The Budget debates continues. Several ministers, Member of Parliament have intervened. On Monday, the Senior member of the government, the Prime Minister will speak before the summing up be the Renganaden Padayachy, the Mnster of Finance. Then the budget will be voted. Here are some of the interventions:
Jeewa-Daureeawoo : What’s wrong with the Budget?
The Minister of Social Security was the first to intervene on the Budget 2021-2022 this Saturday. She stated that one should be fair in his/her comments. “What’s wrong with the actual budget?” she asked. She stated that independent institutions welcomed the measures announced. She welcomed the fact that the Budget of her Ministry represents almost 27% of the total national budget. She also acclaimed all the measures aimed at reducing poverty in this difficult context and helping those who suffer most. She mentioned medical visits at home. She insisted that as responsible Minister of Finance, Renganaden Padayachy did not increase old-age pension. “Though he could have done it”, she added.
No bold measures for Ameer Meea
Aadil Ameer Meea, from the MMM party, deplored a flagrant absence of bold measures. He criticized the government for what he called “the treachery” of not showing the real figures. For him, the Minister of Finance has acted irresponsibly by announcing measures aiming at “breaking down the lock of the Central Bank”. For Aadil Ameer Meea, the future generations will suffer the consequences of these debts. For him, inflation rate will increase and this will have fateful consequences. He also listed many projects which are not giving results, like Safe City and cameras in prison. He deplored the poor management of public funds. While commenting on the pension fund, he said what the country is sitting on a time-bomb.
“A budget prepared in a difficult context”, said Husnoo
How can one expect a normal budget in such an abnormal situation? That’s the substance of what the Minister of Local Government said. Anwar Husnoo insisted that the Budget 2021-2022 was prepared in a difficult context with tourism almost to the ground after two lockdowns. For him, it was necessary to kick-start the recovery while helping the most vulnerable. He also said that another problem facing the country is climate change. In that context, he does not understand why there are so many criticisms against the fact that government wants to construct drains.
Ramful blasted “manipulation accounting”
Labour member Dhananjay Ramful was very critical of the Budget. He accused the Minister of Finance of indulging in “manipulation accounting”. For him, there are important challenges for the country which the budget does not address. Using irony, he stated that the State Trading Corporation has been renamed State Trading in Corruption. He deplored the magnitude of drug traffic in Mauritius and the lack of independence of our institution. For him, instead of looking for popularity, the government should have opted for responsibility
Seeruttun commented the Betamax case
The Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance accused the opposition parties of paying lip service only, instead of making concrete proposals. He refuted many criticisms laid against government. For example, on the purchase of anti-Covid vaccines, Mahen Seeruttun said that with the embargo some countries put in place, Mauritius would not have been able to obtain Pfizer and Moderna. He also said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) did not criticize Mauritius for using the reserves of the Bank of Mauritius. “The IMF has not blamed us at all. We had to help the population and we had to act”, he said. Commenting on the Betamax case, Mahen Seeruttun said that the one to be blamed is the government who allocated such a contract or even, the one who terminated the contract in the interest of the population. He also cited some declarations of economists who praise the budget. However, the Minister Seeruttun was accused by opposition members, including Paul Bérenger, to have said that Dr Navin Ramgoolam has been convicted. He refuted the accusation, saying he only stated that there are allegations.
“A real joke”, according to Armance
Patrice Armance, the Opposition whip, is back in Parliament after suffering from Covid. For him, the Budget 2021-2022 resembled “a list of projects of the National Development Unit”. For him, it “is a real joke”. He said that many projects have been announced in previous budgets but have not been implemented. He said that “this nightmare will ends very soon” before accusing the government of having “limited vision and no accountability”. He also deplored the number of parliamentary questions left unanswered. He said that Kailesh Jagutpal tops the list of Ministers, with the Prime Minister in second place and Renganaden Padayachy in third place. Patrice Armance also revealed that the driver/bodyguard of Deputy Chairman of Committees was in quarantine for 14 days and according to the contact tracing protocol, the honourable member should not have been considered as a suspected case.
Joanna Berenger: “The GM is practicing gutter politics”
“This government is practicing gutter politics with its drain projects”. This is what the Member of Parliament for Constituency 16 (Vacoas/Floreal), Joanna Bérenger, said.
Speaking during Friday night’s budget debates, she stressed that the construction of drains will bring immediate relief to some areas. However, adding concrete will permeate the soil and the problem will only be transferred further. These drainage projects give the illusion to the population that they are solving their problems. The flooding has continued for nine years as this government continues to destroy our water-absorbing trees and forests and continues to divert natural waterways and allows construction on swampy land.
“We may end up being the country with the most concrete surface per square metre,” she said. When one sees the green light given by the government to projects such as Legend Hill on La Tourel Mountain in Tamarin, one wonders what is so exceptional about this project that it has been granted exemptions from the policy guidance schedule.
“I don’t believe that loans to women can solve the problem of gender equality‘, she said. She also expressed regret that the Minister for Gender Equality thought it was normal that the Children Bill was not yet enacted nine months after it was passed. “Why present this bill to Parliament if the structures are not yet ready? The children of this country have nothing to do with shaky explanations. They are waiting to be protected. Is there more vulnerable than those who saw their tin structures demolished during the last lockdown and who are still sleeping in tents today? For more than a year, these women and children have been ignored by the Ministry of Gender Equality and the Minister dares to come and talk to us about protecting the most vulnerable in society. “
