Blog: Ten reasons why Rama Sithanen is a risk for Navin and the New Alliance

First, he defies the PM's authority and perogative by challenging the latter's decision not to guarantee him the Finance Minister's job if he ever wins the election.

Second, he says he has a right to continue heading the Finance Ministry and any change of Ministry would degrade him. My dear Rama, what happened in the last remaniement ministerielle wherein most of the Minsters were summoned to change their Ministries. Even the Deputy Prime Minister Beebeejaun had to accept the change. Unlike you, he did it without any grunt, defiance, protest, confrontation or held a public gathering to show his anger and frustration. If a No 2 of a Govt. can change his Ministry so why cannot the No. 4? Are you above the rest? Are you so special?

Third, Rama represents an element of great risk and instability for the new Govt. Remember, he has a habit of blackmailing, and threatening to resign etc.. The Bheenick saga should be a reminder of Rama's inherent state of mind and confrontational attitude. All what Navin did in this case was to, by virtue of his constitutional perogative that the Governor of the Bank of Mauritius be nominated by the PM of the country, he appointed Bheenick, But FM Minister Sithanen wrongly saw this as a humiliation. He wanted someone else. In short, he was trying to decide in the place of the PM. He wanted to usurp the power of the PM. Poor Rama, please read Bank of Mauritius legislation before confronting Navin.

Fourth, Sithanen wrongly asserts that the resilience of the Mauritian economy in this worldwide crisis period is because of his policy. WRONG. Truth is Mauritius was not hit to the extent of the developed countries SOLELY because the consumer's credit level in our country is not overly high. In a debt triggered economic crisis, like the present one, you are safe if consumer's debt compared to their assets is not high. Simple as that. Rama has no input in this. Simple economics.

Fifth, Rama has failed to comprehend the single most important problem of the population of this country: erosion of purchasing power of the low and middle income. Thanks to his economic policy, the rich is becoming richer, the poor, poorer. When at a time when the price of milk on the world market is amongst the lowest of all time, in Mauritius milk prices are sky-rocketing. Despite lower import duties and low exchange rates, prices of new cars/vehicles are soaring and soaring.

Sixth, fuel prices in Mauritius, when the world price if $80/barrel  todays exchange rate is Rs 30/$ is Rs 47/litre i.e nearing the all time high i.e. the same price when world prices were $145/barrel and theexchange rate was Rs 35/US$. So, what will happen when the world prices climb back to $145/barrel and the exchange rate to Rs 40/USD? May be Rs 250/litre! Of course, Mr Sithanen does not have the need to worry about such high fuel prices because he gets a fully paid Berline, all expenses such paid, fuel paid, and driver paid by the taxpayers etc.. DOES HE AT ALL UNDERSTAND THE POOR'S PROBLEMS?

Seventh, instead of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, what Mr Sithanen has done is the exact opposite: on one hand he reduced the rich's taxes (income and corporate) and on top generously gave them public money in form of stimulus package, on the other he has imposed all sorts of taxes on the poor and make them poorer. Sithanen boasts that the inflation rate is low. Let's not talk about manipulated statistics. Ask him to go to the grocery shop and compare the prices of goods every month and he'll realize the real level of inflation in this country.

Eighth, for the past five years, Sithanen has been arrogantly beating his chests that THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO HIS ECONOMIC POLICY. Well, Rama time has now come for someone else to show you that there are better alternatives to yours. Let someone else is get the chance and you should accept the challenge. Wait to see the new alternative and criticize in due course. You cannot dream of continuing forever.

Ninth, for god sake stop your sentimental, demagogic manoeuvres when you state that you are from a poor family and have no support. Wrong. The wealthy mega rich men of the private sector are your powerful supporters because you tailor the country's fiscal policy only to augment their wealth at the expense of the population. What link exists between these barons and you is a secret to nobody.

Tenth, through your selfish motive and stubborn ambition to remain as FM, you have forgotten to pay attention that the main mission of the new alliance party and his leader Navin is to ensure victory in the forthcoming elections. In an alliance between different parties, there are compromises to be made and these are the perogatives of the Leaders of the parties concerned. Should MSM not receive the Finance Ministry, it may well decide to pull out, unless Pravind obtains the No 2 of the Govt (which legitimately he can aspire in his capacity as the leader of the largest ally of Labour). So what will happen to Beebeejaun, the Muslim votes and Navin's strategy? Additionally MSM can either choose to ally with MMM or there could be a three horse race. In either case, the chances of Labour coming back to power will be seriously jeopardised.

Should Navin take a risk, destabilize a new alliance and jeopardize victory only to please a Minister who has on several occasions in the past threatened to resign as Finance minister? Mr Sithanen, stop your childish behaviour, have the courage to acknowledge that your time is up, and please pack up and go quietly.

You had your time and chose to enrich the rich at the expense of the poor. Today, Navin has to ensure that the alliance wins the election comfortably. Who becomes the next FM is not his priority today. The priority is to reach a compromise with his DPM (Beebeejaun), Xavier and Pravind so that they make a winning coalition. What Sithanen has done, through his public meeting of Sunday, is destabilize the new alliance by publicly attacking Pravind and the MSM. Don't try to do as if you are Navin. You have neither his authority, perogative nor power. Let the leader decide. If you are not happy with his decision, the door is open. If you go, it would be a blessing in disguise for the population and the country.

Wish you a prosperous future career Rama.