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Pravind Jugnauth

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The Honourable
Pravind Jugnauth
MP
Jugnauth in 2019
13th Prime Minister of Mauritius
In office
23 January 2017 – 13 November 2024
President
DeputyLouis Steven Obeegadoo
Preceded byAnerood Jugnauth
Succeeded byNavin Ramgoolam
Minister of Finance
In office
26 May 2016 – 12 November 2019
Prime Minister
Preceded byAnerood Jugnauth (Acting)
In office
11 May 2009 – 26 July 2011
Prime MinisterNavin Ramgoolam
Preceded byRama Sithanen
Succeeded byXavier Luc Duval
In office
7 October 2003 – 5 July 2005
Prime MinisterPaul Berenger
Preceded byPaul Berenger
Succeeded byRama Sithanen
Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation
In office
14 December 2014 – 1 July 2015
Prime MinisterAnerood Jugnauth
Preceded byChedumbrum Pillay
Succeeded byEtienne Sinatambou
11th Leader of Opposition
In office
15 September 2014 – 14 December 2014
Prime MinisterNavin Ramgoolam
Preceded byPaul Bérenger
Succeeded byPaul Bérenger
3rd Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius
In office
11 May 2010 – 26 July 2011
Prime MinisterNavin Ramgoolam
Preceded byRama Sithanen
Succeeded byAnil Bachoo
8th Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius
In office
7 October 2003 – 5 July 2005
Prime MinisterPaul Bérenger
Preceded byPaul Bérenger
Succeeded byRashid Beebeejaun
Leader of the Militant Socialist Movement
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 October 2003
Preceded byAnerood Jugnauth
In office
9 May 2009 – 11 November 2024
Preceded byAshok Jugnauth
Personal details
Born (1961-12-25) 25 December 1961 (age 62)
La Caverne, British Mauritius
Political partyMilitant Socialist Movement
SpouseKobita Ramdanee
Children3
Parents
Alma mater
Websitewww.pravindjugnauth.mu

Pravind Kumar Jugnauth[1][2] (born 25 December 1961) is a Mauritian politician who was one of the Prime Ministers of Mauritius, succeeding his father, Aneerood Jugnauth in 2017 where he lead the cabinet until 2019.[3] He became Prime Minister again in 2019 following the victory of his coalition, L'Alliance Morisien, and he held the post until 2024 where he and his party faced a defeat[4] under the Alliance Lepep coalition. Jugnauth is the leader of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) party. He has held a number of ministerial portfolios and also been Leader of the Opposition.

Early life and education

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Born on 25 December 1961 in La Caverne, a suburb area in Vacoas-Phoenix, Mauritius, Jugnauth was born into a Hindu Yaduvanshi Ahir family.[5] He was born to Anerood Jugnauth, former President and Prime Minister of Mauritius, and Sarojini Ballah, a schoolteacher. He has an elder sister, Shalini Jugnauth-Malhotra.[6][7]

After primary schooling at Aryan Vedic, he studied at Royal College Curepipe. He then went on to study law at the University of Buckingham, thus joining the Lincoln's Inn, and became a barrister. He then joined Aix-Marseille University in France where he graduated with a "diploma in civil law."[8]

Family life

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Pravind Jugnauth married Kobita Ramdanee in 1992 and is the father of three daughters: Sonika, Sonali and Sara.[8]

Start of political career

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Pravind Jugnauth entered the political arena in 1987 and officially joined the MSM in 1990.[8][9]

2000 to 2005

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Jugnauth with Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004

As Minister of Agriculture from 7 September 2000 to 7 October 2003 (under MSM-MMM government), Jugnauth reformed the sugar sector by diversification with the production of ethanol, agricultural rhum, special sugars, electricity generation from bagasse and other high value-added products. Besides production costs were significantly reduced in response to a drop in the protected sugar price under the Sugar Protocol with the European Union. He also negotiated a package for workers under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme which enabled around 8000 workers to retire with cash compensation exceeding 2.5 billion rupees and around 825 arpents of land worth 3 billion rupees.

Jugnauth also encouraged hydroponics and other modern methods of agricultural production as well as agricultural biotechnology research. He created a National Agricultural Biotechnology Institute and Food Technology Laboratory in Mauritius and later launched the Small Planters Welfare Fund. The fund caters to the welfare of planters and their families and provides crop insurance schemes designed to financially support planters whose crops are affected by unfavourable weather conditions.

