Reactions

Sir Anerood Jugnauth: “A promising budget”

For the former Prime Minister and current Minister Mentor, Pravind Jugnauth’s Budget is “very promising”. Sir Anerood Jugnauth said that the Budget contained measures enabling Mauritius to gain momentum in its development process.

Xavier-Luc Duval: “A disappointing budget”

Leader of the Opposition Xavier-Luc Duval said that he did not understand how the Prime Minister arrived at a growth rate of more than 4% while the World Bank predicted a rate of 3.4%. “A year has been lost and the same will be repeated. The European Union will put us on the ‘blacklist’ regarding the offshore. There are no concrete measures on the environment. Our beaches are disappearing and nothing has been announced to protect them. Mauritius is one of the countries that will be most affected by climate change,” he said during a press conference after the presentation of the Budget 2017-18. Commenting on the negative taxation, he stated “this is a double-edged measure. Nothing has been heard about the old-age pension. It was necessary to explain to the Mauritians how to get out of the middle-income trap and the challenges that await them on the debt. It’s a disappointing budget and a misleading exercise.”

Arnaud Dalais: “We are very satisfied”

The president of Business Mauritius, Arnaud Dalais is very satisfied with the measures announced in the Budget 2017-18 for the private sector. “We are pleased that our appeals have been heard. During the pre-budget consultations, we called for a revitalization of the export sector, for business to be facilitated, and for a spirit of openness to the economy,” he said at the Press briefing at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ebene following the presentation of the 2017-18 Budget.

Ivan Collendavelloo: “Turning point for Mauritius”

Ivan Collendavelloo, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of ther Muvman Liberater, spoke of liberation for the people after 50 years of independence. According to him, the measures announced in the 2017-18 Budget clearly aim to develop Mauritius, Rodrigues and Agalega. “The Alliance Lepep is fulfilling all its electoral promises in particular, the democratisation of energy with measures enabling poor families to have access to electricity without having to pay outrageous bills. It’s a turning point for Mauritius,” he added.

Paul Bérenger:“I am very disappointed”

Paul Bérenger, leader of the MMM, condemns the lack of measures to revive the economy and said that the announced measures will not be realised. “There is the absence of measures concerning corruption and waste. There are a lot of promises. But overall I am very disappointed.” He also deplored the absence of measures concerning the creation of employment.

Suttyhudeo Tengur: “With good intention”

For Trade unionist Suttyhudeo Tengur, the budget has been made with good intentions but still he doubts the risks associated with all these promises. “Pravind Jugnauth leaves us somewhat sceptical as he has set the standard very high with a forecast of the growth rate of 4.1% for next year and turn the country into a “ High income economy “with revenues of US $ 13,600 per head of population by 2023.” But he also highlights some good points like decrease in the price of wheat, investment in the education sector and helping the less privileged.

Shakeel Mohamed: “Lack of inspiration”

Following the budget, Labour MP Shakeel Mohamed held a press conference where he stated that the Minister of Finance lacks inspirations. “The Prime Minister will probably call for an election very soon. It’s too easy to be arrogant with money that does not belong to us and go begging before the Budget. I am sure the Indian government expected the Prime Minister to have more strategies to use this loan wisely. The members of the Indian government in Parliament had to be very disappointed with the speech.”

Alan Ganoo:“The budget is not convincing”

Alan Ganoo, leader of the Mouvement Patriotique, argued that the budget is without any vision and that the announced measures will not revitalise the economy. “There are no measures to introduce Structural Reforms. There is nothing to make Mauritius an ‘Investment Hub’. The Budget contains no comments on economic indicators such as the economy and employment. There were measurements to please the population. In general, there is nothing to ensure the progress of the country because it is not convincing,” he said.

Roshi Bhadain:“A ‘No Credibility Budget’ ”

The leader of the Reform Party, MP Roshi Bhadain, criticised Pravind Jugnauth’s Budget as a “no credibility Budget” that will only increase public debt. “I had negotiated a grant of Rs 12.7 billion from India. This money was intended to finance infrastructure projects such as the construction of a new Supreme Court. But nothing was done. Debts will have irreversible effects on the population. I maintain my position on the Metro Express. If the government persists in its attempt to disfigure Quatre-Bornes, I will resign from my position as a deputy,” he said.