March 12 will now have a different connotation. Mauritius, on the morning of its 30th anniversary as a Republic and its 54th year of Independence, lost on this historic day its third President Karl Offman at the age of 81. His funeral will take place this Sunday 13th of March. He will be remembered as a fierce fighter against poverty, illiteracy and his commitment to social work since the 1960s. The national flag is being raised half-mast in his honour.
Debuts of the patriot
Karl Auguste’s Offman held the presidency of the country from 25 February 2002 to 7 October 2003 with Raouf Bundhun as vice-president. He had succeeded Cassam Uteem. But our third president, born on 25 November 1940, who was a student of the Royal College of Curepipe and a scholarship holder in Mechanical Engineering in 1956, he was fully active since 1964 in the Young Catholic Workers movement. In that year he was spotted and selected by the Mauritian branch of the Indian Ocean Joint Commission to participate in the first international training course.
Political success
Rich in experience since 1964, he became fiercely involved in politics in 1976 within the Mauritian Democratic Union, working on the ground against several social ills. In 1978, he joined the Mauritian Socialist Party (PSM), Harish Boodhoo’s brother in arms, and kept the same battle horse. Under the MMM/PSM alliance, he was elected in 1982 in constituency No. 17 (Curepipe/Midlands) which had won 60-0. But with the break-up of the government, that is to say also a break-up between the PSM and the MMM, this event led him to join Sir Aneerood Jugnauth where he helped in founding the MSM, a party in which he was to enjoy great political success and held several ministries. He was elected in 1983 as the leader of the list in Constituency 16 (Vacoas – Floréal) and was appointed Minister of Economic Planning and Development. From 1984 to 1986 he was Minister of Local Government and Cooperatives. In the 1987 elections, he came fourth in the 16th constituency and was chosen as Best Loser. From 1988 to 1991 he was Minister for Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions and also the Government Whip. In the 1991 elections he was elected third in the same constituency No 16. Karl Offman remained a member of the National Assembly until 1995, the year of the elections when he stopped running as a candidate. From 1987 to 1991 he was the Secretary General of the MSM and from 1996 to 2000 he was the President of the MSM party. In 2002, with his accession to the presidency, Karl Offman was awarded the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key (G.C.S.K) of the Indian Ocean.
His legacy
Patriot Karl Auguste Offman, after a long period of illness, bowed out on Independence Day itself. This news on the morning of Saturday 12 March have shaken the whole country and especially his former comrades. According to his second-in-command Raouf Bundhun, he was “an upright, honest and outspoken person” and for Lady Sarojini Jugnauth, “a humble, respectful and faithful man”. Paul Bérenger, his former brother in arms said “Karl Offman chose Independence Day to leave us. I bid him a special farewell. For Nando Bodha “Karl Offman was a man in whom Sir Aneerood Jugnauth had great confidence”. His predecessor, Cassam Uteem, remembers him as “a quiet, uneventful man and a very patriotic person”. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, in his message to the nation on Saturday, said: “Karl Offmann was an example of sacrifice and dedication to his country. I am very sad that he has left us today. He will remain in our memories as well as in our hearts,” said Pravind Jugnauth. A large panel of dignitaries paid their last respects at his home, including Lady Sarojini Jugnauth, VPM and Minister of Education Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government Anwar Husnoo, Minister of Labour Soodesh Callichurn, Minister of Public Services Joe Lesjongard as well as Minister of Social Security Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo and Minister of Environment Kavy Ramano among others.
His funeral will take place on Sunday 13 March 2022. As a tribute to his death, the government has decided that the Mauritian flag on this great day be at half-mast as a symbol of national mourning. The government has instructed everyone to do the same.
