The MMM held a press conference this morning. Paul Bérenger began by talking about the Financial Crimes Commission Bill, due to be debated this Tuesday in Parliament. Paul Bérenger deplored the fact that the government had decided to go ahead “with such a scurrilous law”. He announced that he, Navin Ramgoolam and Xavier-Luc Duval had held talks this morning. The decision was taken to invite all opposition MPs, even those suspended, to a meeting this Monday December 11 at the opposition leader’s office. Paul Bérenger added that Xavier-Luc Duval would speak first on behalf of the opposition, while he would be the last speaker. During question time, the MMM leader declared that the opposition alliance had reactivated its panel of lawyers. He added that we need to think carefully before taking the road to the Supreme Court.
Bérenger: “We need to talk to the Americans”.
Paul Bérenger also commented on developments concerning the Chagos file. He recalled that it has been 4 years since the International Court of Justice ruled on Mauritius’ sovereignty. He also referred to a recent article in the Telegraph which revealed that the British government favored a Cyprus-type agreement. For him, this is unacceptable. For it means the excision of a part of the archipaelago that will remain under British sovereignty. “We will never accept this type of agreement. But even the Americans don’t want to hear about it,” he said. He pointed out that Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, had stated in an official document that the USA recognized British sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory. In his view, Mauritius should ask for discussions with the Americans, not just the British.
