SAJ’s unfinished business

The much-awaited speech of the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth at Rivière- du-Rempart on Friday last has not unraveled the retiring plans of the Leader of the Alliance Lepep, as many were expecting.

Some were even predicting that Sir Anerood Jugnauth would deliver his last public speech and that he would bid farewell to his constituency (Number 7-Piton and Rivière du Rempart) which he has served in an almost uninterrupted way since 1963. 

THE JUNE 2017 DEADLINE 

While maintaining the suspense with regards to the timing of his subsequent stepping down as Prime Minister, he has nevertheless given some indications. Speaking on the Chagos issue, he stated the following: “We therefore have a June 2017 crucial deadline that means a lot to me. I have an unfinished job at hand and I am of those who believe that when you fight for a cause, you have to go as far as possible to the end”.

No sooner had Sir Anerood Jugnauth mentioned that date in his official speech at the launching of National Youth Policy 2016 at the Rivière du Rempart Youth Centre (on Friday 7 October 2016) than some jumped to the conclusion that the Prime Minister would be retiring as from June 2017.

At this stage, it should be underlined that the various “confessions” of Sir Anerood Jugnauth were in three steps; namely his official speech, his replies to the media as he was seated after the function and the second part of his replies to questions from the press as he was leaving the Rivière-du-Rempart Youth Centre. 

Although in his official speech, he did mention that he will be retiring, he did not give any clear indication about his political agenda. “Great opportunities can unfold for wealth creation and the ultimate beneficiaries would be our young people and future generations. That is the sort of legacy I want to leave before retiring”, said the Prime Minister in an enigmatic way.  

When asked about how soon will the stepping down be, the Prime Minister jokingly replied that “very soon” has a “long meaning”. When the press insisted, he again mentioned about his unfinished business. He added that he has much work to complete before he subsequently retires. “I will see when. May be I will complete the work afterwards”. He neither revealed what he would do once he steps down as Prime Minister. “We will see that afterwards”, he told the media. It is believed that he would stay in the cabinet of ministers as a Senior Mentor with some specific portfolios.

Probably the unique point that Sir Anerood Jugnauth has clarified pertains to the much talked-about cabinet reshuffle. He has clearly stated that that would be the responsibility of his successor to do so. 

THE REASONS: A REAL MYSTERY

Till now nobody knows why Sir Anerood Jugnauth would be quitting. Soon after he let out the cat out of the bag, voluntarily or by a mere slip of the tongue, there was a general assumption that he might not be in good health or that he is simply tired because of his age. Until the Leader of the Opposition and of the MMM Mr. Paul Bérenger disclosed that there were pressure from within the MSM so that Sir Anerood Jugnauth makes way for his son, the Leader of the MSM, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth. 

Now, two sources have come forward with another argument, which seemed taboo till date: that of a possible conflict within the Jugnauth family. Former Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Harish Boodhoo was the first to evoke such a possibility in one of his opinion papers posted on Facebook. Then, on Saturday, in L’Express, Mr. Nad Sivaramen also shared a similar opinion, adding that their respective spouses have “different appreciations and influences”.  

That leads us to the emotional outburst of Sir Anerood Jugnauth while he was addressing the audience in Rivière-du-Rempart. He later explained that he always becomes impassioned when he talks about his youth, because those were trying times.  

Incidentally, Sir Anerood Jugnauth depicted similar feelings when he addressed the National Assembly in 2003, prior to his resignation as Prime Minister, so as to make way for Mr. Bérenger as per the 2000 Med Point agreement.  

PRAVIND JUGNAUTH TRYING TO MAKE HIS MARK  

Meanwhile, it is obvious that the Minister of Finance, Leader of the MSM and Prime Minister-in-waiting Mr. Pravind Jugnauth is trying to make his mark. This week, he came forward with a detailed list of projects to be financed from the funds that the Government of India is putting at the disposal of the Government of Mauritius. 

The fund totaling Rs 12,7 billion will be used to finance the following projects: implementing of the Metro Express (Rs 7,2 billion), distribution of tablets to Standard 1 pupils (Rs 500 million), construction of a new Court House (Rs 1,1  billion), construction of social low-cost housing units (Rs 700 million, the total cost will amount to Rs 1,2 billion), the construction of a new ENT Hospital  (Rs 500 million on a total cost of Rs 580 million) and the construction of a headquarters for the National Coast Guard at Fort Williams (Rs 144 million). The Mauritian Government has made a request to the Indian government for the release of additional funds to the tune of USD 200 million which would be invested in the development of the port.

This was a positive move from the part of Mr. Pravind Jugnauth as the prolonged political uncertainty has been gripping the economic machinery. 

On the other hand, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth has definitely scored some points in convincing the inter-ministerial committee to definitely shelve the Heritage City Project. In doing so, he has killed several birds with one stone. First, other political leaders of the Lepep Alliance, namely Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval (PMSD) and Mr. Ivan Collendavelloo were supportive of his arguments. Second, gradually he is making his presence felt within the government. Third and most importantly, he has knocked down the Good Governance Minister Mr. Roshi Bhadain. 

If we go by press reports, it would appear that the real reason for shelving the Heritage City Project is the amateurish way of its financing was calculated. Till date, it was the only the possibility that the Bagatelle Dam (ironically renamed as Bagatelle “drame” by our colleague Jugdish Joypaul) bursts open was presented as the main reason to abandon the project. 

The tragedy is that it is the second time that the Prime Minister has faced strong opposition from his own ministers, who no doubt had good intentions. If what has been published in the media (that he has been taken for a ride by one of his ministers) is accurate, then there is serious problem of leadership within the government.    

A FRAGMENTED OPPOSITION 

The Opposition has never been so fragmented. The MMM recently lost one of its MPs, Dr. Zuberr Joomaye. These days, the new constitution of the MMM under discussion is provoking lots of tensions. Now, the Mouvement Patriotique (MP), an offshoot of the MMM led by Mr. Alan Ganoo is also going through turmoil. Several of its members are opposing the way the current president Mr. Ganoo is leading the party. They could probably resign from the MP. 

The Leader of the Mauritius Labour Party, Dr Navin Ramgoolam is also increasing the pressure on the Lepep Alliance govermernt. He is now sueing the Leader of the Alliance Lepep Sir Anerood Jugnauth, urging for damages to the tune of Rs 50 million, for some allegations he made at the public meeting of the Lepep Alliance on May Day (May 1, 2016). 

Undoubtedly, the only good news of this week is the promotion of Mgr. Maurice Piat to the rank of Cardinal. His interview with our colleague Abdoolah Earally on Radio Plus on Tuesday was mind-blowing. His replies on questions pertaining to the renewal of political leadership, social inequalities and the curbing of drug peddling were indeed thought-provoking.