Ramgoolam: Ex-govt wasted Rs 5bn of public funds

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has launched a sharp attack on the previous administration, claiming that its financial mismanagement led to a staggering waste of Rs 5 billion in public funds. The accusation, reported by Le Défi Media, underscores what the current government says is a legacy of fiscal recklessness it has inherited since returning to power. Ramgoolam did not mince his words, describing the former government's conduct as deeply irresponsible and damaging to Mauritius's public finances. While the specific projects or expenditure lines cited were not detailed in the original report, the Rs 5 billion figure — a substantial sum for a small island economy — signals that the new administration intends to make accountability a central theme of its early tenure. This is not the first time the PTr-led alliance has pointed to financial irregularities under its predecessors. Since taking office following the November 2024 general elections, the Ramgoolam government has repeatedly signalled its intention to audit major contracts and public spending decisions made during the previous administration's term. From an editorial standpoint, the timing of these declarations matters. By framing the Rs 5 billion figure prominently and publicly, Ramgoolam appears to be setting the stage for potential investigations, judicial inquiries, or at the very least, a parliamentary reckoning. It is a political strategy as much as an accountability exercise — one designed to consolidate the new government's moral authority while keeping pressure on the opposition. For ordinary Mauritians, Rs 5 billion represents a significant portion of the national budget and raises legitimate questions about how such losses occurred, who was responsible, and whether any funds can be recovered. Civil society and opposition groups are likely to demand transparency not just about the past, but about how the current government plans to prevent similar waste going forward. As Mauritius navigates ongoing economic pressures — including public debt management and the cost of living — the credibility of this government will ultimately rest not on what it says about the past, but on the concrete reforms it delivers in the months ahead. Source: Le Défi Media