Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Gaël Rangain
Published on 2024-03-13 09:30:07
XLD: “Legislatively, administratively, and institutionally, we have everything to review!”
Bérenger commits: “We do not want the mistakes of the past to be repeated”
The three leaders of the opposition platform PTr-MMM-PMSD, namely Navin Ramgoolam, Paul Bérenger, and Xavier-Luc Duval, were at the Port-Louis Waterfront yesterday for a flag-raising ceremony on this March 12. In front of a crowd composed of supporters of the three parties, all three took the floor to comment on the political stakes of this March 12.
“Fifty-six years ago, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed, and Sookdeo Bissoondoyal fought the greatest battle in our country. They gave us our freedom! Fifty-six years later, our country is in ruins! You anbalao! Today, our freedom is threatened. Our way of life, the prosperity of the country, national unity, democracy are threatened!” declared Navin Ramgoolam, relying on the latest findings of the V-Dem report. “This report establishes that Mauritius is no longer a democracy, but an autocracy. Do you realize how serious this is? And this is something that we, in the opposition, have been saying for a long time, that Mauritius is a mockery of democracy. Enn sanblan demokrasi! And this international institution has come to confirm it all!” he emphasized.
The former Prime Minister did not spare Pravind Jugnauth’s government. “The country is being run by a clique that favors nepotism, corruption, and privileges. They have infected our country. That is why we must make this effort and change all this. I am convinced that the vast majority of Mauritians want this,” he said.
Navin Ramgoolam added: “Do you want to be governed by liars, thieves, and amateurs? But be careful, vote intelligently: do not replace amateurs with other amateurs! Vote for a team that has both experience and dynamic youth, a team that will lead our country out of this precipice and will bring order where chaos reigns.”
Taking the floor last, the leader of the Blues agreed, emphasizing that “we have a vast task ahead of us! On all fronts, when we take power, we will have everything to review legislatively, the number of laws that we will need to correct; administratively, we will put skills and efficiency back at the forefront, and institutionally, which is full of loopholes! What bothers me is that our country is becoming a haven for foreigners, and at the same time, and we must not be afraid to admit it, a land of exodus for thousands of Mauritians, from all communities!”
Xavier-Luc Duval remarked: “there are many parents who prefer their children to go elsewhere, under different skies, because their future is much better there. Away from drug dealers and crime, where their purchasing power allows them to live with dignity. A country where there is Rule of Law, as Navin Ramgoolam and Paul Bérenger said before me.”
Before him, Paul Bérenger dwelt on the beginnings of the country’s independence in March 1968, with “the fights that tore the country apart, and subsequently, the infamous racial fight of that year.” He made a passionate appeal for “all, young, adults, seniors, workers, intellectuals, the entire population, to remain mobilized. This year is very important because on November 21, 2024, the National Assembly must be dissolved! Let us make a solemn commitment today in front of the statue of SSR, that we do not want the mistakes of the past to be repeated, that everyone will do their best to learn from the past and work for a better country. Let us all give a great helping hand so that the next elections take place under the best conditions.”
Earlier, the three leaders laid wreaths in front of the statues of SSR and Basdeo Bissoondoyal on the esplanade of the Port-Louis Waterfront. After the ceremony, Navin Ramgoolam quickly headed for the exit, while Paul Bérenger took a break, taking the time to drink coconut water with Deven Nagalingum and Franco Quirin. Meanwhile, Xavier-Luc Duval mingled with the supporters who stayed behind.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
