Fron Militan Progresis MP Chetan Baboolall criticizes government budget and calls for state reform

Chetan Baboolall, a Member of Parliament for Fron Militan Progresis, stated that the government is penalizing retirees and workers, causing deep disturbance among the people of Mauritius. He asserted that no previous budget has left the population so uncertain about their future. Baboolall criticized recent changes to pension measures, the freezing of the Means Test, and the uncertainty surrounding funding sources like the expected revenue from the Chagos deal, which he believes undermine the budget's credibility. He argued that cutting pensions, raising taxes, or borrowing more are easy paths, while confronting inefficiency, waste, and entrenched privilege is the hard path to sustainable progress. He described the budget as "fake" and not reflective of reality. Baboolall also denounced the rising cost of living, noting that families continue to suffer from increased prices for food, electricity, and healthcare. He was critical of a new tax bracket for high earners and questioned the additional 5% tax on insurance. He highlighted what he called government contradictions, particularly regarding issues that required backtracking or freezing of announced measures, and accused the administration of "squeezing those who rely on the Basic Retirement Pension for survival." Beyond criticism, Baboolall advocated for structural reforms focusing on local agriculture, food security, import reduction, water management, and energy transition. He concluded by stating that Mauritius must ref