Criticism is pouring in from all sides and disappointment is being heard from the Associations, even those not directly concerned with consumption. The Associations have each dissected the budget at their own level, despite the fact that this Budget has had a strong emphasis on social and employment issues, the conclusion is “disappointment“. Strong points have been put forward.
ACIM- The march of disappointment
The Association of Consumers of Mauritius (ACIM) wants to show its disappointment with the 2022/2023 Budget on the streets of the Capital. Jayen Chellum, secretary general of ACIM, described many of the budgetary measures as repetitive at a press briefing on Thursday. He reminded the audience that “keeping prices down is good, but this is public money taken by the government”. He also spoke of the government’s poor targeting of social security, “this increase could have been better used for other poor people“. As for the Rs 1000 increase for those earning less than Rs 50,000, Jayen Chellum said, “This Rs 1,000 is deducted from the CSG fund where every private sector employee, regardless of their salary, and even those earning very little, contribute.” The thing is different for civil servants because it is the government that pays for their shares. ACIM’s biggest disappointment is the issue of petroleum products, “We expected the price to be lowered. We had listed all the taxes, VAT and excise duty that they collect on a litre of fuel and that these could have been removed. It is sad to note that from 2015-2020, prices were relatively low but there was no reduction in fuel prices, instead taxes were added,” he said. A date had already been set for the next demonstration, it was Saturday 18 June, a date already authorized by the Police. But, with the anomalies detected during the Budget, ACIM cannot confirm at this stage. “It may not be Saturday 18 June even if the police authorization was already obtained for that day before the Budget. We need to consult with each other to review our approach to denunciation. Another date will be announced very soon,” he announced. He, however, took a swipe at the Finance Minister deeming his strategy “to initiate a hibernation of the country’s grey matter!”
PGM- Rs 1000 pension insufficient and unequal
According to the calculations of the Pensioners Grievance Movement, the Basic Retirement Pension (BRP), the minimum increase should have been between Rs 1700 and Rs 2000. This calculation was based on the accumulated increases over the last three years concerning the basic necessities and the price of medicines. Vivek Pursun, President of the movement, drew attention to “the pensioners have not received the salary compensation for the last three years and neither the advance of Rs 1,000 that the civil servants have received with the last PRB report. So this Rs 1,000 for those under 60 years of age is not equal“. He also questioned the calculation of Rs 2000 for those above 65 years of age, which the PGM considers to be divisional!
ReA- Anything but For the people!
In a press conference on Tuesday, Ashok Subron made it clear that Measure 172 of the Budget will penalize the Mauritian from buying land at a fair price. This measure reads as follows: “Holders of Residence Permits will be given the opportunity, upon applications, to acquire a residential property of a minimum of USD 350,000 outside the existing schemes, subject to a 10% contribution made to the Solidarity Fund.” Ashok Subron explained that “the price of land will increase considerably where the Mauritian will be penalised and the foreigner favoured in the purchase. I am surprised that there is no more reaction to the fact that Padayachy is putting the country up for sale.” Talking about the Food Security policy, he felt that the Finance Minister has been blowing smoke in the eyes of Mauritians. He appealed to Mauritians to take a stand against this measure which is contrary to any Food Security policy. He also considered that this Budget leaves the way open for capitalists to get rich on Green Energy! Stephan Gua denounced that this Budget is definitely not in favor of the population, who is a victim of soaring prices. Michel Chiffone was categorical in his remarks: “This Budget is not for the people but for businesses”, reproaching the Minister of Finance of ignoring the issues of food security and energy. Economist, Kugan Parapen questioned the calculation of the 8.5% inflation rate and the source of the money needed to finance the measures announced.
CITU – Partially satisfied
The Congress of Independent Trade Union is not 100% satisfied. While the Union welcomes the move to increase pensions and other methods of relief, FPBOU President, Deepak Benydin lamented that in such a context, “the government should have withdrawn taxes, such as the Covid Fund and lowered fuel prices instead of investing in electric cars.” Other members questioned the impact of these reliefs in the future. The representative of the Government Services Employees Association (GSEA), Iqbal Amiran, spoke of the continuing problem of understaffing in hospitals in contrast to plans to build new medical centres. Raffick Bahadoor, of the Taxi Operators Union, strongly opposed plans to digitalize taxi services in the country, that is, to book them online. He believes that “this development will create conflicts“. He demands a meeting with the transport authorities.
USM – “a short-term budget”
This is how the budget is described by the Union Sociale Mauricien (USM) and Think Mauritius. Jeewan Bismohun of the USM believes that this Budget will not be “sustainable for the future and the measures are not big enough to counteract inflation”.
Artists’ Union – request for financial support
The Ministry of Arts and Culture will have a new decision to make on the fate of Mauritian artists. After a meeting with the Union des Artistes on Thursday 09 June, it emerged that the budgetary measures will not help artists in general to get by, especially after the two lean years caused by the pandemic. President Joelle Coret made a request to the Minister for a fund for artists in difficulty. She relates that the Minister of Arts and Culture has told her to look into the matter.
