[Blog] Workshop on Housing: analysis of an exchange between VPM Soodhun and Nirmala Maruthamutu

Vice-PM and Minister of Housing and Lands, Showkutally Soodhun, animated a workshop on 13 September 2017 at Palms Hotel in Quatre-Bornes. The theme of the workshop was « Building a better Mauritius for our Children ». Present were also representatives of occupiers of NHDC houses and from the National Housing Development Company. VPM Soodhun is a politician and it is normal that he speaks like a politician. He was not delivering a university lecture.

While highlighting what his government is set out to do in terms of housing for the people, he also strikes a comparison with what the previous government under Navin Ramgoolam did and did not do so people are better informed because, as time passes by, people do tend to forget. Below is a transcript and analysis of an exchange between VPM Soodhun and Nirmala Maruthamutu, a lady amongst the attendees who was bent upon disrupting the workshop and attacking the VPM.

VPM Soodun : « Dans 10 banané Navin Ramgoolam ine ranze 2,883 lacazes. Nous, dans gouvernement içi, avec Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, 10,000 lacazes nous pou ranzer la. Bondié béni, Insha Allah, 10,000 lacazes nous pou ranzé avant nous completé. Mo pou faire la tête lipied pou ranze sa, pou donne banne dimounes. Et qui qualité lacaze? Mo pas pou suive sa […] qui appelle Navin Ramgoolam là. Mo dire li sa, li ène […], à parte sa li panne conne faire nanier » 

Nirmala Maruthamutu retorted : « Out of subject ! Stop it ! Please. Personne pas interressé ».

VPM Soodhun : « Qui sanlà qui dire ou sa? Zotte pas interressé conné la vérité? Zotte pas intéressé. Madame, si ou pas interessé conné, ou capave déplacer aller. »

Accusing the VPM Soodhun of doing politics, Nirmala Maruthamutu carried on to interrupt him.

VPM Soodhun said: « Madame, ou pas gagne droit vine dire moi sa. Si ou ène partisan de Navin Ramgoolam, ou dire li nous bisin dire qui nous pé faire. »

Nirmala Maruthamutu : « Faire séminaire pou dire .. » [such things about Navin Ramgoolam].

VPM Soodhun : « Qui faire sa? Qui faire ou faire mal pou Navin? Si ou approuver sa qui line faire, bé mo arrêter travail là [..] Est-ce-qui si zotte  dire moi écoute sa madame là, mo arrête causer? Est-ce-qui nous pas lé wui trouve la vérité? »

The assistance replied : « Nous lé la vérité »

Then, Soodhun tells Nirmala Maruthamutu :

 « Si ou pas satisfait, ou capave déplacer aller toute suite astère la même. Ou renne moi ène service, si ou pas satisfait, ou ène ti agent Navin Ramgoolam, ou renne moi ène service ou aller déhors. » 

« Qui oulé, mo pas dire sa qui Ramgoolam ine faire, mo faire [zisse] sa qui sa qui mo faire? »

« Si ou ène agent Ramgoolam, ou capave aller, alle assize avec Ramgoolam »

« Nous bisin dire sa qui Ramgoolam ine faire. Et nous bisin dire sa qui nous pé faire nous. »

Seeing that Nirmala Maruthamutu was bent upon disrupting the workshop to sabotage the announcement of VPM Soodhun regarding the building of 10,000 affordable houses, a member of the assistance said : 

« Continier [Vice] Premier Ministre, continuer, laisse li [Madame là] tranquille. Continier, continier do. »

[…] Nirmala Maruthamutu was requested to leave by the VPM, who was clearly annoyed by her disruption and her coming in defence of former PM Navin Ramgoolam, and she did leave.

Unfortunately, this incident was blown out of all proportions for sensation and distorted in numerous ways. It was even alleged that the Nirmala Maruthamutu was 'forced' to leave because she was a woman, which is totally and utterly false.

Having watched the footage and played it over several times to make a transcript, any reasonable person can clearly see that Nirmala Maruthamutu pounced upon the VPM as soon as he criticised the former PM Ramgoolam for not doing anything while praising the present government for being more caring. The objecting Nirmala Maruthamutu did not seem to hear that the VPM announced the construction of 10,000 affordable housing. She only heard the VPM's criticism of Navin Ramgoolam as if she were his agent. 

Nirmala Maruthamutu knew that the proposed construction of those houses was a political decision and that the VPM would blow the trumpet of his government while criticising former PM Ramgoolam. After all, VPM Soodhun is the Minister of Housing and lands. If Nirmala Maruthamutu was not interested in what former PM Ramgoolam did, she cannot speak for the rest of the attendees. She should have left without being asked.  It seems that Nirmala Maruthamutu attended the workshop animated by VPM Showkutally Soodhun with an agenda of her own and was bent upon ruining the occasion to disrupt what this government has set out to do for the people who find it difficult to buy a house of their own. VPM Soodhun rightly requested Nirmala Maruthamutu to leave the workshop.

M Rafic Soormally

London

14 September 2017