Diego : We are not begging for rental payments but demanding reparations !

And a time frame for leaving Diego.

This is the message that we should be sending to the international community on the ongoing Diego dealings !

The pre-2014 team are back in force !

Some of the very ones that were voted out in 2014 are back -here we go again with the same people, back to business as usual with the same cronies, same old guards -Sithanen, Gordon Gentil, Seebaluck, Sen Narainen, Sarat Lallah, Monvoisin, Sooroojebally, Fong-Weng Porun, Sandrine Valère ,Gokhool, Hungley, Kailash Ruhee, Ramnawaz,Bhuckory ….

They seem to be misfits at the BoM !

Our “competent” Governor and team do not seem to be the right persons at the right places. The credibility of the Central Bank is at stake. Does the Central Bank have what it takes to fight speculation and restore stability to our rupee?

Rs 700 million have vanished from the CWA's coffers.

An internal audit report of the Central Water Authority (CWA), which has been in circulation since July and tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday, has revealed irregularities in the pipe replacement programme for the year 2023-24. It revealed that Rs 700 million had disappeared from the CWA's coffers.

Données faussées et manipulées: Un crime envers la Nation

Statistics Mauritius et MoFED sont supposés compiler des données fiables. Or, ces chiffres sur la croissance, le budget , la dette et d’autres indicateurs économiques auraient éte faussés, gonflés et manipulés.

Agalega à genoux.

We are so involved with our selfish demands and expectations that we are least bothered about our Agalegean brothers and sisters traumatized by violent cyclone Chico.

From Moody's following the publication of the"State of the Economy"

"The findings underscore the urgent need for effective policy implementation. Ramgoolam's commitment to reducing debt to GDP to 60% along with achieving a primary fiscal balance is a firm commitment to achieve this objective. 

Aster zot somey fin kasé !

Tou sa ki zot pé dir azordi, nou ban top ekonomists (pa ban chatwas) ti pé dir zot dépi longtan !

kot zot to ti été !

Azordi zot pé dékouver lamerik lor map !

Enn Lepep kin vote avek laraz !

Pas badinn avec Lepep !

Li enn leyson pou le nouvo et ansyen Govt

To Vashish, one of the independent candidates in the recent elections with the slogan

To Vashish,one of the independent candidates in the recent elections with the slogan:

“VOTE POU ENE PERSONNE

KI POU LA EK OU ET KI POU

ECOUTE OU DOLEANCES

RENTRE DAN OU SOUFFRANS “

La réplique de Hindu House mal reçu! "Hindu House" bashing by lepep !

They have gathered some chatwas to come to the rescue of Lady Macbeth, (the true PM of a MSM à la dérive) by trying to divert the case of disrespect shown to the Indian representative into an “India bashing" through what they say it is a "montage "…

Enn rézim ki fin protéz gro kapital !

Sa rézim Jugnauth la inn don par milliards à ban corporates à traver wage assistance scheme, export promotion subsidies....

Chagos deal in doubt after Trump victory !

Donald Trump is set to stop Britain’s deal to give away the Chagos Islands when he returns to the White House following criticism from Republicans.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/06/chagos-labour-deal-in-doubt-after-trump-victory/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGj-kZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfZkUPZ5eg8u_2UzoSeZCzBJaFR2hmQsp-0ScyfmcpkEYsLaMR5nQUxnyg_aem_yQwlTzV42YixN2gcmgnBJQ

The writing is on the wall

The writing is in on the wall !

Eta Pinoikio to pa pé gayn méssaz la !

Why "Moustass leaks" is proving to be a game changer ?

It is altering the perceptions of undecided voters about this regime ….the projection of the PM, Pravind Jugnauth, as hardworking ,honest and trustworthy is being undermined…the way Lakwizinn had crafted its communications to ensure that it carries support, highlighting the so-called virtues of Pravind relative to Navin- is falling apart

Jugnauth : “Politique de terre brûlée’- Dan Bez Kari Kok “

Jugnauth : “Politique de terre brûlée’- Dan Bez Kari Kok “

Jugnauth pé répon sertenn ékonomists (li nom zot) ki pé dir lekonomi en fayit!

