Municipal Elections 2025 - Vacoas/Phoenix: New Faces, New Ambitions

In Vacoas/Phoenix, a new political wave is emerging. With a mix of independent candidates and new parties, fresh faces seek to disrupt the status quo, amplify citizens’ voices, and bring a breath of fresh air to the municipal elections, ten years after the last vote.

There has been notable enthusiasm for emerging parties and independent candidates in Vacoas/Phoenix. In Ward 1, the Reform Party bets on youth and innovation, aiming to mark this election with a break from old practices and an opening to a new generation of local officials.

Kishan Doyal, Jennyfer Hélène, and Benito Bauda, all first-time candidates, submitted their applications shortly after 9 AM at Henrietta Primary School. Their arrival was calm, but their motivation was evident. "Our priority for these elections is to defend citizens' rights. We have a 60-0 government, and we want to make a difference and be the balance for better democracy," Kishan Doyal shared.

When asked what motivated them to enter politics, these young candidates emphasized their civic duty as residents of the area. For them, participating in the municipal elections means actively contributing to the improvement of their city.

Regarding the challenges in Vacoas/Phoenix, Kishan Doyal and his teammates are aware of the citizens' expectations. "We have already identified the major problems in the area. Vacoas is a large city with many challenges. Our goal is to be the voice of the residents within the municipal council. We want to embody the change of tomorrow," the young candidate explained with conviction.

In Ward 3, an incident occurred at the Notre-Dame de la Visitation RCA School where candidates from the Alliance of Change, accompanied by their agents, attempted to access the submission center wearing party-branded T-shirts - a violation of electoral commission rules. Quick intervention from officials restored order, allowing candidates to proceed without further issues. The Alliance of Change has fielded four candidates for Vacoas/Phoenix, including Mdhin Bhageeerutty, who is running for the second time, along with Sunjeevsing Dindyal, Christel Legrand, and Soodesh Daby, who represent Ward 3.

Sunjeevsing Dindyal expressed his desire to revitalize the city: "Once elected, we will ensure Vacoas thrives. The current state of the city is deplorable. We need to revisit our structures and tackle one of the region's major challenges: traffic congestion. We have significant work ahead, including maintenance, infrastructure renovation, and traffic management. We ask citizens to trust us on this promising path."

Christel Legrand, experiencing her first electoral campaign, stated she is ready to face the challenges supported by a dedicated team and the backing of the MMM. She believes previous council members failed in their mission. "The municipality has done little for the city. The record is disastrous. We are here to change things and restore Vacoas/Phoenix's former vibrancy," she claimed.

Another candidate returning for these elections is Chetan Rambans Dookun, known as Ashwin, who served as mayor of Vacoas/Phoenix in 2006. He is running with the Reform Party to bring about the long-awaited change residents desire. "In November 2024, we witnessed a 60-0 result, and while the public expected real change, we are still in the same situation. There needs to be an opposition that acts as a watchdog, ensuring the work is done properly," he expressed. Chetan Rambans Dookun will be joined by Dharmaluxhmee Hurry, Tony Noël Suenfa, and Dusruth Raj Nundoo from the Reform Party for this election.

In Ward 2, Linion Moris has fielded three candidates: Dr. Sita Jeeneea-Saminaden, Nitish Dhondee, and Denis Lisis, all local residents eager to actively engage in the city's development, elected or not.

Dr. Sita Jeeneea-Saminaden views this municipal election as a real opportunity for extra-parliamentary parties to make their voices heard. "Despite our low representation in the last legislative elections, we have not given up. These municipal elections are a chance to provide citizens with a credible alternative and diversify the local democratic voice," she affirmed.

Very committed, the candidate laments the stagnation plaguing Vacoas/Phoenix. "We chose to participate in these elections because despite all the promises of change, we remain at a standstill. The city deserves to thrive. It has been neglected, and it's high time for that to change," Dr. Sita Jeeneea-Saminaden argued. She added that extra-parliamentary parties have a rightful place in public debate. "The voice of the people is the voice of God. Extra-parliamentary groups are the opposition of tomorrow. This is what we want to embody and bring through Linion Moris," she concluded.

In Wards 2 and 5, the Alliance of Change presents a united front with a team of candidates from various parties. New Democrats are presenting two candidates, including young hairdresser Sha-Nawaz Janhangeer and Marie Michèle Quatre-Bornes.

For Sha-Nawaz Janhangeer, this is his first electoral experience, and he sees it as a unique opportunity to serve his city. "Today, I have the chance to run in these municipal elections. We will take on our responsibility and duty to the residents. It's unfortunate that this election occurs only after ten years. We must now make up for lost time with the right methods," he stated, determined to implement concrete reforms to enhance municipal services.

He will be supported by Santaram Hanendah, Pravin Sampatlall, and David Sauvage, all committed candidates under the Alliance of Change banner, with the common goal of restoring the dynamism Vacoas/Phoenix deserves.

These Independents Making Their Political Debut

Girish Ramjuttun, a Personal Fight for His City

Despite recent health issues, Girish Ramjuttun, a young entrepreneur and resident of Vacoas, has chosen to take on a significant challenge: running as an independent candidate in Ward 2. After returning from Australia, he is eager to invest fully in his hometown and bring a new approach to municipal management.

"Why am I running? Because Vacoas/Phoenix has been neglected for too long. I want to be the alternative of tomorrow. Replacing the same people will change nothing. Even after being seriously ill, I chose to participate in these municipal elections because I have concrete ideas. We need to democratize municipal management, offer different services, improve infrastructures, and decentralize some services. That's my vision for Vacoas/Phoenix," he explained with conviction.

Manouraj Boodhoo: "I’m Taking on a Challenge"

Another independent face in the municipal race is Manouraj Boodhoo, a well-known figure in the social community in Vacoas. He is also running for the first time. Despite his age, he wants to take on one last major challenge, motivated by the social issues plaguing the city.

"I’m an independent candidate taking on a major challenge. I’ve been involved in social work for years; I’m well-known in the area and want to contribute to the renewal of my city. The challenges are immense: drugs, violence, vandalism… We need strong measures not only to guide our youth but also to provide a sense of security for the elderly. We shouldn’t limit ourselves to infrastructure; we must think about people first," he declared.

50 Candidates in the Running

The submission of candidacies for the municipal elections on May 4 concluded around 3:30 PM on Saturday, April 5. As per tradition, the electoral office held a press conference at the end of the day to review this key step in the electoral process.

A total of 50 candidates have been registered for the city of Vacoas/Phoenix. Here’s the breakdown by party and gender:

• Alliance of Change: 24 candidates: 16 men and 8 women
• Reform Party: 16 candidates: 10 men and 6 women
• Muvman Liberater: 6 candidates: 4 men and 2 women
• Repiblik Sitwayen Popiler: 1 candidate
• Castel Scouts: 3 candidates: 2 men and 1 woman
• Independents: 18 candidates in total, 15 men and 3 women

This event marks the official launch of the municipal campaign in this city. The spotlight is now on the coming weeks, where candidates will strive to convince residents to trust them to represent their interests in the municipal council.