He answered almost all the questions from the press and even repeated his previous statements. The Prime Minister returned to all the highlights of the current events. He also took the opportunity to play politics with his detractors towards whom he expressed himself with a good touch of sarcasm. Pravind Jugnauth was on his last official field visit before his trip to India on Saturday, 16 April, where he was invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A flyover at Dock D
After the completion of the remaining flyovers in Phoenix, the government is proceeding with further work to decongest the traffic and extend the Metro Express line. The Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, was at the inauguration on Friday 15th of the work to transform the Quai D roundabout into a flyover. “We all know the extent of the traffic jams at the Quai D roundabout and the difficulties that motorists face. More than 6,000 vehicles cross this roundabout at peak times. There will also be provision for a pedestrian crossing to prevent local people from crossing on these roads. The next project will be the red earth roundabout. Work will start after the contracts have been awarded. The infrastructure works will also include sewerage works for periods of heavy rainfall for better drainage. I hope that the country will not face such heavy rains as recently in Durban where many deaths were reported. The work will also provide for future work on the Metro Express line continuity projects. Our vision is that the metro facility will also serve the northern part of the country from the Immigration Square station.
Rationalities behind the postponement of the 2022 municipal elections
The press asked him if it would not be a strategy to wait for the full growth of these works to allow for the municipal elections that were to be held on June 14 and that concerned all city dwellers, i.e. more than 50% of the general electorate.
So these questions about the reasons behind the postponement of the elections and his reaction to the barrage of criticism were asked. He laughed and said, “No, these projects have nothing to do with the postponement or the holding of the municipal elections. The projects are being done and will be done according to our program,” he said.
He expanded on the divisive postponement, explaining that he and his government are concerned about the health and safety of the people and that is why the municipal elections were postponed as permitted by the Quarantine Act. “There is already a provision in the Act to postpone elections for a year or more in such situations. With the restrictions in place, there can be no holding of meetings. This is provided for in the law. We are concerned about the health and safety of the general population. This has nothing to do with the current projects. We are, like the rest of the world, in a difficult situation with Covid 19, the war in Ukraine, and inflation. It also has nothing to do with the fear of running in the municipal elections. In a more sarcastic tone to the press’ assertion that the PM’s opponents believe the government is afraid, Pravind Jugnauth said, “The opposition is still on and OFF modes about a possible negotiation between them. So I give them one more year to find an agreement between themselves.
In response to another question from the press on why Rodrigues was holding elections under similar conditions, the PM said that the situation for Rodrigues was particular to the dissolution of the Assembly and the setting of the election date for 13 February. “At that time, Rodrigues was Covid Free. But with the explosion of cases, we had to postpone the elections for 27 February. But postponements cannot be forever. We had to keep the date. The campaigns could not be done as they should have been, the limit was 50 people, many voters being infected were unable to vote, some were in isolation and others were afraid to come out… We need to learn a lesson from Rodrigues. We must not expose the population to such situations,” he advised.
BOM acts independently
Following the injection of 200 million dollars put on sale on the foreign exchange market in the aftermath of the NQP on Tuesday in Parliament, the Prime Minister made it clear that the Bank of Mauritius is acting independently and above all “on the basis of data, in respect of its mandate and the factors that influence the rupee towards other currencies, and it is concerned with the monetary stability in the country. If it intervened at this time, it would follow its analysis of the need in the country but not follow a NQP,” he insisted. The PM reassured that only the BOM is able to shed more light on this injection.
He also responded on the themes of inflation and subsidies to the most needy: “We had given subsidies of 500m on the most consumed goods. We have extended them to another 500m. Now we are providing until June. Public funds are limited, I would have liked to give more like a government, but this is the limit. We are looking at other ways.
Protests: staged?
The PM does not agree but does not rule out the hypothesis of a ‘stunt’. “I am talking to journalists who know better. There are certain opposition politicians who incite and bring down elements to intervene and create disorder. As a Government and as an authority we are here to ensure order,” he sent a direct message to those who allow themselves to be influenced by opposition politicians. “When the time comes for action, it will not be against the politicians but against those who have illegally participated in these disorders. Be careful, it will appear on your character certificate,” he warned.
On the participation of politicians in religious festivals such as the one by the Mauritius Tamil Temples Federation at the Amma Tookay Temple, he made it clear that he was not the first, “before me there was Dr Navin Ramgoolam and Paul Raymond Berenger. They were the ones who are currently challenging the participation of politicians in religious and socio-cultural festivals.