Alor Allianz Sanzman pou koup tou ban mézur social !

Jugnauth ’s bluff on Diego Money !

Ki fer li pa finn anonsé komyé larzan nou pou resevwar ?

Plus Jamais ça ! The Surveillance State !

As revealed by one of Pinokio's ex-scums !

Le spin diktater Pinokio ena enn relation spécial avec ban scums !

A More Proactive Competitive Strategy for SMEs

The alarming trend -the contribution of the manufacturing sector to gross value added at basic prices have dropped to just 0.3 % in 2023 and its growth in 2023 was as low as 2.1% . The share of the EOE sector in manufacturing 's value added at basic prices has fallen to 29% in 2023 from 40% in 2010 . It share in gross value added is a mere 3.7% in 2023 compared to 6.3% in 2010.

The Fictitious Chagos Windfall

Several leaders of Alliance Lepep, including the P.M. have raised the prospect of a Chagos windfall of 'milliards de roupies’. Xavier Duval sounded a little more responsible by saying that electoral promises would be funded by Chagos money, but also adding that the country would need to work harder to pay for more Govt spending, implying that Chagos money will not be sufficient to fund electoral spending promises.

Look what they have done to our country!

Ces salauds !

UK will give sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

But the US-UK base will remain on Diego Garcia for the next 99 years with a possibility of extension of the lease-a key factor enabling the deal to go forward at a time of growing geopolitical rivalries in the region between Western countries, India, and China.

*Trouble in paradise: How Populism and Free Medication Sank Mauritius*

Just forwarded to me to be shared extensively- in our line of thought)

*Trouble in paradise: How Populism and Free Medication Sank Mauritius*

Jan 2029 Port Louis - Mauritius stands on the brink of total economic collapse, a shadow of its former self. Once hailed as an African success story, the island nation has spiraled into a fiscal abyss, echoing the recent turmoil of Sri Lanka. Debt has soared beyond repayment, unemployment is rampant, inflation has skyrocketed, and the social fabric has frayed under the weight of crime and corruption. People are sicker now than ever before, not just from disease but from a healthcare system poisoned by over-prescription and neglect. To understand how Mauritius reached this crisis point, we must rewind to the events of the *2024 general election*, the moment the country’s fate was sealed.

lls sont fous ces politiciens!

Most of our economists have been warning them that “ it is the economy, stupid….be in the real world, not in an alternative and illusory universe where all choices are possible, without any adverse consequences, and with a free lunch always on the table”

The economist lives in the real world by Sushil (On the Launching of Eric Ng’s book)

Eric Ng Ping Cheun is among the rare Mauritians, a handful almost, who can express a fiercely independent mind on national economic issues, without any fear or favour. His latest publication, "Penser comme un économiste", framed in the guise of lessons, offers a sharp and clinical analysis of the Mauritian economy, highlighting key burning issues, and proposing several corrective policies to improve the country’s long-term prospects.

Mr Autrement !

I’m least bothered whether u were personally involved or not with the mama-piti deal!

Pa vin kouyonn nou avek ban explikasyons bidon kuma “ mo pa impliké” ou “ mo pa ti prézan dan conseil des ministres”

Kan ou fer politik autrement , ou retourn bail la kan ou pa fin servi li for what it was meant for ! Sey tout !

Justifiant l’injustifiable !

A traver "Konversasion Solider" , ReA ti pé dir nou “Tous ensemble vers un front commun citoyen."

Ki arrivé ban Kamarads zot finn dévié !

L’Express fails in its attempt to give Pada a lifeline!

L’Express in its more pliable form and new-found penchant for our Pada needed to project a more acceptable and flattering idea of him beyond the disparaging and even contemptuous ones of a feckless Minister of Finance reflected through the prism of local economists and the less pliable media.

Ran Lepep So Later !

