Turbulence and uncertainty

The sacking of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Mauritius by some board members on Friday last has triggered a new wave of political turbulence that does not augur well for the country. 

Before dwelling in the intrigues of this matter, it must be pointed out that it is really upsetting that the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth has refused to comment on this issue, yet of national importance. On two occasions, he was approached by the media for his opinion on the situation prevailing at Air Mauritius, given that the national air carrier falls under his responsibility, but either he shied away or he chose to give enigmatic replies. 

NO OPINION AND NO COMMENT 

The first time he was quizzed by the press was on Friday, after he participated in celebrations in the context of Divali, by the Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation (MSDTF) at Justice Street, Port Louis. “Ki mo pou koné ladan? Mo pankor konn narien mwa” (What should I know in this “matter”? I have not learnt anything), replied the Prime Minister laconically.              

The media had to grin and bear it until the next opportunity to talk to the Prime Minister, in the absence of any formal communication from the Prime Minister’s Office. That well awaiting opportunity presented itself on Wednesday 2 November, 2016 after the commemorative ceremony marking the 182nd Anniversary of the Arrival of Indentured Labourers in Mauritius at the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site, Trou Fanfaron, Port Louis.

This time also, Sir Anerood Jugnauth was not that talkative. “Mo pas dan board” (I do not sit on the board of Air Mauritius), he replied to the first question from the media. “I do not have any comment to make. The board of Air Mauritius is invested with powers to take certain decisions. They have taken their decisions and it is their responsibility”, he replied, adding that “Although Air Mauritius falls within the ambit of my office but I do not sit on the board of Air Mauritius”. 

When journalists pressed for his comment on the sacking of the Mr. Megh Pillay as CEO of Air Mauritius, Sir  Anerood Jugnauth stated that he neither had an opinion nor he wished to comment on the same. He was even smarter when the media questioned him on the legality of the decision of the board of Air Mauritius to sack Mr. Megh Pillay as CEO of the company. Sir Anerood Jugnauth simply replied that he had not studied the legal aspect of this issue. 

WEIGHT OF POLITICAL POWER 

Former Finance Minister Mr. Rama Sithanen is right to remind each and everyone that at times even the sacking of a messenger requires the approval of the Minister and that he fails to understand how the CEO of Air Mauritius could have been shown the door without the prior approval of the political leadership. Mr. Sithanen also has a point in using that metaphor to illustrate the weight of political power in decision of the national air carrier, given that the State is a majority shareholder in the company. Mr. Sithanen was talking to our colleague Anoop Dhookeeya on Thursday after he participated in a forum organized by the African Leadership Network at Westin Turtle Bay Resort and Spa, at Balaclava.  

Mr. Megh Pillay has expressed the wish that the issue of his dismissal as CEO of Air Mauritius should not be politicized. His wish is quite legitimate but unfortunately this issue does have political undertones, whether Mr. Pillay likes it or not.  

In the first instance, how could the Prime Minister be unaware of what was happening at Air Mauritius when two Senior Advisers from the PMO, namely Mr. Prakash Maunthrooa and Mr. Sateeaved Seebaluck participated in the board meeting held on Friday last ( 28 October,2016)? 

Now there seems to be other dimensions to this saga.  In an interview to L’Express, issue of Wednesday 2 November 2016, another board member of Air Mauritius, Mr. Marc Hein revealed that he had a telephoned the Minister of Finance Mr. Pravind Jugnauth and that the latter had explained to him what he had in mind for Air Mauritius. According to Mr. Hein, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth added that what he was doing was in the best interest of Air Mauritius. In clear terms, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth was well aware of the fate of the former CEO of Air Mauritius. 

Me. Hein moved well beyond his telephone conversation with the Minister of Finance; he telephoned successively to the chairman of Air Mauritius Mr. Arjoon Suddhoo, to the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth and to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval. Me Hein told l’Express that “the Deputy Prime Minister is very concerned and demotivated by what is happening”. Me Hein also talked to Radio Plus on Wednesday 2 November 2016 but this time there was some nuance in what he replied. Although he confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister was very affected by the decision of the board of Air Mauritius to terminate the contract of Mr. Megh Pillay as CEO, he was more cautious regarding the role played by the Minister of Finance. “ I do not have any information that Mr. Pravind Jugnauth could have intervened in this matter”. Which is which? 

HEIN INFURIATES COLLENDAVELLOO 

The other argument that Me. Hein maintains is that he chose not to attend that board meeting held on Friday 28 October, 2016 because of the short notice of the convocation. Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Public Utilities Mr Ivan Collendavelloo, who is also the Leader of the Muvman Liberater, has on Wednesday 2 November, 2016 severely criticized Me. Hein for his statements and interviews to the press, adding that he should have attended the board meeting to give his opinion there.

Definitely, the PMSD has tried some damage control if we go by what was published in Thursday’s issue of Le Defi Quotidien. “Nobody, least of all Me. Marc Hein, is mandated by Xavier-Luc Duval to talk in his name”, stated a close aide of the Deputy Prime Minister. He (the informer) even adds that Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval has talked to Me Hein to express his disagreement regarding what he had said in the press and the interpretation that could be given to his press interviews. Some frontline PMSD members have apparently contacted their MSM counterparts to dispel misunderstandings. 

The major question that requires an answer is the following: is there a conflict between Sir Anerood Jugnauth and his son Mr. Pravind Jugnauth? When the press asked him this question on Wednesday, Sir Anerood Jugnauth replied: “It is up to you to judge, examine and draw your own conclusion”. 

THE GIST OF THE PROBLEM 

Let us come to the gist of the problem. The bone of contention between the chairman of Air Mauritius Mr Arjoon Suddhoo and the former CEO Mr. Megh Pillay is on the “case” of the EVP Commercial Mr. Balakrishna (Mike) Seetaramadoo. While the former CEO, was of the opinion that Mr. Seetaramadoo should be heard by a disciplinary committee, the chairman had a different opinion.  Incidentally, trade unionist Mr. Jack Bizlall revealed at his press conference on Tuesday that Mr. Seetaramadoo was one of the whistle blowers during the time he was denouncing alleged malpractices at Air Mauritius.

Regarding the famous board meeting held on Friday last, it revealed two other aspects. First, that there seems to have a group of five ( Mr. Arjoon Suddhoo, Mr. Prakash Maunthrooa, Mr. Dev Manraj, Mrs. Rita Veerasamy and Mr. Sateeaved Seebaluck, who in the meantime has resigned). Second, why did Mr. Seebaluck not step aside to make way for Mr. Nayen Koomar Ballah who was recently appointed as Head of the Civil Service. 

The Air Mauritius issue is like a coin with two sides; the first one being political and the second one being legal. Mr. Pillay has already fired the first shot against MK; now it is the turn of our political leaders to come forward and tell the population the whole truth about this saga.