[Blog] Open Letter to the Prime Minister

Dear Honourable Prime Minister,

You said it in Parliament. You said those who stood by you when times were hard should be recognised when times get better.

That was not just a statement. It was a promise.

Now is the moment to keep it.

Because if loyalty is not rewarded when it matters, then it means nothing.

That is why the question of appointing Shakeel Mohamed as Deputy Prime Minister is important.

It is not just about politics. It is about fairness. It is about being true to your own words.

Mauritius knows the name Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed. He stood at a time when this country was finding its path. He supported independence when others hesitated. He fought for his people, but he always thought about the country first.

That same spirit can be seen today.

In 2014, when the Mauritius Labour Party suffered one of its most difficult moments, many stepped back. Some went silent. Some walked away.

Shakeel Mohamed did not.

He stayed. He stood. He spoke.

He was the only one from his party returned to Parliament. Alone, but not diminished. He did not lower his voice. He did not hide. He questioned the government. He asked for accountability. He carried his role as “chef de file” of the Labour Party with consistency when consistency was not easy.

That is not chance. That is character.

But this is not only about loyalty.

It is also about merit.

Too often, appointments in this country are discussed in terms of community, balance, and calculation. That way of thinking has held us back. It reduces leadership to numbers, not ability.

This moment calls for something better.

Shakeel Mohamed is capable. He understands Parliament. He knows how to stand his ground.

He has shown discipline, courage, and consistency over time. These are the qualities required in high office.

And let me say this, with respect and without ambiguity.

If it were Ritesh or Patrick in that position, I would make the same call.

This is not about “communauté”.

It is about the values this country should stand on. Merit. Loyalty. Courage. Consistency.

Appointments send a message. 

If you appoint Shakeel Mohamed, you send a clear message. That loyalty matters. That merit matters. That this country is ready to move beyond narrow considerations and recognise those who have earned their place.

If you do not, then you send another message. One that may stay for a long time.

This letter is not about personalities. It is about principle. It is about the kind of country we choose to build, one grounded in merit, loyalty, and fairness, true to our nation arc en ciel.

Bilaal Chattaroo