Navin Ramgoolam

Navinchandra Ramgoolam (born 14 July 1947) is a Mauritian politician and physician who is the current prime minister of Mauritius, serving since 2024. He previously held the office from 1995 to 2000 and from 2005 to 2014 and intermittently served as leader of the opposition when not in office.

Ramgoolam is the son of former prime minister and governor-general Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and has led the Labour Party since 1991. After an astounding defeat in the 2000 General Elections, he became prime minister for a second term after his coalition, Alliance Sociale, won the 2005 General Elections. The 2024 general election saw the landslide victory of his coalition Alliance du Changement. Following Pravind Jugnauth's resignation as prime minister, Ramgoolam was sworn in for a third time at the State House of Mauritius in the presence of President Prithvirajsing Roopun.

Early life and education

Navin Ramgoolam was born to Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) and Sushil Ramjoorawon in Port Louis. SSR was the 6th governor general of Mauritius, as well as the first chief minister and prime minister of Mauritius. In the 1800s, his ancestors migrated to Mauritius from Harigaon in the Bhojpur district, Bihar. Immigration records indicate that they belonged to the Kushwaha broader Vaishya community.

Ramgoolam attended the Royal College Curepipe from 1960 to 1966 and then studied medicine in Ireland between 1968 and 1975, where he obtained the LRCP&SI from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Ramgoolam's early life was marked by significant personal and professional transitions. In December 1985, following the death of his father, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the first prime minister of Mauritius, Ramgoolam was on the verge of emigrating to Canada; however, he was persuaded by Sir Satcam Boolell, then leader of the Labour Party, and Paul Bérenger, leader of the Mauritian Militant Movement, to return to Mauritius. They encouraged him to assume the leadership of the Labour Party with the aim of forming a political alliance to challenge Anerood Jugnauth in the upcoming general elections.

During this period, Ramgoolam worked as a physician at Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital in Mauritius from 1985 to 1987. In 1987, he moved to the United Kingdom to pursue legal studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science, part of the University of London. After completing his LLB degree in 1990, he returned to Mauritius and became the leader of the Labour Party, subsequently contesting the 1991 general election as its candidate.

Political career

1995 elections

The Labour Party and the MMM went on to forge an alliance to contest the 1995 elections. The alliance won all 60 directly elected seats from the mainland (with Labour taking 35 seats and the MMM 25). Ramgoolam became prime minister with Bérenger as his deputy. The coalition soon fractured and Ramgoolam dismissed Bérenger in 1997. Bérenger then became leader of the opposition and Ramgoolam formed a one-party government.

2000 elections

Jugnauth and Bérenger formed a new alliance to contest the 2000 elections. Part of the agreement was to allow Jugnauth to serve for the first three years of the five-year term, then resign to assume the Presidency and allow Bérenger to complete his unexpired term. Ramgoolam, for his part, formed an alliance with the Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval (PMXD), a breakaway from the PMSD led by Xavier-Luc Duval, the son of Sir Gaëtan Duval. The MSM/MMM alliance won 54 of the 60 directly elected mainland seats. Ramgoolam, who had retained his own seat, became leader of the opposition.

2005 elections

His Alliance Social won the general elections against the MSM/MMM outgoing government. He was again appointed as prime minister with a majority of 38 out of 60 seats. His alliance also won the local/municipal elections in 2006 where the MSM/MMM was severely defeated. These consecutive defeats and internal instability caused the break-up of the MSM/MMM coalition.

As the MSM had more seats than the MMM and Pravind Jugnauth was not elected, Nando Bodha was appointed as leader of the opposition.

2010 elections

With the 2010 elections approaching, Ramgoolam decided in 2008 to support Jugnauth for re-election as president, to forestall a possible return by Jugnauth to parliamentary politics, where Ramgoolam viewed him as a potential threat. Jugnauth's condition for accepting the offer was an alliance between the Labour Party and the MSM. At Ramgoolam's insistence, the Alliance de L'Avenir also included the PMSD, into which the PMXD, and its leader, Xavier-Luc Duval, had merged; seven of the sixty parliamentary candidates would come from the PMSD).

The Alliance de L'Avenir won 41 of the 60 directly elected seats. Ramgoolam remained prime minister and Pravind Jugnauth, son of Sir Anerood Jugnauth, became his Deputy. Following the involvement of some members of the MSM in the Medpoint Scandal, however, Ramgoolam dismissed the MSM from the government.

