Mauritius loses a dean of the legal profession. The son of Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed, Yousouf Mohammed is no more. The Hotshot of the Bar, who had just celebrated his 60 years of service at the Mauritian Bar, deceased on Sunday evening, April 3. The former Minister of Labour and Senior Counsel was 88 years old and suffered a long-term illness. The news of his death was announced by his son, Shakeel Mohammed on social networks. His funeral took place at the Bois Marchand Cemetery after the final Islamic burial rites, the Namaz Janaaza, at the Bassa Mosque in Quatre Bornes, not far from his home on Avenue Forget. A large group of former supporters and opponents came to his home in Quatre Bornes to bid a dignified farewell to a patriot, one of the last fighters for the country’s independence.
The elders of the Republic pay tribute to “a great patriot till the end”
Jovial, humble and simple… These are the most common words used by those who knew this great monument, who was also known for his great discipline. The former student of the Royal College of Port Louis, who studied law in Mauritius, England and Paris, will be remembered as one of the “last veterans, a great patriot who fought for the independence of the country” as Raouf Bundhun, former Vice-President of the Republic, his friend and brother in arms, said. Raouf Bundhun and Yousouf Mohammed were close friends in the Muslim Action Committee (MAC). Our former vice-president paints a picture of a “humble and simple man“, a “Role Model” at the Bar, who kept his seriousness in the legal profession and his joviality in life until the very end.
Like Raouf Bundhun, many mourn the departure of a great man in the legal profession. The former President of the Republic, Cassam Uteem bids farewell to “a great tribune, a very great lawyer and a good minister, a great fighter who fought till the end. Somehow, he chose the day of his departure to be the first day of the holy month of Ramadhan. I hope that he will have a very good place where he is“. Former President, Kailash Purryag described him as a “passionate politician who always had the interests of the country at heart“. He will be remembered as “a patriot who participated in the development of the country during its critical years“.
President, Pradeep Roopun pays his respect to a “hard worker.” He has left his mark on the legal profession. For the past 35 years, Pradeep Roopun had the opportunity to work with and against Yousuf Mohamed. For him, the latter was not only a ‘courteous’ man but ‘one of the best cross-examiners‘. Vice President, Eddy Boissézon knew Yousuf Mohammed on a ‘professional and personal political level‘. He speaks of the former Minister of Labour as “a fine politician, who projected the image of an honest politician, even if it was sometimes to the detriment of his political party. He was courteous in his dialogue but sometimes caustic. Mauritius has lost a great man and a great lawmaker.”
PM says goodbye to “a fine jurist”
In Quatre Bornes, Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth wished goodbye to a respected opponent and running mate. “I am saddened by the departure of Yousouf Mohammed. I knew him personally when I was practicing at the Bar. He left his mark in politics and in the legal profession to which he devoted himself fully after his political career. Sometimes, we worked together and sometimes, we worked against each other. He was a very fine jurist. An excellent lawyer. My sympathies go out to Yousouf Mohammed’s family and his son, Shakeel in this sad time.”
The loss of a “great fighter”
For his ‘Comrade’ since 1975, former Attorney General, Razack Peeroo, Yousouf Mohammed was a “vibrant speaker and politician. He always spoke the truth loudly and courageously” He was a “great fighter“.
Reza Uteem, President of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM), who knew the deceased personally, “Yousouf Mohammed remains one of the Top Flight of the Bar“.
Anil Bachoo, former PTr Minister of Public Infrastructures, came to see one last time a man he describes as “reliable“, with whom “he had good relations” and who was “always there in the most difficult moments“.
Nadeem Hyderkhan considers his senior counsel Yousuf Mohamed “a living encyclopaedia”. He says the departure of the senior counsel is “a great loss for the legal profession and for the country”.
His Joviality will forever characterise him
Roshi Bhadain says he is losing a reference. “I have known three references in law. Yousuf Mohamed is one of the lawyers who have marked my career as a lawyer. He spoke of his interest in the profession and the future of the country, but also of his great sense of humour: “He always had a joke, the right word to ease the situation. With his departure, Maurice loses a great personality. A man from whom many have learned, including me.
For Arvind Boolell, leader of the Labour Party, “Yousouf Mohammed had a very jovial character, always ‘tongue in cheek’ who knew how to convey a message with a lot of humour but always in a ‘Hit the Core’ way. He was one of those tough politicians. He proved himself as Minister of Labour with Sir Satcam Boolell as Acting Minister. He was a man of the field and always hardcore. Yousuf Mohamed was a fine diplomat further consolidating Mauritius’ ties with Arab countries and especially Egypt. He was an intellectual and had a sharp legal mind. He knew how to make a difference. Arvind Boolell attributes his departure on a holy day of the first Ramadhan “says a lot about his soul”.
Le Matinal also believes that this great Mauritian is to be greeted with the utmost respect. We express our sympathies to the Mohammed family. We leave you to discover the testimonies of the country’s leading politicians, who came to wish him a safe journey at his home in Avenue Forget in Quatre Bornes to the Bois Marchand cemetery.
