Pravind Jugnauth
Encyclopedia
Pravind Kumar Jugnauth MP
Esq.
(born:परावीन्द कुमार जुग्नौथ on 25 December 1961) is the former Vice Prime Minister
and Minister of Finance
of Mauritius
who was in office from 11 May 2010 to 26 July 2011. He is also Member of Parliament
for the 8th constituency Quartier Militaire and Moka
.
He is an Indo-Mauritian of Bihari descent. He served in Prime Minister Ramgoolam's
Cabinet
. He previously held the same position from 2003 to 2005.
He is the leader of Militant Socialist Movement
since 2003 and is the only son of incumbent President Sir Aneerood Jugnauth
and Lady Sarojini Jugnauth
.
His candidacy for Parliamentary General Elections
in Constituency No 9, Rose Belle and Vieux Grand Port
in 2000 made him elected as Member of Parliament
from there. He surprisingly defeated Arvin Boolell
who was and outgoing Minister and also 1st member of parliament being elected from that constituency from 1987. He was appointed as Minister of Agriculture by President Uteem to serve in the cabinet. He served as Minister under the premiership of his father Anerood Jugnauth
who became Prime Minister in 2000 after winning the elections with then MSM/MMM
coalition.
With a public image of a young, moderate candidate who would appeal to young voters, he won the Leadership elections of the Militant Socialist Movement
in May 2003. As a result of having a new leader, Anerood Jugnauth
resigned in September 2003 as prime Minister. Pravind Jugnauth supported candidate Paul Berenger
to become Prime minister. Whilst Berenger was head of the cabinet, Jugnauth climbed the ladder and became Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Finance
.
Jugnauth studied Law
at University of Buckingham
, gaining a first class honours degree. He then joined the Lincoln's Inn
and became a Barrister
. He then joined the University of Provence
in France
where he graduated with an LLM. He officially joined the MSM
in 1990 and was honored Doctor from the University of Buckingham
with a Honoris Causa in 2005.
In the parliamentary elections of 2010, he and the MSM joined hands with the Mauritian Labour Party
and Mauritian Social Democrat Party
and formed a coalition known as Ptr-MSM-PMSD. Whilst the alliance presented 60 candidates, out of which 41 were directly elected and formed a total of 45 Mps against 20 Mps for the opposition party, the Mauritian Militant Movement
. His party succeeded in bringing 15 directly elected candidates while, the labours won 26 seats and the social democrats obtained 4 seats. He was elected 1st Member of parliament for constituency of Moka-Quartier Militaire.
Navin Ramgoolam
, leader of the labours became Prime Minister once more in 2010 and appointed some members as part of the alliance to the cabinet and Pravind was given the 4th position in cabinet.
Following his election as member of parliament, in the process of appointing the new cabinet of ministers, his father, the President Sir Anerood Jugnauth on the advice of Navin Ramgoolam
appointed him as Vice Prime Minister & Minister of Finance taking office as from 11 May 2010.
In the morning of the 26th July 2011 at 11.55 am, he resigned from his office of minister as well as all other MSM Ministers due to a scandale involving one of the MSM ministers.
. Jugnauth was born in a modest Hindu
family of labourers. He often said that he was born in "a wooden hut" of his maternal grandmother. He was born to Anerood Jugnauth
a then barrister and to Sarojini Ballah
a school teacher. He has a elder sister, Shalini Jugnauth, married to famous Dr Kishan Malhotra.
In various interviews ,Pravind stated that he has live a political life since birth. He stated that his father and uncles were all members of Independent Forward Bloc, a former political party led by Sookdeo Bissoondoyal (a former Minister in the Cabinet of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam) during the independence rally made by the country in 1967 so as to obtain autonomy from British Authorities.
His father were one of the few people to attend the conference and meeting on negotiations on the independence of Mauritius
. Pravind Jugnauth states that he remembers all part of it. After independence, his uncle was appointed Attorney General
in cabinet and his father was appointed as Junior Minister. He said he still remembers all negotiations on different aspects on the new constitution.
He went on to study at the local Primary School where he obtained his mother as teacher. He always mentioned his mother as his confident and his father as his inspiration. After primary schooling, he went to Royal College Curepipe
where he passed his O Levels and A levels. He then went on to study law in UK.
in 1990 and helped as a activist member of the party. He saw his father remaining in power for a fourth time as prime minister in 1991 where he became more active in politics. He was candidate for the first time in the general elections of 1995 in constituency Vieux Grand Port and Rose Belle but was defeated and came fourth due to the landslide victory of the Labour Party
and Mauritius Militant Movement.. In 1996 he was elected as Councillor in the town of Vacoas-Phoenix until 2000 where he stood as candidate in the same constituency but returned as first member of parliament for the same constituency as 1995. He was elected as Deputy Leader of the MSM in 1999.