2014 elections

The general elections originally scheduled for 2015 were brought forward to December 2014. The Labour Party made a new alliance with the MMM, proposing a constitutional amendment to upgrade the presidency to a less ceremonial role. Ramgoolam and Bérenger, the MMM leader, claimed that the election was a referendum on the proposal, which they called the Second Republic. If the alliance won more than 45 of the 60 directly elected mainland seats, the Constitution would be amended; Ramgoolam would run for the presidency and Bérenger would succeed him as prime minister.

Ramgoolam and Berenger were opposed by the MSM-led Alliance Lepep, which also included the PMSD, which had been Ramgoolam's coalition partner, and a new party called Muvman Liberater, formed by a significant portion of ex-members of the MMM who were opposed to the idea of giving Ramgoolam more powers. The Alliance Lepep, which opposed the proposal for the Second Republic, won 47 seats out of 60. The Labour-MMM alliance won only 13 seats, 9 from the MMM and 4 from the Labour Party. Ramgoolam lost his seat for the first time in his political career. On 12 December 2014, he resigned as Prime Minister of Mauritius. He was so disgruntled about the loss of his seat in 2014 that, 3 years later, at a Divali Show event in 2017 he called voters of Constituency No.5 Triolet "stupid" and that they were better voters during the days when illiteracy was rampant in Mauritius, given that they were easier to manipulate. Ramgoolam compared his 2014 electoral wipe out to that of his father Seewoosagur Ramgoolam at the 1982 Mauritian general election. He also revealed that there was too much infighting amongst the political agents within the Labour Party.

2019 elections

Although he was not elected at the 2014 elections in Constituency No.5 Triolet, Ramgoolam retained leadership of the Labour Party and again presented himself as the party's leader at the November 2019 elections. Before the elections he made a coalition with the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate and ''Mouvement Jean-Claude Barbier'' which became known as ''Alliance Nationale''. Instead of choosing Constituency No.5 Triolet, this time Ramgoolam stood as candidate in Constituency No.10 Montagne Blanche and Grand River South East. He revealed that his change of constituency was the result of a consultation that he had with a Christian priest who believed that Constituency No.10 would bring him more luck as his grand parents lived there, and that Constituency No.5 Triolet brought him bad luck as his father Seewoosagur was cremated there. However, once again Ramgoolam was not elected to the National Assembly. He was so disgruntled by his second consecutive defeat at the 2014 and 2019 general elections that he publicly blamed women for their way of voting, he also legally contested the results and made the Electoral Commissioner (Irfan Raman) his main target of legal action.

2024 elections

The general election was scheduled on 10 November 2024, where the Labour Party together with the MMM, Nouveau Démocrate and Rezistans ek Alternativ formed the " Alliance du changement", to oppose the " Alliance Lepep" which composed of the MSM, Muvman Liberater and the PMSD. The Alliance du changement won the general election with a 60–0 in its favour.

Political views

In 2024, Ramgoolam criticised the agreement negotiated by the government of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth with the United Kingdom that allowed for the return of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritian control, describing it as a "sellout". After being elected as prime minister later that year, Ramgoolam ordered an independent review of the agreement.

Controversies, scandals, and legal issues

1978 arrest by British police

Navin Ramgoolam was arrested in the UK on 24 May 1978 in Wardour Street, Soho, London according to records of the Foreign Colonial Office (FCO). He was a student at University College London (UCL). British Police noticed Navin Ramgoolam driving dangerously as he committed a number of offences such as driving through a red traffic light, and performing an illegal u-turn where it was prohibited. Although he was not entitled to Diplomatic Immunity Navin Ramgoolam attempted to claim such protection after refusing to provide a breath specimen. When Navin Ramgoolam was subjected to a blood test the result was positive. As a result he was summoned for driving with excess alcohol in his blood, and was fined at Malborough Street Magistrate Court where he eventually pleaded guilty.

1984 assault of SSR at Le Reduit

Harish Boodhoo reminisced a scene that he witnessed at Le Château de Réduit soon after Sushil Ramgoolam's death in January 1984 whereby an intoxicated Navin Ramgoolam had assaulted his father Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and was threatening to further attack him with a sword.

1997 Albion Gate macarena party

In March 1997 local residents of Albion village complained to the police about a noisy party held at a Labour Party political activist's bungalow. Several young women and even an under-age girl had been invited to the "Macarena Private Party" by the activist and they had to dance and undress to the tunes of Los Del Rio's song " Macarena". One woman escaped from the bungalow where former Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and his close associates former MP Iqbal Mallam-Hassam, Air Mauritius executive Nash Mallam-Hassam, and optician Farouk Hossen were also partying and drinking heavily. A few days later Ajay Daby, the lawyer who later represented the young women, brandished a black underwear at a public meeting, claiming that it belonged to a well known politician and that it had been recovered on Albion beach. Los Del Rio's song "Macarena" was subjected to a ban by the state's radio station MBC following Navin Ramgoolam's orders. Within three months the Labour-MMM coalition collapsed. The political scandal was also known as ''Albion Gate'' and ''Affaire Macarena'' by the local press.

