Blog: Presidential caprices of a President with caprices

If there is something, a commodity or a profession that Paradise Island is so blessed that year in and year out, we have a plentiful supply of, recession or boom time alike, it is PUNDITS!

Let me first remind you of what pundits are. These are special people (mostly, if not entirely, of the masculine gender) who, prompted or not, can offer you but mostly to the Mass media, their expert opinions or commentaries on virtually any subject that you take your fancy on: from the economy, world affairs to the rights or wrongs of a Prime Minister, a President or an Opposition Leader’s decision or opinions.

Hitherto Pundits in Paradise Island were the exclusive domains of “Salon coiffeur du coin, the Bazar Central in colourful language” or as an extra free treat from your taxi driver. Whereas abroad to be a pundit (usually a very highly paid and movie-star status) one has to have some qualification or past career experience in the field you profess to be expert in. Alan Hansen and Gary Linecker of the BBC are both ex-professional footballers. Paul Krugman of the New York Times is a Nobel Prize Economics winner. But in Paradise Island, no qualification of any kind is required and befitting our generous nature, our local pundits provide a free service!

So it is no wonder then when our President who, almost from nowhere, or out of the blue, realized that he is President of Paradise Island and in the midst of grave events taking place, he was duty-bound to open his mouth. Events such as the arrest of his son Pravin and cousin-in law Maya Hanoomanjee were clearly the straw that breaks the camel’s back and were, according to him clear evidence that the country was heading to an abyss and that our institutions like ICAC “a pe faner” (grossly incompetent is the closest English word I can think of!). In true Presidential SAJ’s style, he talked the talk. Now the country is waiting whether he will “act the act”!

The timing and manner of the President’s sudden intervention in the political realms is giving more than a field day to our local pundits. Questions such as the President’s decision to meet Opposition politicians or his rights to criticize the current government records and policies are indeed burning issues for our Pundits.

But of course our President (or any President) “a un droit divine de voir ou rencontrer” any Tom, Dick and Harry and to speak his mind on current political issues. But then, it does beg the question as to WHY THE PRESIDENT DID NOT EXERCISE THIS PREROGATIVE BEFORE since 2003 up to the MASS RESIGNATIONS OF THE MSM MINISTERS!)?
 
Why also The President is seeing Politicians and ex-Politicians of a particular colour only? (Read the MMM). Why not see ex-Labour or PMSD Ministers? Indeed why not summon current Ministers, appointed by him to seek answers on their performance or lack of it, that is allegedly responsible for leading the country “a la derive” on a fast tract highway of doom?
 
It cannot be simply un-significant or a simple freak of political coincidence that after each and every meetings with MMM politicians and / or the Opposition leader and the subsequent cleverly worded statements of the President, that the MMM leadership embark on a PR exercise to push aggressively and confidently for a “Remake Alliance of 2000” with the MSM.
 
Up to now, the President seems to have been OBLIVIOUS to the country's state of affairs, corruptions or "derives" or what not! He has been since 2003, for all intents and purposes been CONSPICUOUS by his SILENCE and all indications suggested that SAJ has been enjoying his State (Political) retirement in the most blissful environment with the weekly Sunday lunch "KOZE KOZER" (behind the thick walls and doors of the Presidential Palace, Le Reduit), exclusively with son Pravin.
 
Indeed the last 14 months while the MSM and their 6 Ministers, including son Pravin as Finance Minister, were in Alliance with the PTr & the PMSD, and enjoying all the trappings of power, our President sees no “EVILS” or hear no “EVILS”. When asked by a journalist-writer if “la réserve qu’impose le poste de Président vous pèse quelquefois ? He was quick to assert: “Pas du tout. Sauf quelque fois quand les journalistes m’agacent avec leurs questions, je peux sappe lor cale après dire kiksoz ki pas bizin ! (Rires)”.
 
