Covid-19 : Arvin Boolell demande à ce que le confinement soit prolongé jusqu’à juin 

Voici la lettre d'Arvin Boolell :

SOLIDARITY FUND : 

The solidarity fund is meant for the weak , vulnerable or downtrodden. The Minister of Commerce has amended the 4th Schedule of the Consumers Protection Act to crédit a levy of Rs 4 to the.COVID -19 Solidarity Fund. This will raise a Sum of Rs 2 billion annually . The wind fall gain  in relation to a drop in price of petroleum products from an average price of $ 70 barrel ( Platts) to $ 30 barrel will amount to Rs 12 billion annually. The price of petroleum products weigh heavily in the CPI basket. 

What does a massive drop mean : 

It means the BENEFITS AND NOT COST HAVE  TO BE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS. The Government does the reverse . IT reverses gear and tax the motorists, household consumers,transport users , productive sectors of the Economy. At a time when costs of services and goods are escalating any Sensible Government notwithstanding the replenishment of STABILISATION FUND and / or possible hedging against futures the Government should have eased the burden of Consumers at home, pump and in enterprises. 

PROMISES MADE AND BROKEN : 

It shows Government is hard up . May I remind you only RS 1billon was disbursed from CONSOLIDATED FUND. A host of mesures was announced to support wages both in formal and informal sectors and Government has given firm undertaking that there would be no home loans repayments , dues , service fees  and rentals for three / to six months. Unfortunately implementation is a big issue and  Banks have no clarity on measures announced and loans are still being deducted from wages and salaries , port dues - storage and demurrage fees remain high and there is no exoneration. Businesses feel aggrieved  because false promises were made. CEB has made massive windfall gains and despite it all the employees of CEB have no certainty over their retirement benefits. CEB has to come clean and the Nation has to be informed as to the quantum of windfall gains to date. 
   

WHAT IS WAY FORWARD ?
HONOR  COMMITMENTS GIVEN IN THE RESCUE PACKAGE.  
 
a) INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT CONFINEMENT WILL LAST TILL MID MAY WITH A POSSIBLE STAGGERED Of UNLOCKING AS FROM END OF MAY SUBJECT TO FULL COMPLIANCE TO LOCKDOWN, SOCIAL DISTANCE RULES AND INCREASE TESTING.. ESSENTIAL SERVICES SHOULD OPERATE SUBJECT TO FULL COMPLIANCE
b) A NEW STIMULUS PACKAGE TO GIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT WORKERS AND THEIR LIVELIHOODS.
C) REDEPLOYMENT  OF EMPLOYEES. .

AS A LAST RESORT SOME WILL PROBABLY GO ON PARTIALLY PAID SALARIES. Private and Public SECTOR SHOULD PUT THEIR BEST ENDEAVORS TO KEEP WORKERS IN EMPLOYMENT.

I am convinced that if we pay heed and do stick to the TRINITY CODE WE SHOULD BE OUT OF THE WOODS BY EARLY JUNE.

We need to give serious thought to post pandemic consequences and study its outreach for a survival reach out. NO ONE WANTS A GREAT DEPRESSION AND A POSSIBLE RECESSION WHICH LOOKS LIKELY. I dare not elaborate. 
                 
PERSONS OF INTEGRITY 

A MANAGEMENT TEAM SET UP UNDER CHAIRMANSHIP OF RAJ MAKOON HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. The team comprises of persons of probity and we hope that the Governance of the board will do justice to the Nation. It would be fair if the Chairman of the PAC or his representative sit  on the Board. I am also for the appointment of a Fund Manager. It is a solidarity Fund and Not a development fund like BMF which was manipulated by the Regime. Opposition will contribute and I call upon the Diaspora to do same. All Mauritians are contributing as a result of levy on petroleum products. 
 
The Generosity of our people has no bounds but Governance should rule the waves. God bless and I am confident the virus will be vanquished. Pray and obey . The HOLY TRINITY SHOULD PREVAIL. Government should not take its people for granted. Disclosure is mandatory.