My Isle of Golden Dreams

The cabinet reshuffle announced by the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth on Monday was predictable. As early as on Friday, the media had already spilled the beans and revealed the scenario. However the Prime Minister did bring about a few twists to the plot with the obvious objective of maintaining control over the cabinet of ministers and subsequently on his majority at the National Assembly. Sir Anerood Jugnauth told the media on Monday that in the morning, he had a telephone conversation with Mr Vishnu Lutchmenaraidoo and that the latter has explained to him that he was overworked and that he wished to be relieved from his functions as Minister of Finance and Economic Development. At the same time, Mr Lutchmeenaraidoo had reiterated his desire to continue to serve the country in another capacity. According to the Prime Minister, it was none other than Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo who had asked to be given the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade. Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo, who reacted on Facebook, acknowledged that he had accepted the post but brought a nuanced commentary, adding that it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to appoint ministers! As such, Mr. Etienne Sinatambou, who was serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been given the portfolio of Technology, Communication and Innovation, which has been taken away from Mr. Roshi Bhadain. Mr. Sinatambou had occupied the post of Minister of Information Technology & Telecommunications from July 2005 to 13 September 2008 when Dr Navin Ramgoolam was Prime Minister. When the latter proceeded with a cabinet reshuffle in 2008, he chose to remove Mr. Sinatambou as Minister, as it would appear that there had been numerous complaints from government employees regarding the minister’s way of doing things. Mr. Sinatambou was then elected Deputy Speaker, National Assembly on 19 September 2008. Later Mr. Sinatambou left the Mauritius Labour Party and joined the MSM. Sir Anerood Jugnauth chose to keep the Ministry of Finance with him although rumours were rife that Mr. Bhadain would be given the portfolio. In fact, those close to Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo were accusing Mr. Bhadain of trying to snatch away this Ministry from Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo. Replying to a question from the press on Monday, the Prime Minister did confirm that he had thought of appointing Mr. Bhadain as Minister of Finance but he then opted to keep the Ministry for himself. In doing so, Sir Anerood Jugnauth has split the difference and therefore reduced the appetite of Mr. Bhadain and cut short any bad feeling from Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo. But more importantly, this scenario looks more like one preparing the grand comeback of the Leader of the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) Mr. Pravind Jugnauth in the event that he wins his appeal against the judgment in the MedPoint case. Although Sir Anerood Jugnauth rightly stated that he cannot predict what will happen in this case, it seems more likely that Mr. Pravind Jugnauth will step in as Minister of Finance once he clears his name. Another small cabinet reshuffle could take place but a more profound one should be expected in case phase two of the plan is implemented, that is in the event that Mr. Pravind Jugnauth takes over as Prime Minister. In reply to questions from the press, Sir Anerood Jugnauth has stated in no uncertain terms that he will participate in the pre-Budget consultations and that he will not postpone the presentation of the Budget 2017, it looks very unlikely that things will happen this way. Who knows that Mr. Pravind Jugnauth could present the next Budget in case he wins his appeal and is roped in again in the cabinet of Ministers? It looks very unlikely that Sir Anerood Jugnauth will present the next Budget. If he does, he will have to rely not only on the team at the Ministry of Finance but also on some of his ministers, like Mr. Bhadain. Interestingly enough, Sir Anerood Jugnauth has also chosen to somehow clip the wings of Mr. Bhadain , in taking back the responsibility of the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and the Information and Telecommunication Technologies(ICTA). Poor Bhadain who used to get his press conferences broadcasted in toto on television will have to find other means to make his presence felt. We wonder, however, how the Prime Minister decided to confer upon Mr. Bhadain the highest distinction of the Republic. Without any intention to diminish the merits of Mr. Bhadain, it is quite unusual that an elected member who has not even completed a third of his mandate could be appraised and rewarded. Now, should we not just take whatever the Prime Minister told us as the plain truth. The media was not present when the Leader of the MSM held talks with Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo. Who knows that there has been some sort of compromise? How could have Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo, who was presented along with Sir Anerood Jugnauth, as the winning duo, who will realize the second economic miracle suddenly accept to play second fiddle in the diplomatic field? Has the spectre of a by-election in constituency number 7 (Piton and Rivière du Rempart) carried much weight in the negotiations? Earlier, the media and political pundits alike had thought that there were three bones of contention between Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo and Mr. Bhadain: the Heritage City project, the the Mauritius Yihai Garden project at the Domaines Les Pailles and the Non Double Taxation Agreement (NDTA) with India. Then suddenly, miraculously bank documents pertaining to a loan to the amount of 1,1 million Euros (Rs 44 million) taken by Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo from the SBM in September last found their way to newsrooms. Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo has confirmed having taken a loan of 400 000 Euros (Rs 16 million), which he has apparently invested in gold. The former Minister of Finance argued that he is paying interest at the rate of 1,5 % annually. He has also announced that he will initiate legal actions against the SBM for breach of confidentiality. Meanwhile, ICAC has achieved a major breakthrough as the Judge in Chambers Mr. Iqbal Maghooa has on Thursday acceded to its request to have access to the SBM bank account of Mr. Lutchmeenaraidoo in view of their preliminary enquiry on the Euro Loan. If the enquiry progresses fast, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs could be grounded for some time as he might very well be interrogated by ICAC. He might find himself in the Ebene/ Reduit triangle although he somehow resisted to be transferred in this area. Another police enquiry known under the code name of Goldfinger has kick started on a contract that was allegedly been issued following a mere phone call from an important Ministry. Like in the movie, an intermediary known under the code name of Odd Job has played a key role in this insider trading! As the resuming of Parliament draws near, it would be interesting to know if there would be new seating arrangements; whether Mr. Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo will keep his place on the front bench. Similarly, Mr.Sangeet Fowdar, who was elected under the banner of the Lepep Alliance, seems to be a stateless MP. After he made several bold comments on Radio Plus, he was summoned by the politburo of the Muvman Liberater (ML) to give his explanations. On Monday, the leader of the ML Mr. Ivan Collendavelloo told the media that Mr. Fowdar had excluded himself from the ML because he has refused to take back his earlier public comments. But Mr. Fowdar maintains that there unanimity did not prevail at the executive committee of the ML and that at least two ministers have publicly said almost the same things he opined earlier. On Saturday two newspapers carried almost the same brief news item: that leaders of Arya Sabha Mauritius had been summoned by a Senior Adviser from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to be reproached for having invited Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval as Chief Guest at a ceremony organized by the Aryan Women Welfare Association on Sunday 28 February last.. Mr. Duval was the Acting Prime Minister on the day he attended the function. In which way does that irritate the PMO? That the PMSD is showing too much ambition? Is it why suddenly the Arya Sabha Mauritius organized a function in the context of the celebration of the 48th anniversary of the Independence and 24 anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius on Sunday 13 March,2016 and invited Mr. Pravind Jugnauth as chief guest? So the Leader of the Opposition and of the MMM Mr. Paul Bérenger has again become repugnant, according to the Prime Minister who was inaugurating the new Leal showroom in Pailles. Mr. Bérenger had earlier denounced the recent cabinet reshuffle as being a means to avoid a by-election in constituency number 7 (Piton and Rivière du Rempart). On Sunday, when he participated in the celebration of International Women’s Day at the Trianon Convention Centre, Sir Anerood Jugnauth had blasted Mr. Bérenger whom he accused of having tried to take him as “hostage” in 1982. In any case, when Parliament resumes on 29 March ,2016, it would be extremely interesting to watch the body language of the various political leaders.