As Finance Minister from 7 October 2003 to 5 July 2005, Jugnauth reduced taxes on thousands of commodities. He increased subsidies on basic commodities and gave salary compensations well above inflation rates in two successive years. He launched a project to make Mauritius a Duty Free Island.[10]

2005 to 2009

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In June 2005 Prime Minister Paul Berenger dissolved the Parliament in preparation for the 2005 General Elections. The Labour-led Alliance Sociale won a total seat of 38 against the MSM-MMM alliance which obtained only 24 seats. Pravind Jugnauth was defeated in his constituency, received 48% of vote and was not elected.[11] Paul Berenger became Leader of the Opposition made up of MSM (14 seats) and MMM (10 seats).

In 2006 MP Ashok Jugnauth left the MSM party and formed a new party following a dispute with Pravind Jugnauth regarding the leadership of the party. At that time Pravind was not an elected member of Parliament but still held leadership of the MSM. Nando Bodha the general secretary of the MSM became Leader of the Opposition after the MSM-MMM alliance split up due to Pravind Jugnauth's disapproval of Paul Berenger's request to make Rajesh Bhagwan the Opposition Chief Whip. In 2007 two members of MSM (Joe Lesongard the party's president and Sekar Naidu) left the MSM and swore allegiance to Berenger who became Leader of the Opposition.

2009 By-Elections

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Ashok Jugnauth (half-brother of Sir Anerood Jugnauth and uncle of Pravind) had been elected as MSM member of parliament in Constituency No.8 Quartier Militaire and Moka. But he had to resign in November 2008 as the British Privy Council upheld the guilty verdict that the Supreme Court of Mauritius had issued in 2007 following charges of electoral bribery during the campaign leading to the 2005 General Elections. Thus by-elections had to be held in 2009.[12] Ashok Jugnauth stood as a candidate with the support of MMM. The Labour Party supported Pravind Jugnauth who then announced his candidacy in the 8th constituency.[13] On 2 March 2009, Pravind Jugnauth won the by-elections. His victory paved the way for the next alliance (Labour Party-MSM) during the 2010 general elections.

2009-2014

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In 2009, MSM formed a coalition known as Alliance de L'Avenir or Ptr-MSM-PMSD by joining forces with the Mauritian Labour Party and Mauritian Social Democrat Party. The coalition won the May 2010 elections. On Navin Ramgoolam's advice, President Sir Anerood Jugnauth then appointed Jugnauth Vice Prime Minister & Minister of Finance as of 11 May 2010.[14] On 26 July 2011 Jugnauth and all other MSM ministers resigned due to the scandal known as the MedPoint Affair.[15][16]

In 2014, following the resignation of Paul Berenger as Leader of the Opposition, President Kailash Purryag appointed Jugnauth to the office.[17][18] Jugnauth served as Leader of the Opposition from September to December 2014.

2014-2017

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He was appointed Minister of Information Technology following the Alliance Lepep's victory.

2017-2019

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Jugnauth with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 19 April 2018

On 23 January 2017, he was chosen by his party MSM to lead the National Assembly. This triggered the ruling coalition partner Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate to leave the government and join the Opposition. Pravind Jugnauth served as Prime Minister of Mauritius during the second half of the Alliance Lepep's mandate which concluded with general elections in November 2019.

2019–present

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Following the victory of the Alliance Morisien (a coalition of MSM-ML-MAG parties) at the 2019 General Elections Pravind Jugnauth was elected as prime minister for a five-year mandate.

Until 2024, the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean was disputed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius. In February 2019, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that the United Kingdom must transfer the islands to Mauritius as they were illegally separated from the latter in 1965.[19] At first, the UK did not recognise Mauritius' sovereignty claim over the Chagos Archipelago.[20] In October 2020, Jugnauth described the British and American governments as "hypocrites" and "champions of double talk" over their response to the dispute.[21] In a joint declaration by Jugnauth and British prime minister Keir Starmer issued on October 3, 2024, it was announced that an agreement had been reached between the UK and Mauritius about the return of the archipelago to Mauritian sovereignty. Under the agreement, most of the territory constituting the archipelago will be given to Mauritius, while the island of Diego Garcia will remain under the jurisdiction of the UK and USA for at least 99 years, pending the ratification of a treaty between the UK and Mauritius.[22][23]

Jugnauth conceded his government losing in the 2024 Mauritian general election.[24]

Recognition and awards

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Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Mrs. Kobita Ramdanee-Jugnauth being received by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shri Upendra Kushwaha, on their arrival at IGI Airport, in New Delhi.