Navin Ramgoolam
resigned as prime minister few days after and Cassam Uteem
appointed Sir Anerood Jugnauth to the Clarisse House.Pravind was then appointed as Minister of Agriculture in September 2000. He served as such from 2000 to September 2003. He was then appointed as Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Finance
. Pravind experienced the downfall of his political party. The electorate of the MSM shifted from the support of more than 30% to less than 5 % of the population gradually from 2003 up to now. In 2004 while the MSM was the largest party in parliament and forming a coalition government, a poll indicated that the Labour Party had a support of 46 % , the Mauritian Militant Movement had 39% and the remaining of only 15% associated them with the MSM. While the Labour party was in force having increased from a support of less than 10% in 2000 to 46% in 2004, the MMM also had an increase in approval ratings. The MSM was the only party to shift from being the most powerful to the less powerful party in the country.
In 2008 the MSM once again lost some of its supporters. A new poll was made 2008 by a local newspaper which gave the Labour Party a total of 51% of support of the population, the MMM coming in second position with 45 and the MSM came last with only 4% of the poll. Pravind Jugnauth's image as a young and more democratic leader was tarnished when he lost the major of his supporters. Many MSM members joined either the MMM or the Labour party.In an Issue of October 2, 2011, a local newspaper made a recent poll and the MMM came out first with 64 % of approval and the Labours received 39% and the remaining 5 % did not associate them with the two parties probably showing the electorate of the MSM..
, agricultural rhum
, special sugars, electricity generation from bagasse
and other high value added products. After these reforms, the sugar sector has been able to bring down its production costs significantly and better face the challenges stemming from the reduction in the guaranteed sugar price under the Sugar Protocol
with the European Union
.
While working on the reforms in the sugar sector, he negotiated a package for workers under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme. Some 8,000 workers who opted for voluntary retirement received cash compensation exceeding 2.5 billion rupees and some 825 arpent
s of land worth 3 billion rupees.
Jugnauth also made reforms in the non-sugar agricultural sector by placing non-sugar agriculture on the path of modernisation and sophistication. He encouraged hydroponics and other modern methods of production while at the same time strived for excellence in agricultural biotechnology research and expertise in the field. He initiated actions to set up a National Agricultural Biotechnology Institute and Food Technology Laboratory in Mauritius; he later launched the Small Planters Welfare Fund. The fund caters to the welfare of planters and their families and provides crop insurance schemes designed to financially support planters whose crops are affected by unfavourable weather conditions.
As Minister of Finance from 7 October 2003 to 5 July 2005, Jugnauth reduced taxes on thousands of commodities. He increased subsidies on basic commodities and gave salary compensations well above inflation rates in two successive years. He launched a project to make Mauritius a Duty Free Island.
Pravind Jugnauth had some clashes with his then Prime Minister Paul Berenger
however stayed and supported the coalition government.
eaders said the alliance MSM / MMM, Rama Sithanen insult himself and makes demagogy when it's a failure of government economic policy. In 2004 Pravind Jugnauth mentioned that from 1995 and 2000, the unemployment rate rose from 5.5% to 8.8% with 45,000 unemployed, while in the last three years, 32,000 jobs were created. He also mentioned that despite this heavy legacy, the government MSM / MMM kept the budget deficit to 6% and hopes to return to 5.5% in 2004/2005 and 4% in 2005/2006 .
maintained his alliance called the Social Alliance which was composed of the Labour party and other small parties.
The Social Alliance won a total seat of 38 against the MSM-MMM which obtained only 24 seats. Pravind Jugnauth was defeated in his constituency and received 48% of vote. While the MSM had 14 seats and the MMM ,the remaining 20 ,the MSM-MMM proposed Paul Berenger as Leader of the Opposition and maintained the alliance.
In 2006, Paul Berenger proposed Rajesh Bhagwan another member of the MMM as Opposition Chief Whip. The MSM having more seats than its sister party therefore removed their support from Paul Berenger and broke the coalition. Nando Bodha
, general secretary of the MSM became Leader of the Opposition and Pravind Jugnauth continued as Leader outside of Parliament.
Another feud exploded when Pravind Jugnauth did not approve of Ashok Jugnauth
- who was an elected MSM MP in 2005 and who is Pravind's uncle- to become Leader of the party and assume the responsibilities of Leader of opposition. Ashok Jugnauth left the MSM for democratic reasons stating that the party was a democratic dictatorship with Pravind as the only leader.
In 2007 ,two more members of the MSM namely Joe Lesongard ,the party's then president and Sekar Naidu left the MSM and sworn allegiance to Berenger and thus he became Leader of the Opposition.
The MSM had weakened more and more since the leader was not in parliament and therefore they did not have a firm authority.
who is the brother of Sir Anerood Jugnauth and uncle of Pravind was the only MSM MP in constituency Quartier Militaire and Moka and lost his seat as the Supreme Court of Mauritius had convicted him for fraud and corruption during 2000 to 2005 when he was Minister of Health. According to law ,a MP who is convicted by the court loses his/her seat with immediate effect. Prime Minister Ramgoolam then announced that a By Elections would be happening in order to elect an MP.
Ashok Jugnauth announced his candidacy for the By Elections and received the support of Paul Berenger and his MMM. The labour Party decided not to align any candidate in the By-elections and to everybody's surprise provided their support to Pravind Jugnauth and his MSM who then announced his candidacy in the 8th constituency. On 2 March 2009, he beat out his own relative in the partial elections and gained back his seat in Parliament. His uncle was in the other camp and accepted his defeat humbly
The By-elections sealed the Labour Party and the Militant Socialist Movement alliance for the general elections in 2010.
