End of PPS & Return of Junior Ministers?

On Monday afternoon, November 18, indications pointed to Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam’s intention to reintroduce the position of Junior Ministers, opting not to appoint Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS). The previous administration’s experience with PPS left a negative impression, leading the new head of government to prefer the elimination of this title.

The last time a government appointed Junior Ministers was on April 6, 1996.

At that time, Ramgoolam, following his victory in the general elections on December 10, 2014, appointed ten elected officials to the position, who subsequently took their oaths before the President.

According to Article 66 of the Constitution, the role of Junior Minister is formally defined.

The first subsection of this article stipulates that “the President, acting on the recommendations of the Prime Minister, may appoint Junior Ministers from among the members of the Assembly to assist ministers in the performance of their duties.”

The total number of Junior Ministers cannot exceed ten.

Similar to ministers, Junior Ministers are required to take an oath and sign an oath of allegiance before the President of the Republic before they can assume their responsibilities.

Source: Defi Media