STC Board Sacking: Ex-Member Questions Logic of Decision
A former STC board member says the board never handled day-to-day management — raising questions about why it was fired over operational failures.
By MauritiusNews Editorialabout 1 hour ago👁 0 views
The abrupt dismissal of the State Trading Corporation (STC) board has sparked confusion, including among those who sat on it — with a former member now questioning the rationale behind the move.
Commerce Minister Michaël Sik Yuen announced the sacking of the STC's board of directors on 29 September, citing two main failures: a delay in the arrival of a shipment of ration rice, and the absence — for several months — of a product list the STC had been tasked with compiling.
But a source who served on the board told ION News that the logic behind the decision is hard to follow. The reason? The board does not run the STC's day-to-day operations — that is the role of management, headed by Director General Suren Dayal, who remains in post "for now."
**What is the STC, and who runs it?**
The State Trading Corporation is a Mauritian state body responsible for importing and distributing essential commodities — including rice, flour, and petroleum products — to ensure stable supplies and affordable prices for the population. It operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce.
Like most public bodies in Mauritius, the STC has two separate layers of governance: a board of directors, which sets strategic direction and provides oversight, and an executive management team, which handles operations on the ground. The board does not — and is not expected to — manage daily logistics such as shipping schedules or procurement lists.
**Why this matters**
The distinction is significant. If the delays in ration rice deliveries and the missing product lists are operational failures, accountability would typically fall on executive management rather than the board. Critics of the dismissal argue that firing the board while leaving the Director General in place appears inconsistent — and raises the question of whether the decision was driven by performance concerns or other considerations.
The former board member who spoke to ION News has a notable background. A former minister and member of the Labour Party (Parti Travailliste), he was a candidate in the 2019 general elections in Constituency No. 8 (Moka–Quartier Militaire), though he was not elected. He has also been awarded the distinction of Grand Officer of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GOSK), in recognition of his contributions to education, politics, and social affairs.
**What happens next?**
With the board dissolved, the STC is effectively operating without its oversight body while management continues under Suren Dayal. It remains unclear when a new board will be appointed, who will serve on it, and whether any further accountability measures will be taken regarding the operational lapses cited by the minister.
The episode adds to broader scrutiny of how Mauritius manages its state-owned enterprises — and where responsibility lies when things go wrong.
Source: ION News
Commerce Minister Michaël Sik Yuen announced the dismissal of the State Trading Corporation (STC) board on 29 September, citing a delay in a ration rice shipment and the failure to produce a required product list over several months. The decision was announced publicly, though former board members have questioned whether these operational issues fall under the board's remit.
What does the State Trading Corporation (STC) do in Mauritius?−
The STC is a Mauritian government body responsible for importing and distributing essential goods such as ration rice, flour, and petroleum products. Its mandate is to ensure stable supplies and price stability for consumers across the island.
Is the STC Director General also being removed?−
As of the time of reporting, STC Director General Suren Dayal remains in his post 'for now,' according to ION News sources. This has raised questions about consistency, since day-to-day operational decisions — including shipping logistics — fall under executive management, not the board.