Pravind Jugnauth was honoured Doctor from the University of Buckingham with an Honoris Causa in 2005. In 2017 he has awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India.

Controversies

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In 2010, the PTR-MSM-PMSD government acknowledged the need to create a specialized centre for geriatric care. Thus the cabinet of Ministers approved the purchase of the existing MedPoint Private Clinic which was owned by Dr. Krishnan Malhotra and Mrs Shalini Devi Jugnauth-Malhotra. The latter is the sister of then Minister of Finance Pravind Jugnauth and daughter of then President Sir Anerood Jugnauth. The objective was to convert the hospital into a specialised centre.[25]

On 22 July 2011 following an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), then Minister of Health Maya Hanoomanjee was arrested by the ICAC Police and the government chief valuer was suspended from his duties. Pravind Jugnauth was also arrested on charges of "conflict of interest".[26] This became known as the MedPoint Affair. On 30 June 2015 Jugnauth was found guilty under Article 13 of the Prevention Of Corruption Act 2002 (PoCA).[27] He was sentenced by the Intermediate court of Mauritius for 1 year of imprisonment. However, he appealed to the Supreme Court of Mauritius and won his appeal.[28] The prosecution appealed to the UK Privy Council which is constitutionally Mauritius' Highest Appeal Court, but the prosecution appeal was ultimately unsuccessful.

On 26 December 2012 Pravind Jugnauth was arrested and interrogated by Central CID on charges of sedition. This followed a complaint lodged by former minister Sheila Bappoo of the Labour Party after Pravind Jugnauth's revelations about the abuse of power and financial scandals involving Navin Ramgoolam's girlfriend Nandanee Soornack. Pravind Jugnauth's arrest was decried as being arbitrary and a form of harassment by Navin Ramgoolam, as the previous application of the anti-sedition law dated back to 1972. Lawyer Roshi Bhadain assisted Pravind Jugnauth in his legal defence.[29][30]

References

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  1. ^ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282603686_Gender_and_Politicised_Religion [bare URL]
  2. ^ "Hon. JUGNAUTH Pravind Kumar". mauritiusassembly.govmu.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  3. ^ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/p/R61Au4GiAVaTjGKP/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/p/3DeSUz5ahgfgmuoh/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ Heerah, Hashwini (8 May 2015). "Gender and Politicised Religion". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ Connett, David. "Essex care home shooting". The Independent. Independent.
  7. ^ "Mauritius: Indo-Mauritians in the general elections". African Democracy Encyclopaedia Project. EISA. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Leur histoire". 5Plus. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  9. ^ Hilbert, Patrick. "Ces dynasties qui règnent sur la politique". Defimedia. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  10. ^ "5plusltd.com - 5plusltd Resources and Information". 5plusltd.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Election Results". Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  12. ^ "Supreme Court annuls Ashok Jugnauth's election". Lalitmauritius.org. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
  13. ^ "Hon. Members". Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Cabinet : baptême du feu pour 7 ministres, 6 font leur comeback au Co…". archive.vn. 13 May 2010. Archived from the original on 13 May 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Mauritius's Jugnauth to Hold Briefing After Resign Report". Bloomberg L.P. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  16. ^ "MSM Ministers Resign from Their Ministerial Duties « Mopays.com". Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  17. ^ "ASSEMBLÉE NATIONALE : Changing of Guards ! - Le Mauricien". Lemauricien.com. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "Chagos Islands dispute: UK obliged to end control – UN". BBC News. 25 February 2019.
  20. ^ "Chagos Islands dispute: UK misses deadline to return control". BBC News. 22 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Chagos Islands dispute: Mauritius calls US and UK 'hypocrites'". BBC News. 19 October 2020.
  22. ^ Harding, Andrew (3 October 2024). "UK will give sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius". BBC News. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Britain hands Chagos Islands, home of secretive US military base, over to Mauritius". Politico. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Mauritian Prime Minister Jugnauth Concedes Election Defeat". Bloomberg News. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  25. ^ "MedPoint | Mauritius Maurice News". Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  26. ^ "Pravind Jugnauth's 26th September 2011 incriminating MedPoint statement to ICAC". Ile-maurice.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  27. ^ "Pravind Jugnauth found guilty of conflict of interests in the MedPoint case". Indian Ocean Times. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  28. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  29. ^ "Arrestation de Pravind Jugnauth pour sédition". Le Mauricien. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  30. ^ Bhookhun, Deepa (28 December 2012). "Seditious". L'Express. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Mauritius
2017–present 		Incumbent
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