2009 Varma tax evasion and conflict of interest

In December 2009 Labour Party minister Vasant Bunwaree made revelations in parliament about Yatin Varma, who was then a close associate and campaign manager of then Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam. Bunwaree revealed that Varma had been receiving additional income as the legal counsel of several parastatal institutions although he was already being paid as a member of the National Assembly. Bunwaree added that Varma regularly emailed elected ministers which read ''«I would be grateful if you could kindly consider appointing me as legal advisor on a monthly basis to one of your institutions falling under your responsibility»''. Bunwaree also spoke about a well-known case of tax evasion involving Varma which had been known to members of the National Assembly. Despite all of Bunwaree's revelations, Navin Ramgoolam did not investigate or sanction Varma.

Travel companion Jessica Weber

In March 2015, Chief Whip Mahen Jhugroo raised a question in the National Assembly about Navin Ramgoolam's young travel companion Jessica Weber for whom the position of "VIP Facilitation Organizer" had been specifically created within the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) since 2013. Weber was recruited by Serge Petit, CEO of Airports of Mauritius Ltd without the board's approval. Although she benefitted from a government monthly salary of Rs 100,000, minister Xavier-Luc Duval discovered that there was no evidence of any events that she had organised, and there was no justification for her multiple trips with Navin Ramgoolam overseas.

2010 verbal abuse of Nita Deerpalsing

On the public holiday of 1 May 2010 during a public meeting of the Labour-MMM coalition ''Alliance de l'Avenir'' in Quatre-Bornes Navin Ramgoolam became frustrated about a defective microphone. He soon lost his temper and abused the director of communication of the Labour Party (Mauritius) Kumaree Rajeshree Deerpalsing, also known as Nita Deerpalsing by yelling ''Li pas marsé ta putain'' (meaning "It does not work, you slut". The abuse was broadcast live by other radio stations which were covering the event and was reproduced several times on social media as an example of Navin Ramgoolam's lack of respect for women.

2010 purchase of Rs 40 millions bungalow using Super Cash Back Gold funds

The former minister of financial services ( Roshi Bhadain) revealed that in 2010 Navin Ramgoolam had contracted a loan of Rs 40 millions from Bramer Bank to purchase a bungalow at Roches Noires. Bramer Bank was then part of Dawood Rawat's British American Insurance (BAI) group of companies. Instructions were given by BAI's management to its subsidiary Bramer Bank that BAI will fully guarantee Navin Ramgoolam's Rs 40 millions loan, given that Dawood Rawat was Ramgoolam's close friend and major sponsor of his political campaigns. The Rs 40 millions came from a pension fund called ''Super Cash Back Gold'' which was administered by BAI. By 2015 BAI had collapsed, contributors to pension fund ''Super Cash Back Gold'' lost their pension funds, and as part of a bail-out Bramer Bank was replaced by the National Commercial Bank. However to this date Navin Ramgoolam has not repaid any of the Rs 40 millions that he had borrowed. A seizure order for the repossession of his unpaid debt is what prompted Navin Ramgoolam to sell the bungalow.

2014 Nandanee Soornack fleeing to Italy and daughter Xara Keiron Chandra

Soon after the proclamation of the December 2014 general elections in Mauritius Nandanee Soornack (born Nandanee Oogarah), girlfriend and close associate of Navin Ramgoolam, fled to Italy with 12 suitcases. The former shop assistant and wife of a bus driver amassed substantial wealth and influence after becoming an activist of the Parti Travailliste and received preferential treatment in large government contracts, especially in the tourism sector and airport facilities. Investigations showed that a number of offshore companies and bank accounts had been set up in order to channel funds out of Mauritius. Investigators in Mauritius attempted to deport her back to Mauritius. Nandanee Soornack attempted to silence newspapers ''Le Mauricien'' and ''La Sentinelle'' by applying for a Gagging Order. She revealed that Navin Ramgoolam is the father of her daughter Xara Keiron Chandra who was born in 2009. Navin Ramgoolam's illegitimate love child was mentioned during public gatherings, for example by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on 19 August 2017 at the village of Circonstance in St Pierre.

2014 London suitcase and Rolls-Royce RR10RAM

After claiming to be visiting London for the tenth time to discuss a legal matter with British counsel Phillipe Sands, Navin Ramgoolam was spotted in his chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce bearing number plate ''RR10RAM'' as he carried a suitcase to a bank, where an attendant recognised and greeted him with "How are you Mr Banker?"

