Publicité
A survey, if nothing else…
The people’s disinterest did not in any way dampen the enthusiasm of the candidates; the government alliance had so many aspiring candidates that it was not able to present a final list on the day a press conference was called to introduce the contenders. Many people present, who believed they would be candidates, eventually had to resign themselves to the harsh reality - not this time.
Organisation was not any better on the other side. Announced for Wednesday, the opposition’s presentation took place on Thursday. Twenty minutes late. Yet, they had been the first ones to leak names of aspiring candidates to the press nearly two weeks before.
The issue about municipal elections is management. Management of town councils, management of people, management of finance. Both contenders have so far shown poor managerial skills.
The MMM, once the unchallenged leader in the management of municipalities, in one of its unenlightened moves, decides to give half of its allotted number of tickets to partner MSM (not particularly famous for running town centres) and a fair amount of tickets to minor partner PMSD, whose claim to fame was to poach an MP from… partner MMM.
The opposition alliance leaked a few names well before nomination day in the hope probably of raising the stakes with its high-calibre candidates. They are Stephan Buckland and Sandra O’Reilly, two well-known figures, none of whom have been particularly known to have exceptional managerial experience.
The Social Alliance, on the other hand, had quite truthfully told the press a few days before nomination day that their list was not ready. The prime minister’s statement to the effect that the government alliance was now the challenger in the race contrasted with the lack of interest displayed by his party to have a good list ready in time. Challengers as a general rule want to win and don’t leave things to chance…
Rumour has it that the different parties that make up the Social Alliance weren’t too impressed with the way the Labour party had treated them. A source from Sylvio Michel’s Les Verts Fraternels party says there had been no prior discussions before the 10 tickets - which were eventually turned down – were offered. Other sources within Rama Valayden’s “Movement Républicain” (MR), Madan Dulloo’s MMSM and Anil Bachoo’s MSD complain of the same problem; their leaders weren’t present at the press conference last Friday. In the end, it was only at about 1 p.m. on nomination day that the final list was ready.
A quick browse through the AS list shows some renegades of the MSM and MMM. Gérard Paya, Lovena Sowkee and Arianne Oxenham and Coomara Pyneandee, to name only a few. Both alliances are guilty of choosing candidates “who are close to the people”. We haven’t heard anybody mention candidates “who would be great at their jobs”.
There is a perception that municipal councillors aren’t important in the lives of town dwellers. This might be due to the fact that central government has simply taken over the role of local government.</B>
In any event, nomination day is behind us and while political parties are getting ready for the polls scheduled on 2nd October, the people remain unfazed by it all. There is indeed a perception that municipal councillors and mayors aren’t of any consequence to the lives of town dwellers. This perception is probably fed by the fact that the parliamentary government, in an attempt to be closer to the people, has simply taken over the role of local government.
At the end of the day, the jobs done in town halls are carried on by civil servants. And it has been a long time since municipalities were involved in the lives of local people, where the municipality really played a part.
These elections would, however, shed some light on the actual strength of the Labour party in urban areas. At the general elections, the Social Alliance returned all three candidates in Quatre-Bornes, 1 in Vacoas-Floréal and another two in Vacoas. Port-Louis, historically a MMM stronghold, gave the AS 6 returned candidates on the 12 possibilities. The MMM, on the other hand, dominated in Curepipe, Rose-Hill and Beau- Bassin. Have things changed? If nothing else, 2nd October will act as a most interesting survey of the mood of the people…
 |
<B>Strategic posts : government puts “its” people first…</B>
The appointments had been expected for some time. Soon after the government was elected, it made it clear that it wanted its own people at the head of public organisations. But it has taken some time to decide on the appointments, wanting to maybe make sure to get the right person in the right place. Before the prime minister flew to New York last week-end, the cabinet approved major appointments: diplomats, political activists or professionals from the private sector.
<B>AIR MAURITIUS.</B> The government had hesitated between keeping Megh Pillay and putting one of their own. Finally Nirvan Veerasamy has been chosen as the general manager of Air Mauri-tius. Megh Pillay made the company realise record profits last year but he is considered too close to the former regime. However, he will get an “important job” after he leaves Air Mauritius. No official note has been sent to either Megh Pillay or Nirvan Veerasamy but the Board will have to ratify the Cabinet’s decision at the general assembly on 30th September. As the State is the main shareholder of the company, the appointment of Veerasamy, a specialist in the aviation sector, should not be a problem. Sanjay Bhuckory, former chairman of the Bar Council, will be appointed Board chairman.
<B>MAURITIUS TELECOM.</B> The minister of Telecommunications under the former Labour government, Sarat Lallah, has been appointed chief executive (CE) of Mauritius Telecom. He will replace John Leun Yinko who is retiring soon. “It is a big challenge especially in a context where the sector will be the focus of much attention.” The new CE will have a lot on his plate; MT no longer has the monopoly in communications and the market shares of MT are going down as liberalisation increases.
<B>STATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION</B>. Raj Ringadoo has been appointed as Board chairman. After 24 years at the Mauritius Development Bank, he stood as candidate for the general elections but was not returned.Central Electricity Board. Patrick Assirvaden is the new Board chairman.
<B>EMBASSIES. </B>The diplomatic missions will not see major changes. Satiawan Gunessee remains in Brussels to follow up on the negotiations with the EU on the reform of the sugar protocol on behalf of African Caribbean and Pacific countries. Baboo Chekitan Servansingh also stays in Geneva in view of the important World Trade Organisation talks by the end of the year. Likewise, Usha Dwarka Canabady stays in New Delhi to prepare the PM’s official visit in October.
Ismael Dossa, the head of protocol at the ministry of Foreign Affairs, is expected to be appointed in South Africa. Two politicians, Mahen Cundasamy and Marie-France Roussety, may be appointed in London and Canberra respectively. Two or three appointments are still expected and might be personalities from civil society who have not been involved in the electoral campaign.
Publicité
Publicité
Les plus récents