Following the victory ,he was appointed as Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance thus getting back the office he held from
2003 to 2005. Pravind Jugnauth lasted only thirteen months to the Ministry of Finance from 2010 to 2011. His performance as Treasurer showed that the economic crisis continued and internationally this had impact on the local economy. The recovery was slow in coming even though the country had grown in 2010.The indicators were negative. There was some scarcity of foreign direct investment. Economic growth was driven mainly by infrastructure spending. Despite the crises, the inflation rate was properly maintained and budget deficit was reasonable. The trade deficit was under control.
On the 26th July 2011 at 11.55 am, he resigned from his office and all other MSM members resigned as well. However they continued to support the government however seating as back benches. This was due to the Medpoint Scandal that was discovered by then opposition party MMM.
In such matters involving large outlay of public funds, there is what is often called a gestation period and procedures have to be strictly followed and no stone should be left unturned. Although the decision to purchase MedPoint, which was not operating as a clinic at the time and still not operating, was taken by the government, in the use of public funds, the government is under obligation to consider whether this purchase is in the public interest and whether all possible measures have been taken to clinch the deal at the best possible price for the public and not for the owners of MedPoint. The government is also under obligation to demonstrate what safeguards have been put in place to guard against matters such as abuse of power, corruption and so on.
The government already had in its possession a Valuation Report for « Land and Building » for Rs75 million conducted by the government department Valuation and Real Estate Consultancy Services (VRECS) and signed Roshnee Bissessur, No.2 at the Valuation Office, a department affiliated with the Ministry of Finance led by Minister Pravind Jugnauth, brother in law of Dr Malotra, owner of ex-MedPoint Clinic.
Mrs Maya Hanoomanjee, then Minister for Health who is a cousin of the Jugnauth family requested, in September 2010, a new valuation for « Land, Building and Services » to be obtained within two weeks with the view to closing the deal in December 2010. Mrs Hanoomanjee’s yet unjustified urgent request prompted Mr Yodhun Bissessur, the Director of the Valuation Department, to write, on 21 September 2010, to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) headed by Minister Anil Bachoo
requesting the expert help of that Ministry in Quantity Surveying for the purposes of the valuation of ex-Medpoint Clinic, which proposed acquisition was for use as a Geriatric Hospital, bearing in mind that the new valuation had to include Services.
After missed site visit, further correspondence and twists and turns, the private contractors Hoolooman & Associates were hired to conduct the survey and valuation, reason given being that Navin Ramgoolam’s government lacked the necessary quantity surveying human resources to do so. Mr Ramdyal of the Quantity Surveying Unit of the MPI felt the exercise would take at least two months and not two weeks as allegedly demanded by Mrs Hanoomanjee. Also, the new valuation is not said to be confined only to the MedPoint property after depreciation for the purposes of the purchase, but to second hand medical equipment and the cost of a new replacement building at current prices which Mrs Hanoomanjee allegedly wanted, hence her need for a Quantity Surveyor, who is a professional in the construction industry concerned with building costs. Hoolooman & Associates were also originally involved in the construction of the MedPoint Clinic and they valued the Land, Building and Services at Rs.145 millions (US$ 5 Millions). If this valuation contained the replacement cost of the building, the government would have therefore purchased a building which is non-existent and paid the seller for a fictitious building. This in itself should go to the root of the contract and be enough to set it aside.
ICAC, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, was formally requested to investigate what has come to be known as MEDPOINTGATE, or the MEDPOINT SCANDAL, a scandal which has the potential to bring down the whole government. Similarities are already drawn with WATERGATE and IRANGATE. In line with the MedPoint investigations, ICAC proceeded to the arrest of two Civil Servants involved in the decisions taken to give the go ahead to the new Rs145m valuation conducted by Hooloman & Associates and upon which the government solely relied for the purchase. The two Civil Servants, Yodhun Bissessur and Aneerood Jeebodhun, the respective Number 1 and Number 3 at the government’s Valuation and Real Estate Consultancy Services (VRECS), have, on 5th April 2011, been provisionally charged with "public official using office for gratification", for having ordered a second valuation by Hooloman & Associates which allegedly favoured MedPoint over other contenders through the procedure of tender. The charge implies that the two Civil Servants allegedly took bribes when ordering and accepting the Hooloman & Associates Rs145m valuation without question when their own original valuation was for Rs75m. Mr Bissessur reportedly admitted that he knew the private firm had worked for Dr Malotra and detained « Bill of Quantities » for his clinic, but nevertheless accepted the firm’s valuation of Rs145m without disputing it. Hence, the decision of ICAC to proceed to the arrest of the two Civil Servants in question in the course of their investigations does appear justified.
Then Minister of Health, Maya Hanoomanjee was arrested by the ICAC police and the government chief valuer was suspended from his duties. Pravind Jugnauth was also arrested in respect for conflicts of interest in the matter. The police investigation is still on going.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Esq.