(Published in L'express Nov 2024)

Unquestioinably, like many others, we wish to express our solidarity and support to the protesters of the movement “Rann Nou later' who have been subjected to “ an extraordinary abuse of power”and violence by certain members of the police.

This confrontation occurred shortly before Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth arrived for a ceremony to deliver lease contracts to the Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre Trust, as well as to the Hindi Speaking Union and the Urdu Speaking Union.

The “Rann nou later” movement are demanding the return of land previously granted to the Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre Trust in Réduit, contesting the alternative site offered in Côte-d’Or.

While strongly rebuking the abuse of power , “à la tontons macoutes “, the Chief Editor (CE) of L’express commented that “Idéalement, l'État devrait éviter de financer les mouvements sectaires/religieux/socioculturels et encourager l'émergence d'une maison de la culture mauricienne qui, elle, abriterait, comme un héritage commun, les différents mouvements culturels et religieux qui font de nous ce que nous sommes et ce que nous ne sommes pas.....Nous devons nous ériger comme défenseurs de ce mauricianisme qu'on nous refuse encore. Cette fusion nationale s'imposera au final puisque c'est inscrit dans nos gènes : le bien commun demeure le plus fort. Pour notre part, on continuera à défendre ces valeurs communes.”

To which, according to the CE, an interesting reply-adding to the debate- was… “No to balkanization, but Nation Building has no price. Resources are not to be wasted.The purpose of unity in diversity and diversity in unity is virtually enshrined in our Constitution. It is not spelled out but taken as a RIGHT: There is no one-size-fits-all society. UN CENTRE POUR LA CULTURE MAURICIENNE can be a tower in the building block. But the pillars remain our identity as a NATION de PEUPLEMENT.»

Extracts from another reply that agrees to the the CE’s point of view "Je suis parfaitement alignée au principe selon lequel le mauricianisme doit enfin prendre le dessus sur les considérations communales - "country before party", dit Kamala Harris ;j'irais un peu plus loin en disant "country before community”.

But the commentator does add that “Ce qui ne signifie pas qu'il faut minimiser ou mettre de côté l'attachement et la fierté que chacun peut avoir envers ses origines et sa culture ancestrale.”

This is the issue ; this is exactly what’s not being properly done in Mts .“ Il y a le vivre-ensemble . What we need is “c'est l’être-ensemble.” as commented by Le Grand Maître du Grand Orient de France during his recent visit here. “C'est-à-dire avec l’être ensemble qui transcendent leur appartenance culturelle, ethnique et sociologique. IIs apportent la richesse de leur culture, mais dans un esprit de concorde pour faire l’Humanité.”…Sublime !

We keep seeking the comforts of silos, competing or comploting against other silos. We are living in this nation as in a rented house. We are failing to create a collective belongingness in the hearts of the people of this nation . And until we create this feeling within every Mauritian, we will be more busy in shutting off the nation than running it.

For a more integrated understanding of each other, the different religions and cultures have to be brought together and strung in a beautiful garland and our Diversity needs to be honoured, acknowledged and celebrated. I believe that the key to understanding and appreciating each other , lies in education - a multi-cultural education that encourages pluralism. -“The right education is that which creates a reverence for diversity in nature and a sense of belonging with the whole world. Opening up a youth’s mind to respecting other religions and cultures, bringing up a young person in a world that encourages human values, like a sense of oneness with others, trust and compassion is the only sustainable solution.” .

We will thus be able to see a more progressive evolution from our presently hopeless multiculturalism to more of cross-cultural and inter-cultural communications, exchanges and activities. And our own typical Mauritianness will then prevail.

We are not there yet but to attain "Cette fusion nationale " , we will have to consolidate “notre laïcité”, that is, by being genuinely secular …

We need to have more reforms at the social and political levels, more of changes towards the separation of religion and the state ….less dependence of the religious bodies on government…

It’s time to revisit some of the arrangements between the state and religion to find new ways that will help us "d’etre-ensemble" and transcend our tendency to restrict ourselves to our “appartenance culturelle, ethnique et sociologique”.

