
Arvin Boolell, the Minister of Agro-Industry, described the Constitutional Review Commission Bill as a "historic event," fulfilling a commitment from the government's 2025/29 program. He stated that the commission will ensure the "voice of the people will be heard" and expects a broad consensus on upcoming reforms. Boolell also emphasized that the commission cannot overlook the establishment of a Court of Appeal, whose judges must demonstrate impeccable independence. He criticized the period between 2019 and 2024, citing a blurring of the separation of powers and a "collusion between the Speaker and the Leader of the House" that fostered a "culture of impunity," leading to an erosion of institutional independence. With the new government, terms like "wiretapping, manipulation, and censorship have disappeared," according to Boolell, who asserted these issues are now in the past. He highlighted Mauritius's international confidence, attributing foreign investment to the country's strong Constitution and adherence to international commitments. While acknowledging the Constitution's past effectiveness through judicial independence, separation of powers, and checks and balances, he stressed that it requires "vigilance, reforms, and sometimes even rescue." Proposed reforms include creating a committee for high-level public appointments to ensure merit-based selections and strengthening fundamental rights, such as the right to a clean environment, healthcare access, education, and da
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
Must ReadPrime Minister and Minister of Finance, Navin Ramgoolam, has announced that the Budget Speech will be delivered on Friday, June 19, at 5 PM in Parliament. This will be the second budget presented by the Alliance du Changement New Look government. The decision aims to avoid the need for a Vote on Account for initial public expenditures in the new financial year. Until June 19, Parliament will be technically inactive, though the Budget Cell of the Ministry of Finance and other ministries will be intensely engaged in budget arbitrations. During Prime Minister's Question Time, Ramgoolam informed Ram Etwareea, a Member of Parliament from the MMM, that in addition to pre-budget consultations with social partners, the Ministry of Finance is conducting Policy Dialogue meetings with all ministries. These discussions involve relevant ministers and their senior staff on key policy reforms within their sectors and will continue in the coming days to finalize the budget. Furthermore, the Prime Minister expressed his hope to complete constitutional reform before Mauritius celebrates its 60th anniversary of independence on March 12, 2028. This statement was made during his summing-up on the Constitutional Review Commission Bill, potentially in response to concerns raised by former Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Fron Miltan Progresis, Paul Bérenger, regarding the risk of no significant constitutional amendments being adopted before the next general elections.
Must ReadArthur Gregg Sulzberger, chairman of The New York Times, criticized artificial intelligence companies on Monday, May 1, for what he called "unscrupulous theft of intellectual property" from media organizations. Speaking at the World Media Congress in Marseille, Sulzberger warned that the passivity of media towards AI companies risks leading to "a future where there will be fewer and fewer journalists." He argued that AI companies are endangering journalism and disrupting its economic model. Sulzberger stated that the profession has been "too discreet, too passive, and too fragmented in the face of abuses committed by companies causing the artificial intelligence revolution." The World Media Congress is being held in Marseille until Wednesday.

The Sugar Investment Trust SIT is undergoing a major strategic overhaul to address significant debt and the evolving sugar industry in Mauritius. Historically tied to the sugarcane sector, SIT is transitioning to a more diversified, resilient, and sustainable economic model. The strategic vision, led by Chief Executive Officer Nishta Jooty-Needroo, focuses on activity diversification, renewable energy investments, governance modernization, and enhanced asset valuation. In the medium term, SIT prioritizes financial consolidation through debt reduction and rigorous resource management to stabilize its financial structure. The current strategy combines budgetary discipline, optimization of existing assets, and development of new income-generating projects. SIT's strategic framework now revolves around four complementary pillars: agriculture, real estate, energy, and the valorization of land and property assets, aiming to reduce historical reliance on sugar. Long-term goals include transforming SIT into a modern, high-performing, and sustainable institution that plays a structural role in the Mauritian economy while supporting small planters and its 55,000 shareholders. Diversification efforts include revitalizing sugarcane cultivation while developing food crops to modernize agricultural practices and enhance national food security. Real estate development is a key pillar, with residential and commercial projects like The Core and NG Tower optimizing property asset profitability
Must ReadFormer Finance Minister Renganaden Padayachy was questioned Under Warning by the Central CID for over two hours regarding a video he posted on social media. In the video, he allegedly claimed the Bank of Mauritius printed 83 billion rupees last year. Assisted by his lawyer, Me Raouf Gulbul, Padayachy stated the video was an opinion piece and denied spreading false information about the Central Bank. Police allowed him to leave, awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions DPP on further action. Padayachy called for a calm economic debate and noted that as a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Mauritius, he had never filed a police complaint on an economic matter. He also commented on what he perceived as attacks on opponents. The Bank of Mauritius filed a complaint with the Central CID on May 16 following Padayachy's statements. The video, posted on May 11, also defended the 2020 transfer of 55 billion rupees from the Bank of Mauritius to the state during the Covid-19 pandemic and questioned criticisms while mentioning a presumed 83 billion rupee injection into the economy in 2025. The Bank of Mauritius refuted these claims in a May 12 statement, asserting that no monetary issuance or fund transfer to the government occurred last year. The matter was discussed in the National Assembly during Prime Minister's Question Time, where Leader of the House Navin Ramgoolam denounced Padayachy's statements as "false, unfounded and malicious." Ramgoolam also accused the pr