Esquire
Esquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
(born:परावीन्द कुमार जुग्नौथ on 25 December 1961) is the former Vice Prime Minister
Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius
Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius is a title granted to two senior members of the Cabinet of the country. In 2005, after the Labour Party won the elections, Navin Ramgoolam proposed a motion to the National Assembly to create offices for two Vice Prime Ministers...
and Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance of Mauritius
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development of Mauritius is a ministerial department found in the Cabinet of the government of the Republic. It is considered as the most executive and important ministry in the cabinet after the Prime Minister's office...
of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
who was in office from 11 May 2010 to 26 July 2011. He is also Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the 8th constituency Quartier Militaire and Moka
Constituencies of Mauritius
Constituencies of Mauritius are the electoral boundaries of the Republic.The country follows the Westminster and elects 60 members of parliament for a run of 5 years .There are in all 21 constituencies in the Republic each of them returning 3 members with the exception of Constituency No 21 ,which...
.
He is an Indo-Mauritian of Bihari descent. He served in Prime Minister Ramgoolam's
Navin Ramgoolam
Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP, MP is the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs & External Communications, as well as Leader of the National Assembly. Being the leader of the Mauritian Labour Party, he serves as Member of parliament for constituency No...
Cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers of Mauritius
The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Mauritius is the official council which advises the President of the Republic to take major decisions...
. He previously held the same position from 2003 to 2005.
He is the leader of Militant Socialist Movement
Militant Socialist Movement
The Militant Socialist Movement is a Centre-Right political party in Mauritius that adheres to the philosophies of socialism and political democracy. It is the 3rd largest political party in the National Assembly. It has in all 13 seats directly elected from the 2010 general elections...
since 2003 and is the only son of incumbent President Sir Aneerood Jugnauth
Anerood Jugnauth
Sir Anerood Jugnauth , KCMG, QC, GCSK, PC, LLB, GOLH, GOP, ORS is the President of Mauritius and all its dependencies...
and Lady Sarojini Jugnauth
Sarojini Ballah
Sarojini Ballah, The Hon. Lady Jugnauth is the actual First Lady of Mauritius due to her marriage to the actual President Sir Anerood Jugnauth and also held the office of Premier's Lady while her husband was in office of Prime Minister twice, once from 1982 to 1995 and secondly from 2000 to 2003...
.
His candidacy for Parliamentary General Elections
National Assembly of Mauritius
The National Assembly is Mauritius's unicameral parliament, which was called the Legislative Assembly until 1992, when the country became a republic...
in Constituency No 9, Rose Belle and Vieux Grand Port
Constituencies of Mauritius
Constituencies of Mauritius are the electoral boundaries of the Republic.The country follows the Westminster and elects 60 members of parliament for a run of 5 years .There are in all 21 constituencies in the Republic each of them returning 3 members with the exception of Constituency No 21 ,which...
in 2000 made him elected as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from there. He surprisingly defeated Arvin Boolell
Arvin Boolell
Arvin Boolell is the foreign minister of Mauritius. He was appointed by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and took office in September 2008...
who was and outgoing Minister and also 1st member of parliament being elected from that constituency from 1987. He was appointed as Minister of Agriculture by President Uteem to serve in the cabinet. He served as Minister under the premiership of his father Anerood Jugnauth
Anerood Jugnauth
Sir Anerood Jugnauth , KCMG, QC, GCSK, PC, LLB, GOLH, GOP, ORS is the President of Mauritius and all its dependencies...
who became Prime Minister in 2000 after winning the elections with then MSM/MMM
MSM/MMM
The Militant Socialist Movement/Mauritian Militant Movement was a coalition party that formed the government of the Republic of Mauritius from September 2000 to July 2005.The coalition was known as the "Medpoint Deal" and was formed by former Prime Minister and actual President Sir Anerood...
coalition.
With a public image of a young, moderate candidate who would appeal to young voters, he won the Leadership elections of the Militant Socialist Movement
Militant Socialist Movement
The Militant Socialist Movement is a Centre-Right political party in Mauritius that adheres to the philosophies of socialism and political democracy. It is the 3rd largest political party in the National Assembly. It has in all 13 seats directly elected from the 2010 general elections...
in May 2003. As a result of having a new leader, Anerood Jugnauth
Anerood Jugnauth
Sir Anerood Jugnauth , KCMG, QC, GCSK, PC, LLB, GOLH, GOP, ORS is the President of Mauritius and all its dependencies...
resigned in September 2003 as prime Minister. Pravind Jugnauth supported candidate Paul Berenger
Paul Bérenger
Paul Raymond Bérenger GCSK MP is the Leader of the Opposition of Mauritius and former Prime Minister of the Republic. Bérenger, who is a Christian of French descent, is the only Prime Minister of Mauritius who was not a Hindu....
to become Prime minister. Whilst Berenger was head of the cabinet, Jugnauth climbed the ladder and became Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius
The Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius is a senior member of the Cabinet of Ministers in the country .He/she is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.Having the same name ,this position is not to be confused with the Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius who is just a senior...
and Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance of Mauritius
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development of Mauritius is a ministerial department found in the Cabinet of the government of the Republic. It is considered as the most executive and important ministry in the cabinet after the Prime Minister's office...
.
