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It's May Day
- By Hamish Ramdharry
- Published 1st May, 2008
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Hamish Ramdharry
Bsc (Hons) Computing and Information Systems
Ba (Hons) International Relations
Political parties expect big turnout
May Day, or call it Labour Day, is a day off for workers and a national holiday, a day of labour solidarity, and, depending on one's political and social leanings, a day for supporters to flock in thousands to cheer their leaders at public rallies.
This year, as in the previous years, the police force is again out at all strategic points to control the tens of thousands of people who will be on the streets, to ensure that everything goes smoothly, that no one breaks the law, and there's no serious incident.
The Social Alliance is holding its rally near the Savoy cinema, in Vacoas. Optimism and high expectations are running through the SA camp. Food security, rise in energy prices, positive turnaround in the sugar sector, sustained economic progress, law and order, and positive regional cooperation in a number of areas will be high on the agenda of those who have been picked to address the crowd, Labour Party General Secretary, Deva Virahsawmy, told News On Sunday.
He added: “We are confident that our supporters will be out in mass . We have tweaked our mobilisation strategy to one of proximity in the run up to the meeting. Instead of asking Labourites to flock to us, we have taken the party to them. Our campaign was successful and carried out in an orderly manner. Not only will we talk about the above issues, but we will also re-iterate the progress that has been made since the SA was elected to power. ”
Strong signal from MSM
The leader of the MSM, Pravin Jugnauth, is optimistic about the outcome of his mobilisation campaigns throughout the country and expects a huge turnout.
“We are holding our meeting near the Municipality of Port-Louis. This will send a strong signal to the country that we are getting closer to Government House. No one can stop us from taking power. May Day will trigger a political tsunami,” he says.
Gearing towards the May Day
rally, if in Government, the MSM trumpeted that it will ensure an economic miracle similar to that witnessed during the party's SAJ leadership. “We will rebuild a new Mauritius. Our priority will be to make Mauritius a 'duty free island'. Each time we were in Government, we guaranteed a level of economic and food security and also a level of law and order. Currently, people are disappointed with the law and order situation and the issues related to our basic foodstuffs. At the moment, there are visible signs that people want to forge ahead instead of falling behind in terms of financial means. The people want a breath of fresh air. The MSM is not a party that simply criticizes, we also co-operate with others in the national interest.”
Opposition on war path
The MMM has convened its supporters at Edward VII Square, in Rose Hill. The party fears the rally organised by Father Jocelyn Grégoire at Rose Hill Stadium may be a nuisance value to its turnout. The party leader, Paul Bérenger and other speakers are likely to come down heavily on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on his NRPT, rising prices, food security, hike in bus fares, and Government's failure to deal effectively with law and order situation.
“I hope this will be Navin Ramgoolam's last May Day as PM, particularly because of the prevailing conditions in the country. It is desirable that the country goes to the poll between now and the next May Day,” Bérenger has repeatedly said at all his nocturnal mobilisation meetings for his May Day rally.
Bérenger also says that he isn't obsessed by the PM's seat and he won't talk about it or announce anything on the issue at his rally. “I couldn't care less being Prime Minister or not. You have to be short minded to think that I want to be PM at all costs,” he declared loud and clear at a meeting in Flacq on Sunday.
It's all clear, the Opposition is banking on a big turnout to decide its future course of action and sincerely hopes, the Grégoire phenomenon will have the least effect on its crowd pulling power.
This year, as in the previous years, the police force is again out at all strategic points to control the tens of thousands of people who will be on the streets, to ensure that everything goes smoothly, that no one breaks the law, and there's no serious incident.
The Social Alliance is holding its rally near the Savoy cinema, in Vacoas. Optimism and high expectations are running through the SA camp. Food security, rise in energy prices, positive turnaround in the sugar sector, sustained economic progress, law and order, and positive regional cooperation in a number of areas will be high on the agenda of those who have been picked to address the crowd, Labour Party General Secretary, Deva Virahsawmy, told News On Sunday.
He added: “We are confident that our supporters will be out in mass . We have tweaked our mobilisation strategy to one of proximity in the run up to the meeting. Instead of asking Labourites to flock to us, we have taken the party to them. Our campaign was successful and carried out in an orderly manner. Not only will we talk about the above issues, but we will also re-iterate the progress that has been made since the SA was elected to power. ”
Strong signal from MSM
The leader of the MSM, Pravin Jugnauth, is optimistic about the outcome of his mobilisation campaigns throughout the country and expects a huge turnout.
“We are holding our meeting near the Municipality of Port-Louis. This will send a strong signal to the country that we are getting closer to Government House. No one can stop us from taking power. May Day will trigger a political tsunami,” he says.
Gearing towards the May Day
Opposition on war path
The MMM has convened its supporters at Edward VII Square, in Rose Hill. The party fears the rally organised by Father Jocelyn Grégoire at Rose Hill Stadium may be a nuisance value to its turnout. The party leader, Paul Bérenger and other speakers are likely to come down heavily on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on his NRPT, rising prices, food security, hike in bus fares, and Government's failure to deal effectively with law and order situation.
“I hope this will be Navin Ramgoolam's last May Day as PM, particularly because of the prevailing conditions in the country. It is desirable that the country goes to the poll between now and the next May Day,” Bérenger has repeatedly said at all his nocturnal mobilisation meetings for his May Day rally.
Bérenger also says that he isn't obsessed by the PM's seat and he won't talk about it or announce anything on the issue at his rally. “I couldn't care less being Prime Minister or not. You have to be short minded to think that I want to be PM at all costs,” he declared loud and clear at a meeting in Flacq on Sunday.
It's all clear, the Opposition is banking on a big turnout to decide its future course of action and sincerely hopes, the Grégoire phenomenon will have the least effect on its crowd pulling power.
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2 Responses to "It's May Day"
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said this on 02 May 2008 7:02:15 PM MUT
cest maleureux qui MSM ET MMM, pé dispute comme des chiens, surtout mo ena beaucoup estime pou pravin, la mo trouvé qui li pé tire à boulet rouge sur la personne paul , li pas correct ditout, ene eleve pas capave maltraite so proffeseur comme ca, tout mauriciens pé trouvé qui pravin pé faire lizié doux au parti travailliste si li marche avec travailliste , franchement le MSM pé alle fini nette, pravin fodé pas qui li revé qui ramgoolam pou donne li premier ministre, si le MSM marche avec travailliste , cest sont des traitres,merci yves de strasbourg
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said this on 03 May 2008 3:20:30 AM MUT
Daccord avec ou Yves. PENE simin Pravin vinne premier ministre sous PTR. Li pé REVER si li croire sa. Seule ene L,alliance avec MMM capave permete sa.
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