Managing a political transition is vital

There is still much speculation regarding the stepping down of the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth and his subsequent replacement by his son, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, the current Minister of Finance.  

In spite of the unveiling of numerous possible dates and the various scenarios by the press, the way ahead remains cloudy. L’Express announced in its issue of Wednesday 23 November, 2016 that Mr. Pravind Jugnauth could be sworn-in as Prime Minister on Friday 9 December next. 

FAREWELL ADDRESS AND CABINET RESHUFFLE 

The daily even ventures to announce that on that date, Sir Anerood Jugnauth will deliver his farewell address and that the National Assembly will meet again after the 9th December to allow the new Prime Minister to address the Parliamentarians and the population. The article seems to suggest that there would be a cabinet reshuffle while it is obvious that in the event that Sir Anerood Jugnauth resigns, he has to tender the resignation of his government as well, giving way to the formation of a new government, as it was the case in 2003.  

According to Week End, issue of Sunday 20 November, 2016, “there is no hurry in the handover of power in the short term.” The weekly insists that the change will occur after the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Republic, on 12 March,2017. 

The argument used by the person who penned this article is that the change at the political leadership of the country will take place only after the launching ceremony of Metro Express, which has substituted itself to the now defunct Heritage City Project.       

Week-end went a step further and revealed the import of a BMW 760 Li, to be used by a VVIP-in waiting. Any guess?  

SEVERE CRITICS FOR HIS LENGTHY OVERSEAS TRIPS

Whatever be the political agenda of the government, more precisely of the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM), there are a few issues that jump out. First, the disinterest of the current Prime Minister (called Prime Minister in Office by Week End and Le Mauricien) in the running of the country. 

He was severely criticized by the press for his twelve-day absence from the country at a time when his presence was required to sort out numerous national issues. Never before Sir Anerood Jugnauth so much blasted for an official visit to India that had little importance for Mauritius. The editor in chief of Weekly, Mrs Touria Prayag, stated in no uncertain terms that “it is an insult to our intelligence as a nation” (Weekly, issue of 17-23 November,2016), while revealing that the conference attended by Sir Anerood Jugnauth was organized by the City Montessori School, and certainly not by the state of Uttar Pradesh. 

Mr. Lynday Rivière, the editor in chief of “Enjeux”, also deplored, in an editorial in last week’s issue of the news magazine that “since he has announced his anticipated retirement from power, the busy overseas travelling program of the Prime Minister since September ( three weeks in New York, followed by eleven days in India, followed once he returns by the Sommet de la Francophonie in Madagascar) speaks volumes of the conceived plan and the mechanism set up to take the country towards the transition at the head of the Government”. 

In Week-end (Sunday 20 November, 2016), Mrs Josie Lebrasse asked herself about the real agenda of Sir Anerood Jugnauth in India. “To participate in a conference on justice, to inaugurate an herbarium of medicinal plants”, adding that the real reasons could be “to make a halt at Spice Village, recommended by his good friend Mr. Bissoon Mungroo for a “remise en forme” or to consult “sages”, regarding the most auspicious dates for the crowning of the heir prince”. 

" We wonder why here, either they use enigmatic language or they simply refuse to communicate on the political transition, adding to the now unbearable situation of waiting game."

ALMOST UNREAL SITUATION

Although these critics seemed harsh, they were somehow justified by the “performance” of Sir Anerood Jugnauth as Home Affairs Minister at the National Assembly on Tuesday, while replying to the Private Notice Question of the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Paul Bérenger on drug trafficking. He gave the impression that he did not have a good command of the issues pertaining to the Police. 

It was almost unreal when he (Sir Anerood Jugnauth) asked himself how a member of the VIPSU, allegedly involved in drug trafficking was posted at his residence at La Caverne, Vacoas. “It’s a fact that he was attached to the security of my residence. I did not ask for that. Being a drug trafficker, he is the last person to be posted at VIPSU and to be affected to the security of my residence”, said the Prime  Minister.

The Leader of the Opposition did not show restraint and stated that “what has happened is a high degree of complete failure of intelligence and a high level of complicity in the police force.” Immediately after, the Leader of the Labour MPs at the National Assembly, Mr. Shakeel Mohamed stated that the Prime Minister should urge the Commissioner of Police to resign. 

Meanwhile, two other issues will require the urgent attention of the Prime Minister:  the electoral reform in Rodrigues and the new stand of the United Kingdom regarding the Chagos Archipelago. 

There is yet another serious issue that seems quite embarrassing; that of the critics against the President of the Republic Mrs. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. The Minister of Health and Quality of Life Mr. Anil Gayan has openly blasted the President for accepting invitations to travel overseas. There is apparently a group of parliamentarians who are supporting the President, arguing that her numerous achievements have made some people jealous. It is hoped that an appropriate solution is found, at least out of respect for the institution (the Presidency) and the holder of the post, in addition a woman and a fine and respected professional.    

PREPARING THE TRANSITION 

Even history’s least politically experienced American President-elect Mr. Donald Trump has understood that managing a political transition is vital. His transition team has hired some professionals that would help in setting up the new administration. We wonder why here, either they use enigmatic language or they simply refuse to communicate on the political transition, adding to the now unbearable situation of waiting game. 

As such, each move becomes a “suspected” one. The latest being the publication of a booklet, titled “60 significant achievements –Jan 2015-Oct 2016 (22 months) Transforming Mauritius”, by the Ministry of Financial Services. Good Governance and Institutional Reforms. 

Why should a minister decide to share his achievements 22 months later? Why should he chose to dedicate his achievements to the Prime Minister only, almost forgetting his beloved leader, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth? “I dedicate these achievements of my newly created Ministry to the Right Hon. Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, GCSK, KCMG, QC, who has always made me believe in the ability to lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have continuously thrown at me”, writes Mr. Roshi Bhadain in his foreword.

Fortunately there are wonderful and solemn moments like the one marking the elevation of Mgr. Maurice Piat as Cardinal by His Holiness Pope Francis. Any true patriot would have felt a sense of pride. Furthermore, the humility depicted by the new cardinal should serve as a lesson to some over ambitious persons.