Our variant of secularism does not enforce a strict separation between religion and the state but tries to maintain a ‘principled distance” between the two but the continuous accommodations and concessions by the state to the the different religious groups and identities (bargaining for more for their community, a greater share of the national cake , more of concessions to their community, more of this and that ..more of land….) has on the contrary legitimized the politicisation of religion and weakened our state of secularism. In the long run , this may conflict with our long-standing commitment to the credo of “unity in diversity.”

We believe that funding for religious bodies should not be privileged in our society at the taxpayer’s expense. Why should faith-based organizations rely on taxpayer’s money, rather than funding from their members- to fund their religious activities and promote their particular faith?

Some doubts ! Nos Craintes !

Can we expect that L’express will follow up on its probing “Zis Vaish Kom PM” with the query “ Ki fer Shakeel bizin vinn le futur no. 3 ?"

Zis Vaish capav vin PM , in today’s "Décryptage" of L'express ?

Whereas elsewhere, liberal democracy is making history - Obama, Sunak, now Harris, …?

Ki fer pas capav ena enn Dev, Prem, Vidula, Sushil, Rajesh, Uteem, Joneed… kom leader(vrai pas paravent) MMM ?

Ki fer pas enn lot communauté/caste ki Leader PMSD, PTR, Linion Moris,etc

Further to Raj's article on the attacks on Minorities ...

Raj Ramalgun article : "Dénonçons le massacre des innocents en Palestine, Ukraine et celui des minorités partout dans le monde, mais pourquoi ne parle-t-on pas avec le même sens d’indignation et de la compassion sur ce qui se passe contre les minorités hindoues, boudhistes, chrétiennes et même les Ahmadis au Bangladesh en ce moment?.........."

Fake Fiscal Data

(Please recall my article dated 2nd August.)

Statistics Mauritius (SM) reports fiscal data to the IMF, which is also published on its National Summary Data Page (NSDP) on its website. Data on (1) Central Govt Operations (CGO), namely, on revenue, expenditure and the deficit, and on (2) Central Govt Debt are published on a monthly basis, with a one-month lag.

From Academia to Politics

When Academia joins Politics !

Back in May 2019, when Professor Bunwaree joined the MMM, I had commented on this move from to As my readers will see , i somewhat anticipated her present “critiques acerbes à l'encontre du parti et de ses dirigeants, tout en soulevant des questions cruciales sur l'état de la démocratie à Maurice.”

If u do not mind time-travelling back to May 2019 after her interview in MTimes…..I had written....

When real democracy takes over, there is hope for minorities !

Acts of violence against minorities demean democracy. It’s just horrid. It is against every norm of democracy; it shows that we still have a lot to do to develop a culture of discussion and tolerance; such acts are a death knell for democracy.

"World On Fire: The Root Causes of Populism, Authoritarianism and The Whole Global Mess"

"World On Fire: The Root Causes of Populism, Authoritarianism and The Whole Global Mess"

Listen to David Brooks - A must

Tissue of Lies ?

Cannot be dismissed so easily as a tissue of lies !

Non, tonton Pravind, u cannot be let off the hook so easily !

What are they cooking up?

On its National Summary Data Page (NSDP) , Statistics Mauritius disseminates economic and financial data of the country which is hyperlinked to the IMF's Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB). The NSDP is updated according to an Advance Release Calendar (ARC).

Our comments on Maurice Strategie Bill

A new public body will be created by converting the existing Maurice Stratégie, a private company incorporated under the Economic Development Board, into a public body, and placed directly under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development.

Le Minis bluffer !

Minis bluffer; zot rappel li ti pé dir ki prix médikamans fin baisser !

A la enn lot bêtiz li pé dir !

The Maurice Stratégie Bill-more of the same

Back in 2017, (published in L’express titled “The Economic Development Board –Some Issues”), we had highlighted that the combination in the EDB of the twin objectives of (a) investment promotion and facilitation and (b) of national economic strategy and policy advice, was nonsensical. The EDB should have focused on the first objective. The formulation of economic strategy and policy should have been entrusted to a dedicated broad-based committee or agency, under the aegis of the Prime Minister’s office.