Jugnauth studied Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
, gaining a first class honours degree. He then joined the Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
and became a Barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
. He then joined the University of Provence
University of Provence
The University of Provence Aix-Marseille I is a public university mostly located in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. It is one of the three Universities of Aix-Marseille and is part of the Academy of Aix and Marseille.-Overview:...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where he graduated with an LLM. He officially joined the MSM
Militant Socialist Movement
The Militant Socialist Movement is a Centre-Right political party in Mauritius that adheres to the philosophies of socialism and political democracy. It is the 3rd largest political party in the National Assembly. It has in all 13 seats directly elected from the 2010 general elections...
in 1990 and was honored Doctor from the University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
with a Honoris Causa in 2005.
In the parliamentary elections of 2010, he and the MSM joined hands with the Mauritian Labour Party
Mauritian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a political party in Mauritius.The Mauritian Labour Party was structured in 1936 to model the British Labour Party and has similar socialist goals...
and Mauritian Social Democrat Party
Mauritian Social Democrat Party
The Mauritian Social Democratic Party is a political party in Mauritius. It is conservative and francophile. It is the 4th biggest political party in the National Assembly after Mauritian Labour Party, Mauritian Militant Movement and the Militant Socialist Movement...
and formed a coalition known as Ptr-MSM-PMSD. Whilst the alliance presented 60 candidates, out of which 41 were directly elected and formed a total of 45 Mps against 20 Mps for the opposition party, the Mauritian Militant Movement
Mauritian Militant Movement
The Mouvement Militant Mauricien is a socialist political party in Mauritius. The party was formed by a group of students in the late 1960s. The MMM is currently led by Paul Bérenger....
. His party succeeded in bringing 15 directly elected candidates while, the labours won 26 seats and the social democrats obtained 4 seats. He was elected 1st Member of parliament for constituency of Moka-Quartier Militaire.
Navin Ramgoolam
Navin Ramgoolam
Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP, MP is the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs & External Communications, as well as Leader of the National Assembly. Being the leader of the Mauritian Labour Party, he serves as Member of parliament for constituency No...
, leader of the labours became Prime Minister once more in 2010 and appointed some members as part of the alliance to the cabinet and Pravind was given the 4th position in cabinet.
Following his election as member of parliament, in the process of appointing the new cabinet of ministers, his father, the President Sir Anerood Jugnauth on the advice of Navin Ramgoolam
Navin Ramgoolam
Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP, MP is the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs & External Communications, as well as Leader of the National Assembly. Being the leader of the Mauritian Labour Party, he serves as Member of parliament for constituency No...
appointed him as Vice Prime Minister & Minister of Finance taking office as from 11 May 2010.
In the morning of the 26th July 2011 at 11.55 am, he resigned from his office of minister as well as all other MSM Ministers due to a scandale involving one of the MSM ministers.
Early life
Born on the 25th of December 1961 in La Caverne, a suburb area in Vacoas-Phoenix, MauritiusMauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. Jugnauth was born in a modest Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
family of labourers. He often said that he was born in "a wooden hut" of his maternal grandmother. He was born to Anerood Jugnauth
Anerood Jugnauth
Sir Anerood Jugnauth , KCMG, QC, GCSK, PC, LLB, GOLH, GOP, ORS is the President of Mauritius and all its dependencies...
a then barrister and to Sarojini Ballah
Sarojini Ballah
Sarojini Ballah, The Hon. Lady Jugnauth is the actual First Lady of Mauritius due to her marriage to the actual President Sir Anerood Jugnauth and also held the office of Premier's Lady while her husband was in office of Prime Minister twice, once from 1982 to 1995 and secondly from 2000 to 2003...
a school teacher. He has a elder sister, Shalini Jugnauth, married to famous Dr Kishan Malhotra.
In various interviews ,Pravind stated that he has live a political life since birth. He stated that his father and uncles were all members of Independent Forward Bloc, a former political party led by Sookdeo Bissoondoyal (a former Minister in the Cabinet of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam) during the independence rally made by the country in 1967 so as to obtain autonomy from British Authorities.
His father were one of the few people to attend the conference and meeting on negotiations on the independence of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. Pravind Jugnauth states that he remembers all part of it. After independence, his uncle was appointed Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in cabinet and his father was appointed as Junior Minister. He said he still remembers all negotiations on different aspects on the new constitution.
He went on to study at the local Primary School where he obtained his mother as teacher. He always mentioned his mother as his confident and his father as his inspiration. After primary schooling, he went to Royal College Curepipe
Royal College Curepipe
The Royal College, Curepipe is a state boys-only secondary school located in the centre of Curepipe, Mauritius. It has played a significant role in education in the country.-History:...
where he passed his O Levels and A levels. He then went on to study law in UK.
Early politics
Pravind Jugnauth officially joined the Militant Socialist MovementMilitant Socialist Movement
The Militant Socialist Movement is a Centre-Right political party in Mauritius that adheres to the philosophies of socialism and political democracy. It is the 3rd largest political party in the National Assembly. It has in all 13 seats directly elected from the 2010 general elections...
in 1990 and helped as a activist member of the party. He saw his father remaining in power for a fourth time as prime minister in 1991 where he became more active in politics. He was candidate for the first time in the general elections of 1995 in constituency Vieux Grand Port and Rose Belle but was defeated and came fourth due to the landslide victory of the Labour Party
Mauritian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a political party in Mauritius.The Mauritian Labour Party was structured in 1936 to model the British Labour Party and has similar socialist goals...
and Mauritius Militant Movement.. In 1996 he was elected as Councillor in the town of Vacoas-Phoenix until 2000 where he stood as candidate in the same constituency but returned as first member of parliament for the same constituency as 1995. He was elected as Deputy Leader of the MSM in 1999.
