The Prime Minister was commenting on current events at the launch of activities organised by the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO MAURITIUS) yesterday, Thursday afternoon, October 28, in Îlot. “It is not in chaos, anarchy and disrespect for institutions that the country will move forward,” Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said at the Water’s Edge Banquet Hall in Îlot, at the launch of a series of Gopio International activities.
In the presence of Indian High Commissioner Nandini Singla and Gopio International President Mookeshesswur Choonee, the Head of Government pointed out that while our forefathers have practised the policy of peaceful co-existence for years, there are people who are trying to put poison in people’s heads with a vulgar slogan which he does not even dare to utter here at this gathering. The country, he said, is slowly recovering from sanitary confinement and it is saddening that some people are still working to destroy and create disorder in the country. He commended the contribution of Gopio International in advancing the principles advocated by our forefathers.
The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo, the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin, the Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection, Mr Soodesh Satkam Callichurn, the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, Mrs Nandini Singla, the president of GOPIO International, Mr Mookhesswur Choonee, and other personalities were present. The Prime Minister was offered a book by Mr Anand Mulloo, as well as a Souvenir Shield, on that occasion.
Mauritius, underscored Mr Jugnauth, is fortunate to be a multicultural country where citizens share many common values such as solidarity and mutual respect. Throughout the years we have been able to uphold the spirit of brotherhood and forge national unity out of our diversity, he indicated.
Gopio International President Mookeshwur Choonee expressed his delight that people of Indian origin are holding positions of responsibility in the country. He cited the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic as examples. The country has had five Prime Ministers to date. Of these, four are of Indian origin. This proves that the majority of Mauritians have a preference for a Prime Minister of Indian origin, he said.
The Indian High Commissioner, Nandini Singla, was keen to point out that Gopio International is the largest diaspora in the world with over 30 million members. She emphasised that this organisation will become even more powerful in the future as a total of 2.5 million people will migrate worldwide every year.
GOPIO International is a non-partisan Global Organisation engaged in the promotion of the Non-Resident Indians and of the People of Indian Origin and its focus lies on the their socio-cultural and economic development, in the spirit of ‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’.