NON á elektion partiel

Cher Kamarad,

Si où pé particip dan sa eleksyon parsyel la,

Ou pé enkouraz gaspillaz taxpayers’ money

Ou pé tomb dan piézz sa réżim là…

Ou tomb dan so zouet !

Si vraiman sa rézim foiré là kroir dan demokrasi ki fer li pas don eleksyon municipal !

For a more competitive Export and SME sector

Government’s export boom narrative is nowhere to be seen in the statistical data. After a negative growth of 12% in 2023 , the export of goods is expected to register another year of negative growth , a -1.7 growth in 2024 . In real terms (on the basis of latest historical series on SM’s website-not updated), it is just Rs 67 bn compared to pre-pandemic level of Rs 77 bn-still 88% of the 2019 level of exports of goods. The secular deterioration in our capacity to meet import needs from export earnings is reflected in the declining ratio of exports to imports of goods (both on FOB basis) from around 60% a decade ago to less than 40% currently.

A stumbling and fumbling Minister of Environment !

After the Privy Council's judgment on the Eco-Sud versus Minister of Environment case, confirming that Eco-Sud had the requisite standing to challenge the decision of the Minister of Environment who had issued an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) permit for the Pointe d'Esny Lakeside Company Limited project, we had been expecting some strong arguments/answers from the Minister as to why he chose to side with the promoter and maintain the very restrictive sections on citizens' rights.

Cronyism at its height in our Mafiadom!

You know what the business magnate Adani is for Modi , and till lately what the betting mogul was to Pinok ; now that the gambler-cum -financier seemed to have “twit” , he has been replaced by Gopee, the very one who has the right political connections that lead to lucrative contracts and vast wealth.

Indiscipline and violence in schools !

Today’s press headlines are about indiscipline and violence in schools -“L’indiscipline à l’école est devenue systémique , atteignant des proportions décrites comme étant hors de contrôle par divers pédagogues. Les chiffres sur le sujet déposés á l’Assemblée nationale sont saisissants.”

Bonnet Blanc et Blanc Bonnet !

Our politicians can no longer feel the pulse of the masses across the country.They are failing to transmit one fundamental message to voters: government is working for you, not for elites of some kind or for friends and relatives in the party establishment. They are unable to present voters with a palatable alternative because they have lost the right to adopt a holier-than-thou attitude !

Rendez-vous au “mascarade du service public” !

A mon cher kollleg Bobo,

Mo ti fin enrégistré pou celébration Public Service Day à SVICC azordi, may mo pa pou capav allé, mo fin gayn enn ti problèm…mo finn signall Boss…..To capav ran moi enn ti servis, s’il teu plait !

The need to reform an archaic Public Sector !

In the context of the celebration of the Public Service Day today , I thought that it may be of interest to repost a previous article (a slightly modified version) on the reform of the our public sector especially when our politicians and servile trade unions will be carrying out their usual show ( “une véritable parodie de la Journée internationale de la Fonction publique” comme le dit G.S in his article “"La mascarade du service public”) highlighting the contribution of public service in the development process, acknowledging the work of public servants and trying to encourage young people and graduates to pursue careers in the public sector.

Not socialist but illusionist !

(posted in L'express June 2024)

 Some journalists and economists have taken the overwhelming task of shaping a new narrative for our Minister of Finance, rescuing him from being listed in our short economic history book as a failed finance minister and from being commonly vilified as the one and only “magician” chancellor of Exchequer, who has a knack for money illusion and the inimitable wizardry at transforming, with one touch of his wand, our budget deficits, debt and GDP figures into more acceptable ones.  They got it all wrong ! There is nothing socialist about the welfare measures; these are mere palliatives, short term measures , just perfect electoral formulas and perfect winning templates .

Pada’s Budgets: the road map to more hardship!

Pada’s budgets never held out any vision of our future. Budget 2024-25, another one of his budgets that will not transform the economy into a fully-fledged resilient trillion economy. Pada’s budgets are not tailored to meet the demands of the 21st century, including sustainable growth. His budgets have not outlined a path to prosperity but to disaster and crisis.

