The Immigration Bill will be debated in its second and third readings in Parliament, today, Tuesday 26 July. However, the Immigration Bill is causing much public debate. The Resistance ek Alternative (ReA) is adamant that the Immigration Bill should be withdrawn as an abuse of power by the Prime Minister. Shirin Ameeruddy Cziffra considers the PM’s proposed amendment to the Immigration Act a step backwards in terms of respect for human rights.
Provisions of this Bill
The main purpose of the Immigration Bill is to consolidate and strengthen the law for the stay of non-residents in the country. Thus, after the multiple problems surrounding these laws such as sham marriages and increasing divorce rates between non-citizen spouses and Mauritian citizens, increasing applications for residence permits by foreign nationals without visas and permits… “… it is our duty to safeguard the rights of the non-citizen. It is our duty to safeguard the welfare and interest of our citizens so that they do not fall prey to and become victims of malicious people,” said Pravind Jugnauth explaining that the Immigration Act reflects the government’s commitment to protect the interest of our citizens. He pointed out that “Over the last 50 years, the Immigration Act has been amended at least 20 times to allow other categories of non-residents to come to Mauritius, whether they are self-employed or investors. Once passed, this new Act will enable Mauritius to meet the emerging challenges and achievements in relation to foreigners and their stay in our country.”
Immigration Bill – Tougher
The Immigration Bill under discussion will make a series of changes to the Immigration Act 1970, the Mauritius Citizenship Act and, give more power to the Immigration Department. In sum, there will be stricter control over marriages between Mauritians and foreigners made on Mauritian or foreign territory, civil marriage, applications for residence permits, residence permits. The Prime Minister did not fail to warn that “Any person, who commits these offences, will be liable to a fine not exceeding Rs 1 million and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.”
ReA talks about the commodification of the country
They are calling for the withdrawal of the bill. Resistance ek Alternative considers that the State will have absolute power in all matters relating to Immigration, such as giving or taking away the nationality of an individual at its own will and thus, foresees an abuse in the end. ReA makes it clear: “it is clear, in the light of the latest events in the country, and with this Bill, that the regime of Pravind Jugnauth is extremely dangerous for the security and sovereignty of the Republic of Mauritius.” Furthermore, this party makes it clear that this Immigration Bill will result in a sell-out of the country, “This Bill is part of the Jugnauth regime’s arsenal to, on the one hand, continue the sale of residency and citizenship to the richest. And on the other hand, it places the country on the global market, where any millionaire can buy land in Mauritius. It is a squandering of our land heritage for the benefit of rich foreigners.” For Resistance ek Alternative, the commodification of the country is wrong in every sense. “With only USD 350,000, a residence permit holder will be able to become a landowner. Mauritius is not a commodity and not the property of the ruling regime“, says ReA, expressing its disagreement. The party argued that “Any parliamentarian, who votes for this law, will be guilty of betraying future generations“. They concluded with an open question: “Has the present government made provision for the children of these unions in case the PMO decides to terminate the residence permit of one of the parents?”
Shirin Aumeeruddy Cziffra: A step backwards in democracy
The lawyer was formerly a Member of Parliament, Minister, Ombudsperson for Children and President of an appeal tribunal. In an interview with a popular daily newspaper, she highlights the Prime Minister’s proposed amendment to the Immigration Act in Parliament: “Of course it is a step backwards for democracy. There are mainly two things that shock us about this amendment. The Prime Minister has focused more on foreign spouses than on foreign investors or pensioners. The latter, who are welcomed with open arms, can buy land, obtain a permanent residence permit or even, obtain Mauritian nationality. I remind you that in the past, a Prime Minister, who will admit it, even thought of selling the Mauritian passport” and also points out that “in any amendment to the laws, there is always an aim, a political ulterior motive. What shocks me is the fact that this amendment affects several laws in addition to the immigration law: the Deportation Act, the Citizenship Act, the Civil Status Act…“. In this particular case, where it is considered that the regime in power can deprive a foreign national of his residence permit without giving him a defence, Me Shirin Aumeeruddy Cziffra says “I hope that parliamentarians will be careful before voting for this amendment“. However, she added, “If the Mauritian PM has information that foreigners with status or Mauritians are planning acts against the security of the country, the current laws allow him to have them arrested and brought to Court. I do not understand the urgency, I do not understand the rush, the excitement around the amendment. I believe that a constitutional amendment requires a national debate.”
On sham marriages, the lawyer said “there are methods and laws to punish those who do it“. Her message to the Prime Minister on this amendment: “If we go ahead with this Bill, we will create a kind of psychosis and this is not normal insofar as, I repeat, ALL Mauritians have come from abroad. I appeal to the Prime Minister to think it over and not to put us in a precarious situation and to think about the probability that his amendment will be declared unconstitutional. This will not be good for the country and for his personal image as the leader of a democratic country”.
