Hiding the real problems

The Opposition and the Government have embarked in a verbal duel in the wake of the decision of Madam the Speaker Mrs Maya Hanoomanjee to order out the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Paul Bérenger and the Opposition Whip Mr. Rajesh Bhagwan from the National Assembly, following the refusal of Mr. Bhagwan to withdraw the word “manipulated”. While the Leader of the Opposition and of the MMM Mr. Paul Bérenger has, at a press conference held on Thursday afternoon at Bagatelle, termed Mrs Maya Hanoomanjee as being the “worst ever Speaker of the National Assembly”, the leaders of the Alliance Lepep denounced the behavior of Mr. Bérenger  towards Madam the Speaker. She had asked Mr. Bhagwan to withdraw the word “manipulated” which the latter had used on Tuesday 6 October last. “…let it be known to the public through the National Assembly that we are not going to participate in any manipulated programme under the Bhadain Broadcasting Corporation”, had said Mr. Bhagwan at the National Assembly on Tuesday 6 October last. Madam the Speaker recalled that on Tuesday 6 October last, Minister Bhadain had raised a point of order, arguing that “by uttering the word manipulated, Hon, Bhagwan had imputed motives and inferences that he had been manipulating the programmes of the MBC which is a very serious allegation…”. Mrs Hanoomanjee also underlined that on that day, she had stated in the House that she had taken note of the point of order and that she will consult the recording and come back with a ruling. Which she did on Tuesday 13 October, 2015. “I am of the view that the above statement does impute improper motives and inferences against the Hon. Minister and amounts to an allegation that the Hon Minister had been manipulating the programme of the MBC. I, therefore, request Hon Bhagwan to kindly withdraw the word “manipulated”, said Mrs Hanoomanjee at the National Assembly. Mr. Bhagwan refused to do so while Mr. Bérenger came up with another point of order. At some point of time, there was some confusion when Mrs Hanoomanjee ordered everybody out. Finally that matter was cleared after she indicated that only Mr. Bérenger and Mr. Bhagwan were ordered out. Obviously, all the MMM MPS left the hemicycle, followed by Labour MPs. The MPs from the Mouvement Patriotique (MP) preferred to stay at the National Assembly. It would seem that they have been inspired by the MSM, which had introduced the concept of “loyal opposition”. Because of this unusual situation, the PNQ which the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Bérenger was to put to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mr. Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo was withdrawn! The same thing happened to other questions addressed to the Prime Minister and to other ministers. Similarly, the MMM did not take part in the debates on The Road (Amendment) Bill and the Pharmacy Council Bill. Earlier the MMM was in doubt whether to participate or not in debates on the Pharmacy Council Bill as that had urged for the resignation of the Minister of Health, Mr Anil Gayan. The incidents at the National Assembly on Tuesday have turned out to be mildly dramatic as they hide a more complex situation. The question is whether it is the definition of the word “manipulated” that has precedence on the current situation prevailing at the MBC. None other than the leader of the Muvman Liberater (ML) and current Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Public Utilities  Mr Ivan Collendavelloo has conceded at the press conference of the Alliance Lepep on Thursday that problems do exist at the MBC. Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval quickly added that there is no director general at the MBC but is that the real problem? Or is it more serious? What Madam the Speaker stated about the responsibility of the media ought to sound like a tocsin in our ears for they are warning signs of what we should expect in the near future. “Members of the media are allowed in the House to give a fair and accurate report of the proceedings of the Assembly. They are expected to verify the authenticity of whatever they report and not to misrepresent anything that has been said or that has happened in the Assembly. It is, therefore, expected that henceforth everyone assumes the responsibility of the facts being reported”, stated Mrs Hanoomanjee. It is hoped that members of the media have got the message. First, we have been reminded that we are “strangers” who are allowed in the House and second, we have been warned about our duties and responsibilities. After the all-out purge of the Ramgoolam-led government at the December general elections, voters placed lots of expectations and hope on the Sir Anerood Jugnauth-led government. What was presented as an unbeatable duo, Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo (presented as the makers of the first economic miracle in Mauritius) has so far failed to deliver its promises. True it is that it needs time for the economy to pick up again but some of the statements of the Minister of Finance have raised some eyebrows. Like the one on the loss of purchasing power or the 8% economic growth. The few visible frictions at the top are hiding the real problems rooted in incoherence at various levels of government. Can Sir Anerood Jugnauth afford a cabinet reshuffle, just to give a new impetus to the government?