The upcoming budget: Expectations of a Pada’s U-turn !

As the election looms, politics infiltrates everywhere; it seems to have succeeded in winning over some of the the main actors of our media coverage who have suddenly become widely flattering of our Pada with narratives that have a strong flavour of chatwaism.

The “Constituency Clerk” Case

The outcry of Simla , a commoner " Que la vérité se sache parce que moi , je connais la vérité."

A trillion economy with a trillion of debt !

In his interview in today’s l’express, our Pada , referring to the 2024 IMF Article IV consultation report , comments that …..”Cet Article IV reconnaît clairement l'efficacité de la stratégie économique du gouvernement et salue les mesures de soutien mises en place depuis le Covid-19…” .

"Redonner l'espoir aux jeunes"

A must read , in Le Mauricien of 28th May, the interview of Stefan Gua of ReA

Some Extracts:

"...Mais se réunir ne suffit pas. Il faut apporter des changements en profondeur. Si nous ne faisons rien pour les changer, un autre parti au pouvoir pourra utiliser ces mêmes failles ou faire pire que le MSM. C’est pour cela que nous avons invité à une convergence. Toutefois, nous ne sommes dans aucune alliance pour l’heure.

The forthcoming budget: Little margin for “laddoos”!

We are of the opinion that Pada’s last budget will not be a "la bous dou” budget. There will be few hidden surprises emerging from his vault. The electoral promises or the welfarist measures may come after the budget without the need to provide the costing and funding of the measures -mostly scorched earth policies.

The 20 measures- well worth supporting -without illusions !

Most of the 20 measures proposed are quite laudable and seemed to have been well received by the public; nothing wrong with most of these measures ! We could even extend these measures to include, à la Macron-to shore up support among female voters -a pledge to fight toxic masculinity and force absent fathers to see their children. (Macron’s measures include the attempt to halt a slump in the birth rate, including a three-month leave for which mothers and fathers will receive welfare payments of €1,900 a month. This is on top of the standard 16 weeks of maternity leave and 25 days of paternity leave. A fertility check-up for all 20-year-olds and improved facilities for women to have their eggs frozen besides the setting up a parliamentary committee on menopause….)

Free public transport- a valid proposal indeed but….. !

Our bloggers/economists have been providing convincing arguments in favour of the free transport measure. There is no doubt that fare levels affect many people's finances directly. There is a general attitude that public transport should be free or "cheap", because of social, environmental and efficiency reasons. As they have pointed out, indeed, the key impacts and effects are mostly passenger growth, mode shift and environmental benefits.

Competitive Welfarism or a new economic model ?

This regime has been implementing some of its populist measures and more to come in the forthcoming budget…we have seen its impact…

Verdissement de l’economie ou bétonnage ?

(Published in L'express on 16 May 2024)

In big characters in yesterday’s issue of L’express, mention is made about the OECD Secretary-General congratulating our Minister of Finance, Mr Payadachy, on its strategy of the greening of our economy .

And , surprisingly, a few days back his investment promoter, the CEO of EDB ( we do recall their painful efforts at attracting such investors as Sobrino…) has ,out of the blue, wakened up to the realities of climate change .

GDP - Fake Data, a more simplified version :

Recently some top economists have drawn our attention to the likely tampering of GDP data by Statistics Mauritius (SM), namely by its reclassification of part of the foreign income of Global Business Companies (GBCs) from National to Domestic Income. This involves a transfer between two items of the balance of payments (bop), namely from primary income to services.

Competitive Welfarism : is it for the better or for the worse?

(Published in L'express of the 14th May 2024)

Don’t you get the impression that we seem to be in a bit of a heyday for “welfarism” populists, of such populist demagoguery rooted perhaps in economic disappointment, policy failures, and disruptive social changes This has lowered the legitimacy of the serious political parties and politicians( the ecologists, the left , the more technical ones...) and raised that of populist demagogues. This is impacting on the nature our politics and rendering our economy more fragile in the long term .