Bérenger States that the Country's Economic Situation is One of the Reasons Behind His Departure
During a press conference held this morning at Riverwalk, Floréal, the leader of the MMM, Paul Bérenger, discussed the reasons for his resignation from the position of Deputy Prime Minister, emphasizing his deep economic concerns.
Though he claims not to have wished to leave the government, Paul Bérenger explains that he made this decision out of duty to the country, in light of what he considers a troubling economic situation.
According to him, Mauritius is heading towards "a serious disaster" if urgent measures are not taken.
Among the main reasons he cited is the lack of genuine leadership in the Ministry of Finance. He believes that Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam neither has the time nor the expertise needed to continue managing this key portfolio.
Paul Bérenger also refers to worrying economic indicators, notably an insufficient GDP growth rate and the risk of a downgrade by Moody's. He additionally mentions a report from the Economic Development Board (EDB), indicating approximately Rs 47 billion in private investments stalled due to administrative burdens.
He emphasizes that the EDB report concludes with a suggestion to implement a mechanism inspired by the 2005 model to expedite these projects. However, he laments that this mechanism has never been established, despite several discussions with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam.
Furthermore, in light of these observations, Paul Bérenger expresses concern over a rapid deterioration of the economic situation in the coming months, even mentioning a possible crisis. He underscores that these worries are now heightened by the international context. Nevertheless, he hopes that this scenario will not materialize but warns that if it does, the country will face a severe economic crisis.
