and will know how to order charity properly. One must simply believe according to the Gospel of Mark. Woe to those who don't.