In that April 2010 interview, the Journalist -writer of the fanciful name like Alain Gordon-Gentil performed a near-miracle and extracted from the President’s hitherto dormant memory, political statements and recollections that many political analysts, including Mr Gordon-Gentil himself construed as having de facto sealed the outcomes of the pending General elections of June 2010.
 
We have to remind ourselves that shortly before the now infamous Gordon-Gentil 2nd April Interview, an Alliance between Labour and the MSM of son Pravin’s Jugnauth had been concluded against all expectations (certainly from self-acclaimed political Guru like J C De L’Estrac who was hell-bent to achieve an MMM-LABOUR Alliance whereupon he himself, was to be rewarded with a Presidential seat in the event of an MMM-LABOUR victory at the June general elections. Sadly for JCDL this was not to materialise under the better or worse judgement of fellow mason and leader of the Labour Leader). Other analysts would have you believe that an MSM-LABOUR Alliance was “fait Accompli”, done and dusted behind Presidential Palace closed doors when SAJ’s Presidential appointment was renewed in 2008.
 
Coming back to Gentil’s interview, when prompted to comment on the surprise MSM-LABOUR Alliance with its generous 18 Tickets to MSM, the President stated “Je crois que tout va très bien se passer. Je suis très très optimiste. Je suis content pour l’avenir du pays.” He added “Je suis heureux pour Pravind, pour ce qui se déroule. 

He went further: “En politique, je crois que je choisirais, si c’était à refaire, de ne pas entrer dans le MMM. Vous savez, j’ai dit à Pravind : il vaut mieux être dans caro cannes que d’aller travailler avec le MMM et Bérenger.-Ah oui ! Si j’avais à refaire une carrière je ne serais pas entré dans le MMM. Je ne sais pas quelle autre alternative il y aurait. Mais passer encore ou je suis passé avec le MMM, jamais, plus jamais.!!!

Et pour Paul Berenger, son ancient lieutenant de l’an 2000, SAJ would be “fidele a lui meme” and be excessively generous in stating: “Aio ! Un conseil que je lui donnerais: il faut être honnête et sincère dans la vie. Il ne faut pas avoir de hidden agenda dans les relations avec les gens. Et puis il ne faut pas faire du tort aux gens. Je trouve qu’il est rempli de méchanceté”.

So when does “a Hidden agenda (of Berenger) become “une tactique strategique” as he himself turns to in 2000? Only a President of SAJ’s mettle can answer this question.

What went wrong between the interview of April 2010 when the President was full of optimism for both country and his son Pravin and now when according to him we are spiralling out of control to a “derive”?

For a President to discuss, albeit political issues of national interest with the Opposition or with ex-ministers, or with any Tom, Dick & Harry, at a time when a serious international economic crisis is dangerously looming in our horizons or at any other time, is indeed very commendable and falls within Presidential prerogatives.

However, if such meetings and discussions are but a charade to conceal a well choreographed efforts towards a new Political alliance between the MMM and the MSM (a Remake of 2000 under whatever shape or form), then it is hardly Presidential lawful and ethical prerogatives but instead it is pure and “malsain” abuse of power by an ex-political leader (SAJ) not only to derive political dividends for the MSM and by default members of the Jugnauth’s dynasty (read son Pravin).
 
The “non-colleur la fiche” segment of the population would be fully justified in their claim that the behaviour of both the President and the Opposition Leader call into question their integrity and their respective positions.
 
Are SAJ actions, no matter how packaged or how ill-conceived, bringing the presidency into DISREPUTE? Or is it not, ample evidence that our Presidency and the method of appointing a President (by simple majority vote in the National assembly after a motion by a sitting PM) drawing from ex-Prime Ministers or ex-ministers, as the only nominees for the much prized State position, is indeed a very unhealthy practice for democracy? A system and practice that can only function with the explicit duplicity of our Political leaders in behind-the-scene secret agreements at the 11th hour. How many persons know the full details of the first MedPoint Accord of 2000 or what really transpire when SAJ was re-appointed as President in 2008?
 
This is not what democracy is about and certainly this is not what Mauritius deserves.