STC Mauritius Gets New Eight-Member Board, GM Suren Dayal Stays

The State Trading Corporation (STC) — Mauritius's state-owned body responsible for importing and distributing essential commodities such as fuel, flour, and rice — has a new Board of Directors, effective this week. Commerce and Consumer Protection Minister Michael Sik Yuen announced the change in a communiqué dated 2 October, terminating the mandate of the entire previous board. Former chairman Takesh Luckho and all other sitting members were removed. The Council of Ministers formally noted the new composition on Friday. **Who Is on the New Board?** Jyh Guang (Gilbert) Shu has been appointed as the new chairman. He is joined by seven other members representing key government ministries and public institutions: - **Salim Mohammad Ally Oozeer** — representing the Ministry of Finance - **Vasheel Seedoyal** — representing the Ministry of Commerce - **Vijay Kumar Mudhoo** — representing the Ministry of Energy - **Nawsheen Sairally** — representing the Ministry of Financial Services - **Shreeganesh Ganga** — representing the Mauritius Ports Authority - **Parsooramen (Jayen) Chellum** — representing consumer interests - **Veereindre Mussai** — independent member The STC's website had already been updated to reflect the new board composition by the morning of the announcement. Importantly, General Manager Suren Dayal retains his position, providing operational continuity during the leadership transition. **What This Means** The STC plays a critical role in Mauritius's economic stability. As the body that manages the strategic reserve of essential goods and controls the pricing of key imports, its governance directly affects what consumers pay for everyday necessities. The new board has been tasked with four clear priorities: ensuring security of supply for essential goods, improving operational efficiency, strengthening good governance, and protecting consumers. The breadth of ministerial representation on the new board — spanning Finance, Commerce, Energy, and Financial Services — signals that the government wants tighter cross-departmental oversight of the corporation's activities. The shakeup comes at a time when the cost of living remains a sensitive issue for Mauritian households, and when the STC's procurement decisions have faced public scrutiny. With a consumer advocate (Jayen Chellum, a well-known figure in Mauritius's consumer rights space) now sitting on the board, there is a clear political message about accountability. Source: ION News