José Arunasalom: "I am disgusted by people's cowardice"

José Arunasalom, suspended as the chairman of the Tourism Authority (TA) following allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, firmly denies these accusations. He asserts that there is no evidence against him and criticizes the anonymous letters he calls cowardly and defamatory.

Feeling hurt by the allegations made against him, Arunasalom claims that everything he is being accused of is completely "false." "I am disgusted by people's cowardice," he states. He explains that the Tourism Authority had been without leadership for several months, leading to some laxity. According to him, the arrival of a new board represented an attempt to restore order and enforce more discipline within the institution. He argues that it is in this context that anonymous letters and various allegations were made against him.

"You know, in Mauritius, when you enforce discipline, people are unhappy. They were comfortable in their zone. When discipline is imposed, people call it brutality or aggression. That's completely false," he insists, adding that it is exaggerated to describe him as brutal.

Regarding his suspension due to sexual harassment allegations, Arunasalom describes them as defamatory. However, he acknowledges that a TA employee requested a "precautionary measure" after he reprimanded her for falsifying an official document. "There is no statement for what I am being accused of," he argues.

The accusations also include claims of misconduct. Arunasalom states that nothing compromising has been established against him. He mentions that a report was made at a police station to this effect.

Suspended following a decision by the Council of Ministers made on Friday, March 7, he hopes to regain his position at the TA to continue his work. He expresses confidence in the outcome of the investigation. "I am convinced that the investigation will not find what I'm being accused of," he declares.

Furthermore, José Arunasalom is considering legal action for defamation against those who, he claims, have tried to tarnish his reputation. He describes the authors of anonymous letters and emails as cowards. "They did not have the courage to reveal themselves. Only cowards hide behind anonymity. If their accusations are valid, they should confront me in person or before the relevant authorities," he challenges.

In light of the seriousness of the situation, he expresses feeling "disgusted." "I have dedicated myself fully since my appointment to drive progress. I have acted not only as chairman but also as director when there was no one in that position to rectify the situation," he asserts.

Despite the current events, José Arunasalom remains determined to continue his work once he regains his position. "I intend to make the Tourism Authority an example of good management by restoring order where necessary," he concludes.