Animosity unleashed

In reply to questions from the media, the Prime Minister Sir Anerood  Jugnauth, stated, with his usual outspokenness, that he had given instructions so that barrister Kailash Trilochun be sacked from the various posts that he was occupying.

The Prime Minister was participating in the launching ceremony of the African Ministerial Conference on Ocean Economy and Climate Change, held on Thursday. As a legalist, Sir Anerood Jugnauth revealed that he had asked that the contracts of Me. Kailash Trilochun be scrutinized so as to avoid any legal actions against the government. And he added that he hoped that Mr. Showkutally Soodhun, who was the acting Prime Minister during the week-end, had taken this aspect into consideration.

TWO STRONG MESSAGES 

This forceful statement from the Prime Minister carries two strong messages. First, contrary to what his opponents are claiming, Sir Anerood Jugnauth is firmly in position as leader of the Alliance Lepep. Second, the vice Prime Minister and Minister of Housing and Lands Mr. Showkutally Soodhun, has taken everybody for a ride when he appropriated the decision to sack Me. Kailash Trilochun as chairperson of the Financial Services Commission (FSC). Mr. Soodhun even went to the extent of apprehending the reaction of the Prime Minister on this return to the country. “Either he will congratulate me or he will scold me”, stated Mr. Soodhun.         

But Mr. Soodhun went a step further and even advised the Commissioner of Police Mr. Mario Nobin that he should not allow Me. Rama Valayden, the lawyer of Me. Trilochun to dictate his terms and conditions to the police. Me. Valayden had urged that his client should not be arrested upon his arrival at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and that he (Me Trilochun) should be given a safe-conduct for one hour so that he can present himself to the Central CID. Me. Valayden did not waste time to blast Mr. Soodhun, accusing him of political intervention in a police enquiry. 

Incidentally, there is something in common between Mr. Soodhun and Me Trilochun. Mr. Soodhun was in such a hurry to return to the country after his negotiations in Saudi Arabia that he accepted to be put on board a private jet while Me. Trilochun seems to face difficulties to find a place on board a commercial airplane to get back to Mauritius. On Tuesday, L’Express even published a list of flights available from South Africa to Mauritius, as per details obtained from the official site of South African Airways. Contacted by the daily, two travel agencies confirmed that seats were available on most of these flights to Mauritius. Unless, like what the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Paul Bérenger, ironically commented that Me. Kailash Trilochun is going via Rio de Janerio to reach Mauritius!

Former president of the Mauritius Bar Council Me. Antoine Domingue made a thought-provoking remark to the media the other day. “If a suspect does not want to come on his own, he should be brought here. We cannot stay idle because the accusations leveled against him (Me Trilochun) are serious”, he said.  

INNOCENT UNTIL FOUND GUILTY 

Although Me. Trilochun, like any other citizen is innocent until and unless he is found guilty by a court, there is a perception that the ace lawyer is acting too smart. Also there are very legitimate questions regarding how he was appointed as lawyer in several high profile cases. For instance, he was the lawyer of Trade Minister Ashit Gungah in the case of falsification of “horsepower” documents. He was until recently the lawyer of the Commissioner of Police in the Sun Tan case, whereby the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) Me. Satyajit Boolell is contesting some averments in a case initiated by ICAC. Also he served as chairman of the Financial Intelligence Unit and acted as legal adviser to a number of para statal bodies. 

Now, would you believe who is urging for the setting up of a commission of enquiry on the payment by ICTA (Information & Communication Technologies Authority) of legal fees amounting to approximately Rs 19 million to Me. Trilochun? Well, Mr. Trilochun himself has asked, through his lawyer Me Valayden. 

After he stated at the National Assembly that he was “shocked” when he learnt about the amount that had been paid as legal fees to Me. Trilochun by ICTA, Sir Anerood Jugnauth has reconfirmed, in reply to questions from the media, that he was indeed shocked and that he had tried to get ICTA to replace Me.Trilochun but that it was too late.

Whatever be the final outcome of the two cases (the Rs 19 million paid as legal fees and the accusations that he could have given instructions to bodily harm the chairman of ICTA Mr. Bhanoodutt Beeharee), Me Trilochun is now a real source of embarrassment for both the government and the Labour Party, as we explained last week. By the way, Me Valayden who had promised a surprise this week was himself a victim of a robbery at his residence on Thursday morning.   

PRAVIND JUGNAUTH LOSES TEMPER AT OPPOSITION’S HECKLES

By the way, everyone was surprised when the Minister of Finance Mr. Pravind Jugnauth lost his his temper during a rowdy Private Notice Question by the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Pauil Bérenger at the National Assembly on Wednesday. At one point of time, Mr Jugnauth started to lose patience when he was interrupted while he was answering the PNQ. He really lost his temper when he was goaded by the Leader of the Opposition, who referred to the “sale” of Apollo Bramwell Hospital to Omega Ark as a “Med Point 2”.

There are several interpretations to this heated exchange between Mr. Pravind Jugnauth and Mr. Paul Bérenger on the “taking over” of the former Apollo Bramwell Hospital by Omega  Ark. The questions put by Mr. Bérenger are quite legitimate and required precise replies from Mr, Jugnauth, in a bid to dissipate all misunderstandings and provide clarity to a deal that involves millions of rupees. Mr. Jugnauth did try to depict some transparency but probably that did not suffice. 

On Thursday, again the two political leaders (Mr. Paul Bérenger and Mr. Pravind Jugnauth) crossed swords regarding a PNQ. Initially, the PNQ was meant to be replied by the Minister of Finance as it has to do with the amount of public funds that have been involved in the wake of the collapse of the BAI group and the various claims made by CT Power and Betamax, whose contracts with the government have been terminated. When the Leader of the Opposition learnt that it was the Attorney General Me.Ravi Yerrigadoo, who was to reply to the PNQ, Mr. Bérenger became angry and termed Mr. Jugnauth as “ti capon” (little coward). The Minister of Finance called upon Madam the Speaker Mrs. Maya Hanoomanjee for a ruling. At first, she found that the word was not un-parliamentary but insisted that Mr. Bérenger withdraws it. Later she changed her mind, opposition MPs walked out. 

Later, at a press conference, Mr Bérenger said that it is the second time that Mr. Praving Jugnauth is evading his responsibility as Minister of Finance. Mr. Bérenger has a point in the sense that the Government could end up paying some Rs 10 billion as damages to these various companies.  

Why has the political situation changed so drastically? Only a few days ago, the Leader of the Opposition was finding interesting measures in the Budget 2016/2017 and the Prime Minister was complimenting the Leader of the Opposition for his compliments. So much so that some were referring to an MSM/MMM alliance as being imminent. Is it because Mr. Pravind Jugnauth could step in as Prime Minister earlier than scheduled that is causing so much irritations?