Cracks in MMM citadel
- By Sobhanund Seeparsad
- Published 04/10/2009
All is definitely not well with the MMM. Some of its members are none too happy with the way things are shaping and have started speaking openly about them. They even predict that many are about to resign.
Pradeep Jeeha, a former minister and member of the politburo, has told the media that there is an organised gang within the MMM who rule the roost. It comprises, according to him, Ahmad Jeewah, Dany Perrier, Ivan Collendavelloo, Rajesh Bhagwan, Ajay Gunness and Alan Ganoo who, he claims, are not the least interested in the future of the MMM but think about their personal interest as politicians.
He also accuses the gang to have “concocted a plan” to remove his name from the list of speakers at the MMM May Day rally where he has been speaking since 2006. “I have no problem. They have decided to stifle me...well, I'm not going to talk in any mobilisation meeting until May 1,” he warns.
He also says the politburo has no solid argument against his view that the MMM should designate a Hindu to the post of prime minister. He alleges the members of the gang “do not want a leader from the majority community” but “ are knocking at the doors of the Labour Party for an allliance with Navin Ramgoolam as Prime Minister.”
Another member of the politburo and hardcore MMM activist, Ravi Gunnoo, has left the party in disgust. Seven others are likely to quit before May 1 in protest against the nomination of 14 new members to the politburo whose nominations, it is said, have not been ratified by the assembly of delegates.
PSM pilgrimage
The Parti Socialiste Mauricien (PSM) starts a month-long series of public meetings from Friday, April 10. “The aim of this pilgrimage
is to sensitize the people to current issues that are affecting our society- cost of living, insecurity, deterioration of law and order and unemployment,” says Dr Rohit Beedassy, leader of the PSM.
He blames the Minister of Finance for “giving false hopes” to the people by playing down all threats that Mauritius might suffer from the world economic crisis. “Instead, he has been talking of early harvest, rise in FDI and a sensible growth in development,” he adds.
Dr Beedassy is in favour of an electoral reform, 30% women elected members and that voting becomes mandatory. He also thinks a Prime Minister should not have more than two mandates as head of the government.
No passport blunder
Raj Dayal, leader of the MDN, was back in action this week with a press briefing. He considers allowing foreigners to enter the country without passports “ a blunder” because “this will open the doors to anti-social elements, particularly from countries like Italy.”
He says there are already more than 600 foreigners who are in hiding in Mauritius after the expiry of their stay permit. “ There should be strict and rigorous border control and visitors should be in possession of travel documents,” he says.
Dayal also drew a gloomy picture of the economic situation in the country where textile, tourism and export are already affected by the world economic downturn and where unemployment is already increasing together with debts servicing and less FDI.
“ It's high time to appoint an Ombudsman to control economic transactions in Mauritius like financial movements of insurance companies and the free expatriation of foreign currencies,” he feels, and appeals to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee(PAC) to look into the financial management of parastatal bodies.
Pradeep Jeeha, a former minister and member of the politburo, has told the media that there is an organised gang within the MMM who rule the roost. It comprises, according to him, Ahmad Jeewah, Dany Perrier, Ivan Collendavelloo, Rajesh Bhagwan, Ajay Gunness and Alan Ganoo who, he claims, are not the least interested in the future of the MMM but think about their personal interest as politicians.
He also accuses the gang to have “concocted a plan” to remove his name from the list of speakers at the MMM May Day rally where he has been speaking since 2006. “I have no problem. They have decided to stifle me...well, I'm not going to talk in any mobilisation meeting until May 1,” he warns.
He also says the politburo has no solid argument against his view that the MMM should designate a Hindu to the post of prime minister. He alleges the members of the gang “do not want a leader from the majority community” but “ are knocking at the doors of the Labour Party for an allliance with Navin Ramgoolam as Prime Minister.”
Another member of the politburo and hardcore MMM activist, Ravi Gunnoo, has left the party in disgust. Seven others are likely to quit before May 1 in protest against the nomination of 14 new members to the politburo whose nominations, it is said, have not been ratified by the assembly of delegates.
PSM pilgrimage
The Parti Socialiste Mauricien (PSM) starts a month-long series of public meetings from Friday, April 10. “The aim of this pilgrimage
He blames the Minister of Finance for “giving false hopes” to the people by playing down all threats that Mauritius might suffer from the world economic crisis. “Instead, he has been talking of early harvest, rise in FDI and a sensible growth in development,” he adds.
Dr Beedassy is in favour of an electoral reform, 30% women elected members and that voting becomes mandatory. He also thinks a Prime Minister should not have more than two mandates as head of the government.
No passport blunder
Raj Dayal, leader of the MDN, was back in action this week with a press briefing. He considers allowing foreigners to enter the country without passports “ a blunder” because “this will open the doors to anti-social elements, particularly from countries like Italy.”
He says there are already more than 600 foreigners who are in hiding in Mauritius after the expiry of their stay permit. “ There should be strict and rigorous border control and visitors should be in possession of travel documents,” he says.
Dayal also drew a gloomy picture of the economic situation in the country where textile, tourism and export are already affected by the world economic downturn and where unemployment is already increasing together with debts servicing and less FDI.
“ It's high time to appoint an Ombudsman to control economic transactions in Mauritius like financial movements of insurance companies and the free expatriation of foreign currencies,” he feels, and appeals to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee(PAC) to look into the financial management of parastatal bodies.
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