Paul Bérenger's Resignation: Corruption and the 'Gang of 5' Among Reasons for His Departure
During his press conference, Paul Bérenger cited corruption as one of the main reasons for his resignation, denouncing the existence of a 'Gang of 5' within the Prime Minister’s Office, which he claims is actually much larger.
He stated that despite efforts to rectify past misdeeds, the situation persists. He claims to have repeatedly alerted the Prime Minister about alleged corruption involving individuals within the Prime Minister’s Office, but no action has been taken.
Bérenger provided an example where a minister informed him that an influential individual attempted to solicit a bribe from a businessman. He stated that he recommended strict measures, but lamented that despite some initial actions, the individual in question was reinstated after a few weeks.
Bérenger also mentioned several aspects concerning corruption, including a recording submitted to the Prime Minister. However, his concerns did not lead to any action, as Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam claimed he lacked evidence. Bérenger emphasized that a thief does not leave a receipt.
The leader of the MMM also pointed out the situation within the Mauritius Investment Corporation (MIC), mentioning scandals, significant amounts of money, and suspicions of mismanagement. He believes that a thorough audit should have been conducted to clarify these issues, but no measures have been taken to date.
According to Bérenger, corruption continues to spread, and he claims to have numerous other examples. These observations, he stated, contributed to his decision to withdraw from the government.
