At Riverwalk: Bérenger Settles Scores and Sounds the Alarm

From his home in Riverwalk, Vacoas, with a photo of Mahatma Gandhi in the background—who famously marched for salt from March 12 to April 6, 1930—Paul Bérenger broke his silence this Wednesday. This marked his first public statement since resigning as Deputy Prime Minister last Friday. The press conference, lasting an hour and a half, turned into a scathing indictment against Navin Ramgoolam, some of his fellow MMM members, and a government he accuses of dangerously following in the footsteps of the regime he helped to overthrow.

The account of his departure is surgical. "On Thursday morning, a mutual friend of Navin Ramgoolam and me said that Ramgoolam wanted me to step down as Deputy Prime Minister. The first thing I did was call him and say: if that's the case, I'm leaving immediately." A denial followed, which he described as "not very convincing."

Later that evening, at 9 PM, he received a second call from the Prime Minister. "Sometimes in life, you have to understand what is not clearly stated," he remarked. The next day at noon, he submitted his resignation letter to the President of the Republic.

What hurt him more was the immediate reaction from certain MMM leaders. Just hours after his resignation, a press conference held at the party's former headquarters—organized, according to him, after a meeting with the Prime Minister—attacked him vehemently. "What is sad is that some MMM leaders, though not all, held a petty and low press conference on Friday afternoon targeting me." He stressed that at that moment, he had not left the MMM. He still hasn’t.

He took the opportunity to dismantle the party constitution brandished by Reza Uteem on Monday, March 23, following a political bureau meeting. He described it as an outdated document from Steven Obeegadoo's era. "It's an incredible and unimplementable jumble. A bundle of completely crazy clauses."

He specifically mentioned Clause 11(8), which prohibits the Secretary-General from being a minister, while Rajesh Bhagwan holds both positions. "I suppose he still doesn't realize the enormity of the situation."

He also pointed out the lack of an updated list of party delegates. "Week after week, I asked the Secretary-General to provide an updated list, but it was never done." He added during the Q&A: "If this list is communicated, I will propose holding a Delegate Assembly."

Reasons for Departure

The essence of Paul Bérenger's remarks lies elsewhere: in a dark, almost alarmist portrayal of the state of the country. Since November, he stated, he has repeatedly alerted Navin Ramgoolam without being heard. "We are eating our tails, we are ruining our future since November." According to him, two threats hang over Mauritius: a downgrade by Moody's and a grey listing by the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) and the ESAAMLG (Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group). "My primary duty is towards the country. I see that we are heading towards a critical situation. And I have proposed numerous solutions."

Among them is the appointment of a Finance Minister distinct from the Prime Minister, which he has demanded for months. "We need a Finance Minister. A lot of boards and institutions are still not appointed." This is crucial as the Prime Minister is also the Finance Minister, leading to losses in both areas.

Additionally, a report from the EDB revealed that Rs 47 billion in private investments are blocked. "There is a good dose of corruption behind this. I insisted to Ramgoolam that we cannot let this continue." The Diego Garcia issue also illustrates this inertia: he called for the establishment of an emergency inter-ministerial committee to address the Rs 10 billion shortfall. "There has never been a high-level committee, and that too leads us towards downgrading." He added, "I hope I'm wrong, but in three to six months, we will see what situation we find ourselves in. I hope everything I say does not come true. I cannot remain silent in the face of all this."

The discreet cancellation of the subscription to S&P Global, just before a rating expected on April 24, appears to him as an admission. "Very likely because they sensed there would be a 'downgrade.' Investors will have figured it out by then. In July, Moody's will conduct its rating. I hope I'm wrong, but in three to six months, we will know what problem we will be in."

The port is another urgent matter. "It's a matter of life and death. We have lost a lot of time. We are playing with the port, which is the lifeblood of Mauritius. The economy is already struggling, and this port issue could make things dramatic." Electoral reform is also delayed in materializing. "Ramgoolam tells me he is convinced it will happen, but I am skeptical."

Corruption: A Central Theme

Corruption occupies a prominent place in his indictment. "We promised to fight corruption above all in the last elections. But this government is catching up with what the MSM has completely spoiled. This gang, which is said to be five, is much larger than five."

He recounts that a Labour minister pointed out a specific case involving someone from this gang and discussed it with the Prime Minister. "The person lost their position at the PMO and regained it after three weeks. There was no evidence, but when a cock doesn't give a whistle, it doesn't signal anything. Corruption is spreading."

He reiterated his observation on corruption during the Q&A: "When the MSM was in power, and even to this day, not one MSM person has been convicted because the system is locked. To a large extent, the MSM still manipulates, but it’s not just them: it’s the system."

He mentioned unacceptable appointments in banking institutions, the prison commissioner issue—"people have died in prison, and this will come out in the board of inquiry"—and an audit of the MIC that never occurred. "The MIC continues as usual. The Silver Bank scandal continues as well."

The Air Mauritius issue particularly affects him. "Air Mauritius is a national pride that is going to crash. It is our heritage. I cannot accept that." He claims to have proposed Megh Pillay to turn the company around, provided he is the real boss. "But they simply sabotaged that. There is a lack of commitment in that."

On the drug issue, he is equally grim. "Our hearts ache when we see the ravages of synthetic drugs. How much time have we lost?" He does commend the recent actions of the Adsu. "Today, Adsu is starting to do its job to crack down on drugs. Everyone knows where drugs are made." But he denounces an institutional barrier: "The one who leads the ADSU is competent but does not have the necessary rank to do his job properly. Give him his rank."

The Future of the MMM in Suspense

Regarding the future, Bérenger remains strategic. A major gathering is planned for Saturday morning at the Plaza party hall, from 10 AM to noon, to bring together militants and supporters. Options will be openly debated: exercising the minority trend within the MMM, calling for a delegate assembly—if such a list exists—or creating a new party. "My comrades and I still want to try to steer the MMM back on course," he said, without definitively closing the door. The question of opposition leadership, he clarified, is directly linked to the outcome of these discussions.

"I regret nothing. But I did not know that the PTr would return to its bad habits. The priority was to prevent the MSM from returning; now the priority is to prevent the MSM from raising its head again. But at the rate things are going, there is a big risk. He concluded with a warning to younger generations: "Take the time to look at 2000-2005. It can come back, and Mauritius can relive those moments."