The summing-up of the debates on 2023-2024 Budget lasted at least 70 minutes on Tuesday. Finance Minister Renganaden Padayachy praised “the greatness of spirit and above all the greatness of heart of the Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth”. He went on to say that “this is a budget of unity and progress”. It was at this point that he launched the first of a series of jabs at the Opposition, to the effect that it has only one objective, namely, to wish misfortune on the country and its people.
He stressed that the fourth budget of l’Alliance Morisien has been favourably received by the population. “We are on the right track to achieving an inclusive and sustainable Mauritius… The results are there… The economic indicators show a clear improvement in our fundamentals,” he said.
On the criticisms made by opposition members, Minister Padayachy said: “I knew the opposition was malicious, but I didn’t know it was so demagogic. The Opposition dared to describe our budget as illusory money”.
The Minister of Finance predicts that this tax reform will add 0.6% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), i.e. an additional Rs 3.7 billion, while boosting household consumption by Rs 6 billion. He described the opposition’s arguments as fallacious, regarding the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on school equipment.
Renganaden Padayachy criticised the Labour Party by name for its management of the economy and said that “with or without inflation, you can’t buy a heart”. He accused the Labour Party of promoting a policy consisting of taking from the poor and giving to the rich. “They have not hesitated to take from the poorest to give to their cronies,” he said.
The finance minister stated that the declared objective is to ensure a growth rate of around 5% in the medium term. He also mentioned the series of social measures. He also said that the Government is determined to demolish the Emmanuel Anquetil Building, which is an Eye Sore in the Centre of Port-Louis.
