The high cost of living can finally be protested publicly. The general secretary of the Association des Consommateurs de l’Ile Maurice (ACIM), Jayen Chellum, has announced the next rally in the streets of Port Louis for this Saturday 30 April. The ReA party is campaigning for the removal of the 50-person limit on rallies.
Public protest authorized
ACIM has been given the green light by the Commissioner of Police to hold its rally. The demonstrators will demonstrate their discontent against the increase in household gas costs, the third increase in four months in fuel costs and also, the skyrocketing food prices but this authorisation will not be without conditions. The police maintain that problem is to be avoided so as not to harm public order and safety.
Thus, as Jayen Chellum announced, “demonstrators must be easily identifiable by the police, they must carry flags, banners and other identifying features, slogans on placards must not be insulting or hurtful to anyone in particular, demonstrators in cars must remain inside their vehicles and they may not stop during the procession. They must drive in a way that does not create traffic jams. The police have warned that a demonstrator who causes a public disturbance, can at any time be removed from the march and arrested,” says Jayen Chellum.
The procession will start at 2 p.m on Volcy Pougnet Street. The rally will be limited to 50 people.
ReA against the 50-person limit
This restriction is being contested by the Resitans ek Alternativ (ReA) party. “Let the government lift the 50-person limit on rallies,” said trade unionist, Ashok Subron at a joint press conference with the Government Welfare Fund and the All-Employees Confederation on Tuesday. He added that “This law is a recipe for rising tensions because people cannot speak out against the rising cost of living. The people must be allowed to express themselves freely.” Still on the subject of the high cost of living, he reiterated his demand for the introduction of a price control mechanism. The ReA is also calling for a freeze on recent price increases and an increase in the minimum wage to Rs 13,500. He also suggested that the government should work towards making the country more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports.