2015 arrest for conspiracy and money laundering

In February 2015, Navin Ramgoolam was arrested for alleged conspiracy, money laundering and as part of a July 2011 robbery (''Affaire Roches-Noires''). Local police searched his home located at Riverwalk in Floréal and discovered safes and suitcases containing around $6.4 million in various foreign currencies, 9 exclusive American Express Black credit cards, as well as packets of Viagra sexual stimulant pills. He was later released and charges against him were dropped due to lack of sufficient evidence and the prosecution's delay in lodging the case.

2024 Phone Tapping scandal

During the 2024 electoral campaign, audio recordings of various public figures were leaked on social media under the guise of a fictitious figure calling himself ''Missie Moustass''. Roshi Bhadain reminded the public that despite his denials, Navin Ramgoolam was the original instigator of illegal phone-tapping of his political adversaries. Indeed soon after the 1995 general elections the new PTR-MMM government, headed by Navin Ramgoolam, sought the services of Israeli firm Verint to enable the Mauritian police intelligence unit, known as the National Security Service (NSS), to improve its phone-tapping capabilities. This police branch was previously known as the National Intelligence Unit (NIU), and during colonial times it was called State Security Service (SSS). In 1999 Ramgoolam approved the purchase of a sophisticated Monitoring Main Centre, including the suitcase-sized IMSI-Catcher (International Mobile Subscriber Identity). The latter was designed to be installed in vehicles, and enabled spying and recording of private telephone conversations over a range of several kilometres. Before the 2014 General Elections Navin Ramgoolam commissioned a team of engineers and technicians from private firm Verint to visit Mauritius for a week in order to train the intelligence officers of the NSS. The representatives of Verint, who stayed at Hotel Intercontinental in Balaclava, were Charalampas Leventis of Cyprus, Tom Lempert of Brasil, and Daniel George Pryett from the UK. A Nissan armored van was specially kitted out with the IMSI-Catcher. Despite all these measures, Navin Ramgoolam lost the 2014 General Elections in a landslide defeat. Ramgoolam again failed to be elected at the 2019 General Elections. In 2016, for his in-depth reporting on this illegal practice, reporter Abhi Ramsahaye won the ''Prix Nicolas Lambert'' for the best investigative report.

Awards and decorations

National honours

** Grand Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (2008)

Foreign honours

*:
** Grand Officer of the Order of Legion of Honour
*:
** Recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (2008)

Honours

Ramgoolam has received many accolades and honours.

In 1998 he was made an honorary fellow of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Dr Honoris Causa by the University of Mauritius, doctor honoris causa from Aligarh Muslim University, India and doctor honoris causa by the Jawaharlal Nehru University, India in October 2005.

He was made a Grand officier de la Légion d'honneur (France) in March 2006, the Honorary Freeman of Rodrigues from Rodrigues Regional Assembly in March 2007; the Wilberforce Medal from Wilberforce Lecture Trust, Hull, UK, in June 2007; The Rajiv Gandhi Award from Mumbai Regional Congress Committee, India, in August 2007; the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from Government of India in January 2008 as well as Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK) from the Government of the Republic of Mauritius in March 2008. In Paris, Ramgoolam received the Prix Louise Michel, awarded generally each year to a personality in recognition of his or her outstanding contribution in the political field. He was made Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the Padmashree Dr D. Y. Patil University, Mumbai, India in February 2009, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) of the Royal College of Physicians, London in May 2009, honorary doctorate by Staffordshire University, United Kingdom in July 2010, Order of the Rule of Law by the World Jurist Association, United States, in April 2011, Overseas Bencher by the Inner Temple, UK, in April 2011 and Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) by the Kurukshetra University, Haryana, India in February 2012.

Personal life

On 8 July 1979, Ramgoolam married Veena Brizmohun, a Mauritian who grew up in England and was studying social sciences at the University of London. The wedding ceremony, held at Cinema BDC in Quatre Bornes, was attended by Governor General Dayendranath Burrenchobay, opposition leader Anerood Jugnauth, and others. The newly-wed couple returned to London where Veena planned to complete her studies, and her husband wanted to specialise in cardiology.

See also

* List of prime ministers of Mauritius
* Bihari Mauritians

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramgoolam, Navin
Alumni of the London School of Economics
Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians
Grand Commanders of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean
Grand Officers of the Legion of Honour
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Leaders of the opposition (Mauritius)
Living people
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Members of the National Assembly (Mauritius)
Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Prime ministers of Mauritius
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Honorary Fellows of the London School of Economics
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