Navin Ramgoolam
Navin Ramgoolam
Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP, MP is the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs & External Communications, as well as Leader of the National Assembly. Being the leader of the Mauritian Labour Party, he serves as Member of parliament for constituency No...
resigned as prime minister few days after and Cassam Uteem
Cassam Uteem
Cassam Uteem is a Mauritian political figure who served as President of Mauritius from 30 June 1992 to 15 February 2002 and is the longest serving President of Mauritius, having served for nine years....
appointed Sir Anerood Jugnauth to the Clarisse House.Pravind was then appointed as Minister of Agriculture in September 2000. He served as such from 2000 to September 2003. He was then appointed as Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius
The Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius is a senior member of the Cabinet of Ministers in the country .He/she is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.Having the same name ,this position is not to be confused with the Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius who is just a senior...
and Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance of Mauritius
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development of Mauritius is a ministerial department found in the Cabinet of the government of the Republic. It is considered as the most executive and important ministry in the cabinet after the Prime Minister's office...
. Pravind experienced the downfall of his political party. The electorate of the MSM shifted from the support of more than 30% to less than 5 % of the population gradually from 2003 up to now. In 2004 while the MSM was the largest party in parliament and forming a coalition government, a poll indicated that the Labour Party had a support of 46 % , the Mauritian Militant Movement had 39% and the remaining of only 15% associated them with the MSM. While the Labour party was in force having increased from a support of less than 10% in 2000 to 46% in 2004, the MMM also had an increase in approval ratings. The MSM was the only party to shift from being the most powerful to the less powerful party in the country.
In 2008 the MSM once again lost some of its supporters. A new poll was made 2008 by a local newspaper which gave the Labour Party a total of 51% of support of the population, the MMM coming in second position with 45 and the MSM came last with only 4% of the poll. Pravind Jugnauth's image as a young and more democratic leader was tarnished when he lost the major of his supporters. Many MSM members joined either the MMM or the Labour party.In an Issue of October 2, 2011, a local newspaper made a recent poll and the MMM came out first with 64 % of approval and the Labours received 39% and the remaining 5 % did not associate them with the two parties probably showing the electorate of the MSM..
2000 to 2005
As Minister of Agriculture from 7 September 2000 to 7 October 2003, Jugnauth presented the Sugar Sector Strategic Plan and led a reform process in the sugar sector to ensure its long-term viability and competitiveness. He initiated a process to convert the sugar industry from relying almost exclusively on the production of sugar into a fully diversified sugar cane industry with emphasis on the production of ethanolEthanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
, agricultural rhum
Rhum
Rhum can mean a number of things:*the spelling for the Scottish island of Rùm from Victorian times to 1991*an alternative spelling for rum, a distilled beverage made from sugarcane by-products*Rhum gasfield, a gas field in the UK sector of the North Sea...
, special sugars, electricity generation from bagasse
Bagasse
Bagasse is the fibrous matter that remains after sugarcane or sorghum stalks are crushed to extract their juice. It is currently used as a biofuel and as a renewable resource in the manufacture of pulp and paper products and building materials....
and other high value added products. After these reforms, the sugar sector has been able to bring down its production costs significantly and better face the challenges stemming from the reduction in the guaranteed sugar price under the Sugar Protocol
Common Agricultural Policy
The Common Agricultural Policy is a system of European Union agricultural subsidies and programmes. It represents 48% of the EU's budget, €49.8 billion in 2006 ....
with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
While working on the reforms in the sugar sector, he negotiated a package for workers under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme. Some 8,000 workers who opted for voluntary retirement received cash compensation exceeding 2.5 billion rupees and some 825 arpent
Arpent
An arpent is a unit of length and a unit of area. It is a pre-metric French unit based on the Roman actus. It is used in Quebec as well as in some areas of the United States that were part of French Louisiana.-Unit of length:...
s of land worth 3 billion rupees.
Jugnauth also made reforms in the non-sugar agricultural sector by placing non-sugar agriculture on the path of modernisation and sophistication. He encouraged hydroponics and other modern methods of production while at the same time strived for excellence in agricultural biotechnology research and expertise in the field. He initiated actions to set up a National Agricultural Biotechnology Institute and Food Technology Laboratory in Mauritius; he later launched the Small Planters Welfare Fund. The fund caters to the welfare of planters and their families and provides crop insurance schemes designed to financially support planters whose crops are affected by unfavourable weather conditions.
As Minister of Finance from 7 October 2003 to 5 July 2005, Jugnauth reduced taxes on thousands of commodities. He increased subsidies on basic commodities and gave salary compensations well above inflation rates in two successive years. He launched a project to make Mauritius a Duty Free Island.
