The news came as a shock even though it was expected. Sir Satcam Boolell’s ailing health has been public knowledge for some time now. But against all odds, he managed to beat- albeit temporarily- the illness that threatened to draw his life to a close last year during election time.

Sir Satcam surprised many when he turned up at the swearing in ceremony of the newly appointed government in July last year. “I didn’t want to die,” he said jokingly then. And maybe he didn’t., at least not yet. We know how important those elections were for him and the Labour party, And then, little by little, as if he had accomplished his mission, Sir Satcam Boolell gave in to the illness.

In a conversation with a fellow journalist from Week-End, SSB is reported to have said “I am living the last moments of my life. I am increasingly tired, I have lost my appetite, I can no longer do my strolls, I don’t want to do anything. All that is left is for me to go.” He is further reported to have said that he would rather go while he was in possession of all his mental faculties than to stay on and become senile. And his last wish has been granted.

Until the last moments, Sir Satcam Boolell remained in command of his mind and his thoughts. His last interview was published on the 19th of March, four days before he passed on.

SSB spoke then of his joys at having had such a fine career, of having been elected by the people on numerous occasions and also of his greatest satisfaction that his children have been successful in life. He also spoke of his regret that he had not been nominated President of the Republic.

It is widely believed that SSB’s life has been a series of unfortunate events, a series of “could have beens” concerning mainly two achievements or lack of them the fact that he could have been but never managed to become Prime minister as well as the never fulfilled wish to be nominated President of the Republic. Regarding the latter, it seems to have been a matter of timing that prevented his nomination but SSB said that he took comfort in the fact that he knew the political will to nominate him was there. Indeed, Prime Minister Ramgoolam expressed his regret a few hours after the death of SSB that he had not been able to nominate Sir Satcam in time to the highest office in the country.

Sir Satcam also talks freely about the time he “could have been Prime minister.” It was in 1990 and the MMM was negotiating simultaneously with Sir Satcam’s Labour and Sir Anerood Jugnauth’s MSM. Even though it is reported that neither Bérenger nor SAJ were keen to work with each other, it was ultimately this combination that won out. Bérenger’s preferred option was to enter into an alliance with the Labour party and present Sir Satcam as the Prime minister, a formula that may or may not have worked. In any event, SSB did not show much interest in formalizing the negotiations even though he was willing to talk.

<B>Navin, the man for the situation</B>

In the end, he left the country, leaving the field free for the MSM-MMM coalition. SSB once said that he lacked the “hypocrisy and the ambition” that made successful politicians. Maybe that’s the explanation. In any event, he decided- rightly or wrongly- that the man for the situation could only be Navin Ramgoolam, whom he persuaded to come back to the country and take over the leadership of the Labour party.

Ramgoolam today acknowledges this; “I would not have become Prime Minister had it not been for Sir Satcam,” he said after SSB’s demise.

Sir Satcam went on to become one of Ramgoolam’s closest bestower of advice. As the eldest surviving member of the Labour party, SSB had privileges that few could ever dream of. He could speak as he pleased on what he pleased and it was tough luck if others didn’t like it. “I am the honorary President of the Labour party,” he would say laughingly to justify his severe comments.

When asked if he wasn’t afraid that his remarks would ruffle the feathers of Navin Ramgoolam, leader of the Labour party, SSB said,” He can shout all he wants but that doesn’t impress me.”

Warm and affectionate</B>