Reading the mood of the nation

As usual, the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth was quite sharp-witted when he was questioned by the media on Sunday. What we understood from his enigmatic replies is that he will be around for quite some time. 

The Prime Minister was participating in a religious ceremony to mark the laying of the foundation stone of a Telugu Cultural Centre at Trianon. When he was asked about the date of his stepping down as Prime Minister, he replied: “Mo pa konne okenn date” (I am not aware of any date). He added: “Be atann ou pou koné” (Wait. You will know). 

A LEGACY TO THE NATION 

The only indication that he gave that he would be still around as Prime Minister for the laying of foundation stone of Metro Express in March, next year. When journalists asked him whether he will be present on that occasion, he confirmed that this would be the case. “Be normal, ou pa trouvé ! Ki kestion ou pe poz moi” (Of course. Don’t you see? What type of question are you putting to me?).

There are several readings that we can make out from Sir Anerood Jugnauth’s brief replies to questions from the media and the speech he delivered earlier. First, he will be in the forefront when the ambitious project Metro Express will be set rolling because the Metro Express stands prominently as a legacy to the nation. When we think that the Lepep Alliance had shelved the project for an alternative mode of public transport and that it was only much later that they realized its importance in the proposed modernization of the country.

Second, it is obvious that Sir Anerood Jugnauth, who seems to share very cordial relations with the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, would like to be around when the project is launched.

Third, never before so much importance was given to the celebration of Republic Day. Most of the time more emphasis is laid on celebrating the Independence of the country, especially when Labour is in power. For obvious reasons, as the Labour Party can legitimately claim its share in the struggle for Independence. The fact that both Independence Day and Republic Day are celebrated on the same date, i.e. the 12th March each year tends to make one historic event overshadow another one, depending on who is in power. At times to split the difference, 12th March is celebrated as National Day.   

Next year, the celebration of Republic Day will take a new dimension in the sense that it will mark the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of Mauritius as a Republic. This significant step marked the completion of the decolonization process. As it was none other than Sir Anerood Jugnauth who was the Prime Minister at that time, it is quite normal that for once the focus will be on the Republic. 

A PAINFUL TRANSITION 

On Friday afternoon, the leader of the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) and current Minister of Finance Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, stated that he is not tied up to any post but that he is ready to shoulder any responsibility that is given to him. “Mo pa amaré ar okenn poste mais mo pou asim responsabilité ki donn moi”, he said. He was participating in the last of a series of political gatherings of his party which was held in Quartier Militaire, his constituency ( Number 8 –Quartier Militaire/Moka). 

Initially, the MSM had organized a series of such meetings all through the island in view of explaining to the population the various measures taken in the Budget 2016/2017. However as the stepping down of Sir Anerood  Jugnauth came to be publicly known, his successor took the opportunity to project himself in the forefront.  

But the shadow of Sir Anerood Jugnauth still hangs over the MSM and the political landscape and the transition seems to be more painful. So much so that even Mr Pravind Jugnauth reckoned that he does not wish that his illustrious father steps down as Prime Minister. That came as some sort of a soothing device for those who had considered Sir Anerood Jugnauth’s decision to step down as nothing short of a bombshell.

“ At last the leader of the MSM has realized that his party forms part of an alliance and it was a good move to stress on the fact that it would a collective decision of the leaders of the Lepep Alliance to chose their candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the event that Sir Anerood Jugnauth ultimately steps down. "

THE GOVERNMENT STILL ON THE DEFENSIVE

In the meantime, things are not that bright for the ruling alliance. At the National Assembly, this week the government has been on the defensive on a number of issues, ranging from the sale of the ex-Apollo Bramwell Hospital and the deceptive attitude of the buyer to overseas trips of our ministers (Rs 31,8 million have been spent in five months). 

The Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill by the Prime Minister was yet another opportunity for the opposition to set itself apart from the government. 

The only good news that was shared in Parliament this week is undoubtedly the increase of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In reply to a question from the MMM MP Mr. Aadil Ameer Meea, the Minister of Finance Mr. Pravind Jugnauth said that according to information provided the Bank of Mauritius, Rs 9,7 billion poured in as FDI  in 2015. For the first semester of 2016, Rs 8 billion worth of FDI was recorded and it is expected that that the total amount of FDI in 2017 would be around Rs 14 billion. 

However inconsistency still marks the government, like the back pedaling on the issue of street hawkers. The Minister of Local Government Dr. Anwar Husnoo stood firm in implementing government’s decision to transfer street hawkers to specified zones but it would seem that that the approach of the festive season has forced the government to review its initial position.

As time passes by, the Leader of the Labour Party Dr. Navin Ramgoolam is slowly but surely elbowing his way back to politics. So far out of the eleven provisional charges, ten have been set aside. Only the one regarding the coffers still stands good while the Roches Noires case is a now a court case, which means that he has been formally charged. 

Knowing pretty well that the Lepep government has not yet been able to realize some of its electoral promises and that the transition is causing much harm, the Labour Party has nothing to lose in increasing the pressure. Its leaders will undoubtedly use the public meeting scheduled on Friday (December 9, 2016) at La Louise, Quatre Bornes to vilify the Lepep Alliance government. Petty incidents like the fight over the banner at Parisot can but fuel the campaign of the opposition. 

On the other hand, have you noticed that the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Paul Bérenger is preaching the unification of the opposition?