Pravind Jugnauth had some clashes with his then Prime Minister Paul Berenger
Paul Bérenger
Paul Raymond Bérenger GCSK MP is the Leader of the Opposition of Mauritius and former Prime Minister of the Republic. Bérenger, who is a Christian of French descent, is the only Prime Minister of Mauritius who was not a Hindu....
however stayed and supported the coalition government.
eaders said the alliance MSM / MMM, Rama Sithanen insult himself and makes demagogy when it's a failure of government economic policy. In 2004 Pravind Jugnauth mentioned that from 1995 and 2000, the unemployment rate rose from 5.5% to 8.8% with 45,000 unemployed, while in the last three years, 32,000 jobs were created. He also mentioned that despite this heavy legacy, the government MSM / MMM kept the budget deficit to 6% and hopes to return to 5.5% in 2004/2005 and 4% in 2005/2006 .
2005 to 2009
Paul Berenger dissolved parliament in June 2005 and announced that the elections would be held on the 3rd July. The MSM-MMM coalition knowing the fact that the MSM had weakened throughout the years decided to propose Paul Berenger as candidate for Prime Minister. Navin RamgoolamNavin Ramgoolam
Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP, MP is the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs & External Communications, as well as Leader of the National Assembly. Being the leader of the Mauritian Labour Party, he serves as Member of parliament for constituency No...
maintained his alliance called the Social Alliance which was composed of the Labour party and other small parties.
The Social Alliance won a total seat of 38 against the MSM-MMM which obtained only 24 seats. Pravind Jugnauth was defeated in his constituency and received 48% of vote. While the MSM had 14 seats and the MMM ,the remaining 20 ,the MSM-MMM proposed Paul Berenger as Leader of the Opposition and maintained the alliance.
In 2006, Paul Berenger proposed Rajesh Bhagwan another member of the MMM as Opposition Chief Whip. The MSM having more seats than its sister party therefore removed their support from Paul Berenger and broke the coalition. Nando Bodha
Nando Bodha
Nandcoomar Bodha MP is the former Minister of Tourism & Leisure of Mauritius. He has been holding the office since 11 May 2010 to 26 july 2011 . He held the same office from 2000 to 2003 in the MSM/MMM coalition government...
, general secretary of the MSM became Leader of the Opposition and Pravind Jugnauth continued as Leader outside of Parliament.
Another feud exploded when Pravind Jugnauth did not approve of Ashok Jugnauth
Ashok Jugnauth
Ashok Kumar Jugnauth is former Mauritian Member of Parliament and was the Minister of Health of Mauritius from 2000 to 2005 serving in the cabinet of Anerood Jugnauth from 2000 to 2003 and Paul Berenger from 2003 to 2005. He succeeded to pull off the Political career in Mauritius as he forms part...
- who was an elected MSM MP in 2005 and who is Pravind's uncle- to become Leader of the party and assume the responsibilities of Leader of opposition. Ashok Jugnauth left the MSM for democratic reasons stating that the party was a democratic dictatorship with Pravind as the only leader.
In 2007 ,two more members of the MSM namely Joe Lesongard ,the party's then president and Sekar Naidu left the MSM and sworn allegiance to Berenger and thus he became Leader of the Opposition.
The MSM had weakened more and more since the leader was not in parliament and therefore they did not have a firm authority.
2009 By-Election
Ashok JugnauthAshok Jugnauth
Ashok Kumar Jugnauth is former Mauritian Member of Parliament and was the Minister of Health of Mauritius from 2000 to 2005 serving in the cabinet of Anerood Jugnauth from 2000 to 2003 and Paul Berenger from 2003 to 2005. He succeeded to pull off the Political career in Mauritius as he forms part...
who is the brother of Sir Anerood Jugnauth and uncle of Pravind was the only MSM MP in constituency Quartier Militaire and Moka and lost his seat as the Supreme Court of Mauritius had convicted him for fraud and corruption during 2000 to 2005 when he was Minister of Health. According to law ,a MP who is convicted by the court loses his/her seat with immediate effect. Prime Minister Ramgoolam then announced that a By Elections would be happening in order to elect an MP.
Ashok Jugnauth announced his candidacy for the By Elections and received the support of Paul Berenger and his MMM. The labour Party decided not to align any candidate in the By-elections and to everybody's surprise provided their support to Pravind Jugnauth and his MSM who then announced his candidacy in the 8th constituency. On 2 March 2009, he beat out his own relative in the partial elections and gained back his seat in Parliament. His uncle was in the other camp and accepted his defeat humbly
The By-elections sealed the Labour Party and the Militant Socialist Movement alliance for the general elections in 2010.
2010 & present
The Labour-MSM-PMSD alliance was made and they won an overall of 47 seats against the MMM which obtained only 22 seats.The MSM came back in force from 10 Mps to 13 Mps in parliament and supported the coalition government of Navin Ramgoolam.Following the victory ,he was appointed as Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance thus getting back the office he held from
2003 to 2005. Pravind Jugnauth lasted only thirteen months to the Ministry of Finance from 2010 to 2011. His performance as Treasurer showed that the economic crisis continued and internationally this had impact on the local economy. The recovery was slow in coming even though the country had grown in 2010.The indicators were negative. There was some scarcity of foreign direct investment. Economic growth was driven mainly by infrastructure spending. Despite the crises, the inflation rate was properly maintained and budget deficit was reasonable. The trade deficit was under control.
