After the mobilisations over the weekend in Port Louis, Rose Hill and Ebene, the fear of this “Go Slow” has grown around for the students taking part in the Cambridge-GCE O’Level and A’Level exams. Dev Sunassy reassured that Operation Snail and the demonstrations will begin in the afternoon when all candidates have reached their examination halls.
The Ultimatum
This Snail Operation, initiated by Linion Pep Morisien (LPM), has one ultimate goal, which is to bring down the price of fuel. During a press briefing on Monday 23 May, Dev Sunassy was clear in his demands and his Ultimatum. “Pravind Jugnauth will have until Friday 27 May to make a final decision. He must come up with a solution to lower the price of fuel. If not, the population will take actions,” he warned. He did not give more information on the actions of the affected population, which includes all motorists and professionals. So LPM’s call is to “Go Slow” at a speed of 20 km/h, leave the car at home, avoid filling up with petrol, “Fuel Strike”, use the bus to get to work and boycott the Metro Express.
However, they had to rethink their plans because of the Cambridge exams – GCE O’Level and A’Level. The concession is that “Parents, whose children are taking part in the exams, need not worry. We will start the strikes after the students have completed their second paper, which starts at noon, are safely in the examination halls,” Dev Sunassy said.
PM’s remarks
Linion Pep Morisien is especially disillusioned after the Prime Minister’s statements on Sunday 22nd May at the 1482nd anniversary of Maharana Pratab, organised by the Gahlot Rajput Sabha. Pravind Jugnauth justified himself and announced mainly that “petrol and diesel prices have increased by 140% and 150% in the world. In Mauritius, the price of petrol has increased by 68%. As a responsible Prime Minister, I cannot let the STC go bankrupt. Inflation remains a big problem…”
During the press briefing, Dev Sunassy did not hesitate to recall important points such as the voluntary depreciation of the rupee and enumerated the Betamax case among other financial scandals but also what he considers that the PM failed to mention in his justifications. “If the comparison is made with other countries, Pravind Jugnauth has failed to mention that in Singapore, the minimum wage is Rs 65,000, in Reunion Rs 63,000 and even in the Seychelles, Rs 16,700. In South Africa, petrol costs Rs 65. Even India has removed its excise duty and petrol costs Rs 53, 52. We have written to the PMO to follow the lead of his Indian counterpart. We are asking the Prime Minister to lower the price of petrol immediately to around Rs 52. We are giving him until the end of the Cabinet Meeting on Friday 27 May. The people are frustrated”!
Police spotted
On Monday, a heavy police mobilisation was spotted in Port Louis and across the island. The Police Press Office has circulated that arrangements will be made in due course, reassuring that public safety will be assured by the police force.
The cause is supported by all those directly affected, including NGOs, bakeries, the Ti Travayer Maléré Platform, taxi, bus and truck associations, and school vans. For the activist Bruneau Laurette, “this first day is already a great success for us with the mobilization of those most concerned, especially in the capital, and the denials of the government.” This big operation will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday. During this day, the social activist Raouf Khodabaccus was arrested by the police of Trou Fanfaron for having placed banners in the streets but he was later released in the late afternoon.
