The 54th anniversary of Independence and the 30th year since Mauritius became a republic has led Le Matinal to present three key monuments that are in political retreat. To talk about the evolution of the country over these 54 years of developments we have brought together our second President of the Republic, Cassam Uteem, our third Vice President Raouf Bundhun and Kadress Pillay, 1st Director of the Mauritius Audit Office politician, and who has held three key ministerial portfolios, join us for a reminder of what led us to our Independence but also for a reminder of those points that will ensure development in these times of global pandemic crisis.
Cassam Uteem: Togetherness is the greatest Mauritian miracle
If he stands as a serene person in his thoughts, our second president of the republic remains committed to social issues in Mauritius and internationally and acts as a link for the good of togetherness. A keen observer and narrator too, he begins the story of his contribution as a very active member of the Muslim Action Committee in collaboration with the PTR and the IFB where all the great fighters fought in solidarity against poverty leading to giant steps in the good of the economy, taking our country from its underdeveloped state to a practically developed country. He tries to play down the great crises that Mauritius has gone through, such as the Polio, the race war, the riots… and the current Covid 19 of which he was personally a victim to acclaim that the Mauritian is a very resilient race that will also fight against Covid 19. He positions the Togetherness and the multi-cultural nation as the great miracle of Mauritius which is the first to interest and attract tourists.
He also talks about a retrospective of the mistakes and malfunctions in the various institutions that do not function as they should. Thus, he proposes a Constitutional Assembly which will be made up of all political stakeholders, trade unions, youth and women to review these fundamental changes to be made. He talks about our electoral system which does not reflect reality and proportional representation in parliament. He also calls for a review of the Electoral Commission and the Public Service Commission in the name of satisfaction, meritocracy and democracy.
Raouf Bundhun : One of the Last Three Mohicans!
To summarize Raouf Bundhun has been an ambassador, MP, minister, mayor, teacher and civil servant. In 1976 he was Minister of Energy, in 1988 he was a municipal councillor in the city of Qutare Bornes and in 1995 he became mayor of the same city. In 2000 he was sent as Ambassador of Mauritius to Paris. And in 2002, upon the resignation of Cassam Uteem from the Presidency and Angidi Chettiyar, he became the third Vice-President of the Republic under the third President of the Republic Karl Offman who had him recalled from Paris. His background is rich, and so is his knowledge.
Still fresh in his memoirs, at the age of 85, he retraces the history of Mauritius since the 1950s and speaks of a major pre-Independence conference in London at Lancaster House where leaders of Mauritius’ political parties and even representatives of the private sector attended. He gives an account of the developments in the period leading up to Independence as well as the institution of parliament, the major problems of the time such as unemployment, poverty, division between the population, multiculturalism, racial strife, monoculture which motivated the diversification of industries. He also gives an account of the establishment of the Free Trade Zone and its success. He also briefly recalls the persistent problems that have lasted until our era. According to his findings. He describes Yusuf Mohammed, Elizer Francois and himself as the last three living Mohicans who fought for independence.
Kadress Pillay: Digitalisation is to be fully embraced for the sake of education
He was the first Director of Audit in Mauritius, a position he held from 1978 to 1983. He served as Minister of Industry from 1983 to 1986 under the MSM banner, until his resignation. Elected to the PTr in Belle-Rose-Four Horns in 1995, he served as Minister of Health from 1995 to 1997 and Minister of Education from 1997 to 1994. From 2021 to 2014, he remained President of the NEF until his retirement. Today he presents himself as an engaged citizen, an observer and commentator of political blunders. On this 54th anniversary of independence, Kadress Pillay, 80 years old, does not fail to congratulate the current MSM government for its series of successes in the economy and industry but he remains critical and is even worried when it comes to the field of education where he thinks that the gradual digitalisation of the education system is the next logical step in our modern pandemic-stricken society. In his message to the nation, he tells us about the facts and what to do in this country that started from a monoculture, which was sugar, to a diversified nation from the Free Trade Zone in 1983. He mentions a series of economic booms and developments that have changed the very image of the country visually and asks Mauritians to consider that the Pandemic is yesterday and to keep hope in a better future.