On the 26th July 2011 at 11.55 am, he resigned from his office and all other MSM members resigned as well. However they continued to support the government however seating as back benches. This was due to the Medpoint Scandal that was discovered by then opposition party MMM.
Medpoint Scandal
In 2010, the government decided to buy a hospital and to make it a specialized geriatric center. The cabinet of Ministers approved of buying the MedPoint private Clinic which was owned by Dr Kishan Malhotra and Mrs Shalini Devi Jugnauth Malhotra who is the sister of incumbent Minister of Finance Pravind Jugnauth and daughter of incumbent President Sir Anerood Jugnauth.In such matters involving large outlay of public funds, there is what is often called a gestation period and procedures have to be strictly followed and no stone should be left unturned. Although the decision to purchase MedPoint, which was not operating as a clinic at the time and still not operating, was taken by the government, in the use of public funds, the government is under obligation to consider whether this purchase is in the public interest and whether all possible measures have been taken to clinch the deal at the best possible price for the public and not for the owners of MedPoint. The government is also under obligation to demonstrate what safeguards have been put in place to guard against matters such as abuse of power, corruption and so on.
The government already had in its possession a Valuation Report for « Land and Building » for Rs75 million conducted by the government department Valuation and Real Estate Consultancy Services (VRECS) and signed Roshnee Bissessur, No.2 at the Valuation Office, a department affiliated with the Ministry of Finance led by Minister Pravind Jugnauth, brother in law of Dr Malotra, owner of ex-MedPoint Clinic.
Mrs Maya Hanoomanjee, then Minister for Health who is a cousin of the Jugnauth family requested, in September 2010, a new valuation for « Land, Building and Services » to be obtained within two weeks with the view to closing the deal in December 2010. Mrs Hanoomanjee’s yet unjustified urgent request prompted Mr Yodhun Bissessur, the Director of the Valuation Department, to write, on 21 September 2010, to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) headed by Minister Anil Bachoo
Anil Bachoo
Anil Kumar Bachoo is the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and Shipping of Mauritius. He has been in office since 13 September 2008 and has already held the office from 2000 to 2005 under the leadership of then MSM/MMM coalition...
requesting the expert help of that Ministry in Quantity Surveying for the purposes of the valuation of ex-Medpoint Clinic, which proposed acquisition was for use as a Geriatric Hospital, bearing in mind that the new valuation had to include Services.
After missed site visit, further correspondence and twists and turns, the private contractors Hoolooman & Associates were hired to conduct the survey and valuation, reason given being that Navin Ramgoolam’s government lacked the necessary quantity surveying human resources to do so. Mr Ramdyal of the Quantity Surveying Unit of the MPI felt the exercise would take at least two months and not two weeks as allegedly demanded by Mrs Hanoomanjee. Also, the new valuation is not said to be confined only to the MedPoint property after depreciation for the purposes of the purchase, but to second hand medical equipment and the cost of a new replacement building at current prices which Mrs Hanoomanjee allegedly wanted, hence her need for a Quantity Surveyor, who is a professional in the construction industry concerned with building costs. Hoolooman & Associates were also originally involved in the construction of the MedPoint Clinic and they valued the Land, Building and Services at Rs.145 millions (US$ 5 Millions). If this valuation contained the replacement cost of the building, the government would have therefore purchased a building which is non-existent and paid the seller for a fictitious building. This in itself should go to the root of the contract and be enough to set it aside.
ICAC, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, was formally requested to investigate what has come to be known as MEDPOINTGATE, or the MEDPOINT SCANDAL, a scandal which has the potential to bring down the whole government. Similarities are already drawn with WATERGATE and IRANGATE. In line with the MedPoint investigations, ICAC proceeded to the arrest of two Civil Servants involved in the decisions taken to give the go ahead to the new Rs145m valuation conducted by Hooloman & Associates and upon which the government solely relied for the purchase. The two Civil Servants, Yodhun Bissessur and Aneerood Jeebodhun, the respective Number 1 and Number 3 at the government’s Valuation and Real Estate Consultancy Services (VRECS), have, on 5th April 2011, been provisionally charged with "public official using office for gratification", for having ordered a second valuation by Hooloman & Associates which allegedly favoured MedPoint over other contenders through the procedure of tender. The charge implies that the two Civil Servants allegedly took bribes when ordering and accepting the Hooloman & Associates Rs145m valuation without question when their own original valuation was for Rs75m. Mr Bissessur reportedly admitted that he knew the private firm had worked for Dr Malotra and detained « Bill of Quantities » for his clinic, but nevertheless accepted the firm’s valuation of Rs145m without disputing it. Hence, the decision of ICAC to proceed to the arrest of the two Civil Servants in question in the course of their investigations does appear justified.
Then Minister of Health, Maya Hanoomanjee was arrested by the ICAC police and the government chief valuer was suspended from his duties. Pravind Jugnauth was also arrested in respect for conflicts of interest in the matter. The police investigation is still on going.